JULY 21, 2024

SERIES 2: JOHN – I AM SAYINGS

LESSON 2.3
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE

FOCUS VERSE
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

LESSON TEXT
John 14:1–14

TRUTH ABOUT GOD

Jesus is the only way to God and Heaven.

TRUTH FOR MY LIFE

I will seek Jesus as the only way, the only truth, and my source of eternal life.

Thinking about Last Week:

Have students refer to their Daily Devotional Guide to answer the following questions:
1. What most affected you as you read through the Lesson Text and the Biblical Insights?
2. How did it shape your prayers and thoughts throughout the week?
3. Do you feel you grew closer to the Lord this past week? Why or why not?

TEACHING OUTLINE
Icebreaker: What are your favorite songs about Heaven, either contemporary or traditional? When you think of Heaven, what ideas or
images come to mind?
Lesson Connection: Share the Lesson Connection.
I. “LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED”
» What troubles your heart? How do you intentionally surrender those troubles to God and allow Him to give your
heart peace?
A. Jesus Is Preparing a Place for Us
B. When We See Jesus, We See the Father
C. There Is Only One on the Throne of Heaven
» Why is it important that Jesus is the only one on the throne of Heaven? How does this knowledge change how we
think, pray, and act as believers?
II. JESUS—THE ONLY ONE (I)
A. Jesus Is the Only Way
» Think about the concept of a way being a direction, path, or guideline. How has Jesus been the way (direction, path,
guideline) for you?
 B. Jesus Is the Only Truth (V)
» How have you seen Jesus demonstrated as the truth in your life? How have you seen Him combat the lies and
deception of this world?
C. Jesus Is the Only Life
» How has Jesus given you new life since your conversion? How do you see yourself now as living in life rather than
living in death and sin?
Internalizing the Message

Prayer Focus
Lead the group in prayer and consider the following topics of focus:
• For us to recognize Jesus as the only source of everything we need
• For us to walk daily in the understanding of an eternity in Heaven

LESSON CONNECTION
“Growing older will change how you think about Heaven,” Pastor Johnson said, somberly, yet with a smile. DeMarcus looked at his
pastor who held a half-empty cup of black coffee in his hand. Their now-empty plates that once held hearty servings of the county’s
best breakfast were pushed to the end of the table. DeMarcus could sense his leader was about to share something special. These
moments were why DeMarcus asked Pastor Johnson if he could buy him breakfast every couple of weeks.

The waitress picked up the plates with a smile. “Don’t rush off now,” she laughed, as if they needed permission. They would likely
stay until noon, talking about the Bible, church work, and ministry. Pastor Johnson continued, “You know the verse about Jesus being
‘the way, the truth, and the life.’ Most people forget that Jesus said those words in the context of going to Heaven. The disciples were
asking Jesus how they could get there, and Jesus was saying, ‘through Me.’ So, Jesus is the only way to Heaven, as well as the one we
will look for when we get to Heaven.”

The conversation paused. After a few seconds of respectful silence, DeMarcus asked, “What did you mean about getting older?”
Pastor Johnson smiled. “We used to sing a lot more songs about going to Heaven. Maybe it was because times were a lot harder back
then; our churches were smaller, and our camp meetings had dirt floors. Don’t get me wrong, these old bones are thankful for padded
pews and air conditioning. But I suppose it is easy to get comfortable down here because of how much God has blessed us. But the
older I get, the more I notice myself trying to get back to the main point.

“Since Theresa passed last year . . . .” His voice trailed off as he stared into his coffee. With a tremble in his voice, he continued.
“Since Sister Johnson passed last year, it has been a constant reminder that this old world is temporary. No matter how good or bad it
gets, Jesus is still the main point, and Heaven is still the ultimate destination. I grieve for myself, but I cannot be sorry for her. She is
far better off now than ever.

