Is Jesus The Only Way To God?

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)

That seems pretty definite. Jesus must be the only way to God. He said so. And many  Christians are pretty adamant about that.

I feel pretty sure, though, that Jesus would now be shaking his head and wondering how we didn’t get it, just like he did moments later with his followers (read on in John 14). Then he’d probably start to cry when he remembers how many people, historically and today, have been and are being hurt by the idea that “my way is the only way” to God. It’s not, and I don’t think for even a second that Jesus meant that.

I don’t believe that Jesus meant just me, this person, this character in the story, is the only way to God. I believe he meant the way he’s been living, the way he embodies, the way he tries to show us is embodied in us, and how we can live it, just like Jesus. I feel pretty sure that’s why the first followers were called People of the Way. We should be, too.

Whatever we might call ourselves, it’s not about the label, it’s about the content. That’s the point. It’s The Way. 

The Way is love. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell stories of Jesus answering a question about the greatest commandment: it is to love God and the second is to love your neighbour as yourself.  Jesus shows how to live this love in his life and teaching, telling the disciples (and us) to "love one another as I have loved you" (that’s John again).  Following this teaching, living his example as best we can, is to follow the way.

That's where the simple becomes more complex, isn't it? Complex and challenging.  Discerning what it means to love and living it in relationship with the world around us requires that we engage all our senses and that we love God and each other "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). That can be work - rich, engaging, rewarding, affirming, life-giving work.

Jesus has more to say about love and living it as he continues in John's farewell speech: "if you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth" (John 14:15-17). Again, let's think past the language for a moment. There's nothing conditional about that "if." Loving Jesus means living Jesus. Keeping Jesus' "commandments" isn't about following some set of rules to control our behaviour. It’s simply about living love as Jesus taught, just as the Ten Commandments weren't meant to control people's behaviour, but to free them to live - rightly, justly, compassionately, lovingly - in relationship with the world around them. Maybe "simply" isn't the best word there. Sometimes we find it easier to control our behaviour with laws and restrictions, rather than transform how we live. And love transforms how we live.

Challenging? Sure. Our experience of the world often leads us to doubt and fear.  But Jesus promises that we'll have help: an Advocate, the Spirit. We often understand the Spirit as the power of God at work in the world, the divine force or influence, the wisdom in action. Whether we perceive it as "a still, small voice" or wind and flame, that gut feeling, sudden realization, or the the desire for what is true, the Spirit moves us towards what is right with ourselves and in the relationships we have. When we listen.

The Way is love, Jesus is our example, the Spirit is our guide. Here we go.