“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 NLT
Lately there has been a coordinated effort to discredit Jesus’ words in John 14:6. I am sure it is not by chance. Video clips are hitting social media on this same subject form various churches, pastors, and denominations. All interpretating their view of what Jesus said. They claim that verse has been misused as a ‘my way or the highway’ theology that excludes people not ‘in the club.’ Some are in and some are out! One pastor explained the meaning as ‘Jesus is the embodiment of God revealing particular expression of the divine that is fully present and dwelling with us.’ These are words of promise according to this pastor that do not drive people out but invites everyone in. The pastor goes on and says these are not words of exclusion but of promise in love and relationship. What this pastor is saying is that all religions are accepted because Jesus’ revealing that God is with us no manner what we believe. That is not what Jesus, God the Son, is saying.
Another Pastor condemns churches throughout history that used this verse as ‘a doctrinal statement requiring a belief in Jesus as a prerequisite into heaven.’ This pastor said it is not that but it is the life Jesus lived and the life we live of joy and sorrow. It is saying if you live a good life like Jesus of joy and sorrow you will get in. We all know none of us are able to live our lives like Jesus. So, that can’t be true. And as another pastor noted Jesus is not ‘a gate-keeper at the Celestial gates verifying your ID in order to get in.’ But I am sorry, yes He is, because He Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6 nlt)
Christians who hold to Jesus’ words of truth in John 14:6 without wavering and believing them as He spoke them are criticized as being intolerant. That’s OK. We should expect that from a world under the influence of Satan, who is a master coordinator of influencing people away from God and adapting to a worldview of Holy Scripture. Well-known author C. S. Lewis commented on this verse by saying, if this isn’t true there are only three choices that can be made. They are either ‘Jesus was lying, or not in His right mind, or Jesus was telling the truth.’ The choice is yours to make. No deep philosophical reasoning is needed with fancy words to convey the truth. It’s simple. Just believe it. If you are called out for ‘religious intolerance’ in believing Jesus’ words as He spoke them do not fret, you are in good company. C. S. Lewis and Jesus said the same thing.
Word for the Soul 