What is the Way to Jesus?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  So clearly, Jesus is “the way” to the Father.  But what is the “the way” to Jesus?  

Some might answer the Word of God.  And in a sense, that is true. The words of the Bible reveal the gospel of saving grace- salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).

But Jesus told Thomas the way to the Father was through a Person — Himself.   And I would suggest that, most often, the way to Jesus also involves a person–although not THROUGH a person, but rather BY the words of a person.  It’s by the words of those who are Christians — you and me. And, it’s by every born-again believer who has the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to share God’s words of truth and saving grace.  

The Gospel IS Jesus

Paul gave a clear definition of the gospel when he wrote to the church at Corinth:

1 Cor 15:3-7  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.  After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

Paul also wrote of the importance of sharing the gospel in his letter to the church in Rome:

Rom 10:13-14  For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

We Are Image Bearers of the Gospel

God created man in His image and intended that man would live in His image, reflecting His glory throughout His creation.  Of course, we know that Adam sinned, and the image of God, in which Adam was created, changed.  His union with his Creator was broken. Every person since Adam has been born in Adam’s image- a fallen human being (Gen 5:3). But in Christ, God made a way to restore mankind to Himself. 

In Christ

In Christ, we are redeemed and regenerated (made new), and our union with the  Father is restored.  In Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit to empower us to bear His image. 

That’s the gospel.  Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless human life, and died a death on our behalf to pay for our sins. And then He rose from the grave, conquering death and opening the way to eternal life.

The gospel of saving grace is the good news of man being restored to the image of God  And, since the gospel of saving grace is a Person, Jesus, we are image bearers of the gospel.  

God Spoke, and Jesus Spoke

Most born-again believers understand that they have received the gospel of saving grace.  But do they understand that it is not ours to hide under a bushel, or a bed, or in a secret place? 

We are to let our light shine (Mat 5:15, Mark 4:21, Luke 11:33).  We can be the way to Jesus by speaking about Him being the way to the Father, the absolute truth, and the giver of eternal life. 

Mark 16:15  And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Do Not Treat Casually That Which Is Of Eternal Importance

There is an urgency to share the gospel.  There are “dead men walking” all around us. Without Jesus, they will step off this earth into an endless separation from their Creator and an eternal punishment.  God doesn’t want any to perish (2 Pet 3:9), and we should feel the same.

Jesus is the Way to the Father.  Our Words Can Be the Way to Jesus.

Choose to be the way to Jesus by sharing His saving grace with all people. Don’t be silent.

It has never been easier to speak.  Use spoken words, tweeted words, emailed words, Facebook words, tract words, or any other creative means. And by whatever means you choose, be bold, confident, kind, and loving. 

Share the gospel of saving grace with all people and be a light in an increasingly dark world.  

Rom 10:15-17  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And always let how you live support your testimony.

1 Pet 3:15 Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear [gentleness and kindness].

<*}}}><