I Am the Life
John 14:1–14
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:6
The third part of Christ’s claim in this verse is to be “the life”—for all who believe on him, the emancipator from death. According to Scripture, the natural man is spiritually dead. But Christ can make such persons alive. Indeed, he promises to give life to all who will come to him.
This makes for great encouragement in the living of the Christian life, for if the life Christ gives is God’s life, then that life is eternal life. And the Christian can no more perish than can God the Father. This is what is taught in John 3:16, the verse that so many know: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Does it really mean everlasting life? Yes, it does. And in case we are still inclined to doubt it, Jesus adds just a few chapters later, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (10:27–28).
Christ came that you might have life. Will you come to him right where you are? You can come. You can come now. Jesus does not require you to do anything. What could you do, even if you wished to do something? Would you seek to find the way to God and then walk in it? How can you? He is the way and he has come to you rather than making you come to him. Would you study to find out the truth before you believe in God? How can you do that? He is the truth; Scripture presents him fully to your eyes. Would you attempt to awaken yourself out of your spiritual lethargy by self-effort? How can you do even that? He is the life you need; he offers himself to you freely.
There is nothing to do, except to receive him by faith. There is nothing to achieve, no improvements to be made, no lessons to learn. Just believe on Jesus. Accept him for what he claims to be—the way to God, the truth about God, the life of God. Jesus did not say, “I am one of an indefinite number of equally valid ways to God, an aspect of truth, or a phase of life.” He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.