“I’m closer to Heaven than ever before. I find myself singing songs about Heaven differently now. There will be jasper walls, pearl-
studded gates, and golden walkways, but I think those Bible writers were just using the best language they could to describe the
splendor they saw. Jesus will be all the Heaven I need. His presence will make Heaven the glorious place it is.”

Pastor Johnson downed the last of his now lukewarm drink and politely signaled for a refill. “I also think about Scripture differently
now. I think more than ever about how Jesus is the only way to Heaven, He is more truth than any sickness or death in this world, and
He is the promise of eternal life.”
BIBLE LESSON
I. “LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED”

The opening phrase of John 14 sets the tone for the remainder of the chapter. The previous chapter concluded with Peter’s discussion
with Jesus immediately after Christ washed His disciples’ feet. Jesus foretold His imminent glorification and commanded His
disciples to love one another. Peter asked Jesus where He was going. When Jesus told Peter he could not follow, Peter protested. Then
Jesus told Peter he would soon deny Jesus three times.

Jesus knew His words about going away and about Peter’s denial could cause His disciples anxiety, so He encouraged them as a
loving father comforts his anxious children: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). Jesus
encouraged them to put an equal amount of trust in Him as they did in Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament.

Jesus’ next words made it clear that our hearts should not be troubled because Jesus is God manifested in flesh. God did not remain in
Heaven, far and detached from His children. He came to Earth in human flesh, lived a sinless life, died, rose again to conquer the
grave, and ascended into Heaven to prepare a future for those who put their trust in Him. We should not be troubled because Jesus is
still God, and He’s still on the throne of Heaven.

What troubles your heart? How do you intentionally surrender those troubles to God and allow Him to give your heart peace?

A. Jesus Is Preparing a Place for Us

Jesus’ identity cannot be separated from the promise of Heaven. We know God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19), therefore His promises
remain true. Since God has promised true believers eternity with Him in Heaven, we can rest on those promises centuries later.
Separating Jesus’ identity from His promises is impossible. A Oneness view of Jesus not only understands that Jesus is one with the
Father, but it also understands that Jesus is one with His promises. We can trust in the promise of Heaven simply because Jesus said it.

Interestingly, Thomas’s question about where Jesus was going in John 14:5 mirrored Peter’s question about where Jesus was going in
John 13:36. Neither of them could fully grasp Jesus’ mission at the time, but they seemed to expect they would follow Jesus to a
physical place in their lifetime. Jesus’ response to Thomas revealed how true believers should view Heaven. If we want to see Heaven
then, we need to pursue Jesus now. Those who pursue Heaven alone will miss it; those who pursue Jesus will gain Heaven and much
more. The pursuit of Jesus is the pursuit of Heaven.

B. When We See Jesus, We See the Father

John 14 serves as one of the greatest revelations of the oneness of God in all of Scripture. Jesus clearly taught if we desire to see God,
we must see Jesus. When we have seen Jesus, we have seen God. Knowing Jesus is synonymous with knowing the Father. Seeing
Jesus is synonymous with seeing the Father because Jesus was the Father in human flesh. Furthermore, Jesus associated all of God’s
power with His name—Jesus—and declared if we ask anything in Jesus’ name, Jesus Himself would be sure to do it (John 14:14)

Jesus also revealed Himself as the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, in this same chapter. In John 14:16, Jesus stated, “I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” At a glance, it may seem as though Jesus was revealing
another person in the Godhead. However, Jesus stated two verses later, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John
14:18). In case there was any doubt, Jesus revealed Himself as the Holy Spirit who would be comforting them. The context makes it
clear that Jesus was describing the future manifestation by which He would be appearing unto them. However, make no mistake: Jesus
Himself would be our Comforter.

C. There Is Only One on the Throne of Heaven

In a few short verses, Jesus revealed Himself as the visible manifestation of the Father and the Comforter with all power in His name
—Jesus. The revelation of the centrality of Jesus Christ is important in our pursuit of God and everything He has to offer us. If we
desire more of God, we must have Jesus. If we desire Heaven, we must have Jesus. If we desire to live with purity and overcoming
power, we must have Jesus.

