i am the way, the truth and the life

July 17 Scripture: John 14:5-14

“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Journaling Prompts

  1. Have you ever lost your way? Think about that experience and write down any words or phrases that come to mind which capture how you felt.

  2. Listen again to Thomas' words in this passage: "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Imagine the scene - can you put yourself in Thomas' place? What do you imagine he was feeling? What might he have hoped to hear Jesus say in response?

  3. Notice that Jesus doesn't tell the disciples that he will show them the way to the Father (like sharing a map), but rather that he himself IS the way. How do you understand that? What is the difference between following a set of directions, and being in relationship with the one who himself is both the journey and the destination?