John later wrote another book called The Revelation of Jesus Christ. In that book He described a vision he received while “in the
Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). During this vision, John was carried up where he got glimpses of Heaven as He entered
into God’s royal throne room. John made no mistake; there was only one on the throne (Revelation 4:2). John had a revelation of Jesus
Christ that few others had at the time, and this revelation is all important today. One of the reasons we know Jesus is the way, the
truth, and the life is because He is the only one on the throne.

Why is it important that Jesus is the only One on the throne of Heaven? How does this knowledge change how we think, pray, and
act as believers?

II. JESUS—THE ONLY ONE

Teacher Option: A supplemental image is available in the Resource Kit. (I)

A classic Apostolic hymn proudly proclaims: “It’s all in Him, It’s all in Him, The fullness of the Godhead is all in Him.” The verses
sing that Jesus is the everlasting Father, Emmanuel, Jehovah, the Alpha and Omega, and our King. All these titles are used in the Bible
to refer to Jehovah, but we can apply them to Jesus because of the Bible verse the chorus is derived from: “For in him dwelleth all the
fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Everything applied to any part of the Godhead is found in Jesus Christ. In this
context Jesus revealed Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is the only one who perfectly embodies all these
realities.

A. Jesus Is the Only Way

The identification of Jesus as the “way” is multi-layered. The most obvious significance is in the simple definition of the term. The
Greek word for “way” is hodos and simply means a road, path, or journey. By revealing Himself as the way, Jesus identified Himself
as the only correct road to follow. If you want to know the correct path forward, follow Jesus.

However, Jesus’ self-identification as the way would take on more layers during the events in the Book of Acts. Multiple times
throughout Acts, the way was used to describe the emerging sect of Christ-followers. Before Saul’s conversion and before he was
known as Paul, he sought out “any of this way” (Acts 9:2) in order to persecute them. Years later, after his conversion, Paul used the
same term, the “way,” when describing the Christian group with whom he then associated (Acts 22:4; 24:14). The word is also used in
Acts 19:9, 23, and 24:22 for a total of six usages in Acts. All use the same Greek root word that Jesus used in John 14:6. The usage of
this term in Acts reveals another layer of application. Because we know Jesus is the way, following and belonging to the way is
synonymous with following and belonging to Jesus.

Because He is the way, Jesus is both the direction in which we walk as well as the road we walk. He is our path, our focus, our
guidance, and our identification. He is the ultimate and the only. He is the way.

Think about the concept of a way being a direction, path, or guideline. How has Jesus been the way (direction, path, guideline) for
you?

B. Jesus Is the Only Truth

The revelation of Jesus as the “truth” also appears several times throughout the writings of John. This motif begins in the early verses
of the book when John described the incarnate Word (Jesus) as being “full of grace and truth” and stating that “grace and truth came
by Jesus Christ” (John 1:14, 17). Jesus described the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13) shortly after
identifying Himself as the truth. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told Pilate that everyone who was “of the truth” listened to Jesus
(John 18:37). In other words, hearing Jesus was the only way to be in truth. Pilate either did not understand or chose not to accept
Jesus’ words, for Pilate scoffed at Jesus when he asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). John greatly enjoyed using the term
“truth,” as it appears at least twenty-two times in the Book of John and at least seventeen times in his epistles.

Jesus as the manifestation of the only truth is especially important for Christians living in the twenty-first century. The notion of
absolute truth—that which is true regardless of circumstances, conflicting beliefs, or personal opinions—has become increasingly
under attack in the postmodern world. While the rejection of absolute truth may seem on the surface to be inclusive and respectful, in
reality, the rejection of absolute truth only results in a lack of solid foundation. In a world of constantly changing beliefs and
perspectives, many who are lost and hurting are desperate for constant, unchanging truth. Believers are blessed to know Jesus as that
unchangeable truth. As the writer of Hebrews noted, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Teacher Option: A supplemental video is available in the Resource Kit. (V)

How have you seen Jesus demonstrated as the truth in your life? How have you seen Him combat the lies and deception of this
world?

C. Jesus Is the Only Life

The revelation of Jesus as the “life” also carries weighty implications. From the Creation narratives in Genesis 1–2, God was revealed
as the only source of life. By saying He was the life, Jesus revealed Himself as the ultimate source of all existence. This concept was
also reinforced throughout John’s writings. John recorded that in Jesus “was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Jesus
revealed to Nicodemus that eternal life only came through Him (John 3:15–16). Jesus described Himself as “the bread of life” and “the
living bread” (John 6:48, 51). Jesus said of the words He spoke, “they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Shortly after Martha’s
brother, Lazarus, had died, Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).

Life is the foundation of human existence. We physically exist because God breathed His breath into humanity He created in His
image. Our spiritual existence is dependent upon the redemptive power we have access to through Christ’s death, burial, and
resurrection. Finally, our eternal life is also dependent upon the Man Christ Jesus. He has gone to prepare a place for us, and He is the
one we will expect to see when we get there. Jesus is the source and focus of all aspects of the existence we call “life.”

Understanding the all-encompassing concept of life, we do well when we surrender all to Jesus. Everything that it means to be alive—
including our actions, thoughts, relationships, motivations, and much more—we must find in Jesus Christ. He is our life.

INTERNALIZING THE MESSAGE

If Jesus is the only way, He must be the ultimate truth and the source of all life. If Jesus is the truth, He must be the only way to
follow, and life cannot make sense without His absolute truth. If Jesus is the life, He is the only way that will sustain us, and as the
truth, He is the meaning of life. Jesus is the ultimate answer to our questions. In John 13 and 14, multiple disciples poured out their
questions to Jesus, seeking answers to their burning questions about eternal life and their future. Jesus’ answer was simple: “I am the
way, the truth, and the life.”

Many of us will face situations like Pastor Johnson described in the opening story. Friends and loves ones will pass away, bodies will
grow old and lose their strength, and eternity may seem closer than ever before. When Jesus remains the focal point, our questions and
concerns will dim in the light of eternity with Him. Helen Howarth Lemmel wrote it well: “And the things of earth will grow strangely
dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
DeMarcus finished paying the bill and stepped outside the small roadside diner. Pastor Johnson was standing next to his vehicle,
staring up at the cloudy summer sky. “How could anyone have hope for tomorrow without Jesus?” the elder mused aloud. “He’s the
only way forward.” Pastor Johnson turned to gaze at the younger minister who now stood near him. DeMarcus had come a long way.

Pastor Johnson still remembered him as a scrappy bus kid who started coming to church almost three decades earlier, the first of his
family to come to church. To see the young man now, graduated from Bible school with a beautiful wife and two children, and having
served the church as an assistant pastor for several years, DeMarcus was a living testimony of the goodness of God. Pastor Johnson
commented to the young man, “Tomorrow is Sunday, your first official day as pastor.”

DeMarcus smiled. “I’ll always call you my pastor. Some things will never change.” Pastor Johnson grinned and replied, “Jesus never
changes. If He is at church tomorrow, that is more important than whatever titles people call us. That’s true if the future brings
suffering, rejoicing, or a mixture of both. I mourn the loss of my wife and needing to retire, but knowing that Jesus is the way, I’m
going to make it through. I rejoice because I know the church is going to move to a higher level with you as the pastor, and if the
church continues to follow Jesus, He will show us the way. I’m not entirely sure of the specifics, but I know if we all aim for Jesus, we
will be on the right path.”

Prayer Focus
Lead the group in prayer and consider the following topics of focus:
• For us to recognize Jesus as the only source of everything we need
• For us to walk daily in the understanding of an eternity in Heaven