Mark 8:27-29 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?"So they answered, " John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, " You are the Christ."Who do you say Jesus Christ is today? What is your reaction to the Son of God? What is your response to His offer of salvation and eternal life?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
way (wâ) noun 1. a. A road, path, or highway affording passage from one place to another. b. An opening affording passage: This door is the only way into the attic. 2. A course that is or may be used in going from one place to another. 3. A course of conduct or action.
truth plural- truths. 1. Conformity to fact or actuality. 2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true. 3. Reality; actuality.
It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tost upon the sea: a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battle and the adventures thereof below: but no pleasure is comparable to standing upon the vantage ground of truth . . . and to see the errors, and wanderings, and mists, and tempests, in the vale below. Francis Bacon (1561-1626), English philosopher, essayist, statesman. Essays, "Of Truth" (1597-1625).
In order to swim one takes off all one's clothes-in order to aspire to the truth one must undress in a far more inward sense, divest oneself of all one's inward clothes, of thoughts, conceptions, selfishness etc. before one is sufficiently naked. Søren Kierkegaard (1813-55), Danish philosopher. The Journals of Søren Kierkegaard: A Selection, no. 1395
life (lìf) noun - plural lives (lìvz) 1. Living organisms considered as a group: plant life; marine life. 2. A living being, especially a person: an earthquake that claimed hundreds of lives. 3. The physical, mental, and spiritual experiences that constitute existence
Life was a funny thing that happened to me on the way to the grave. Quentin Crisp (b. 1908), British author. The Naked Civil Servant, ch. 18 (1968).
Life is what happens while you are making other plans. John Lennon (1940-80), British rock musician. "Beautiful Boy," from the album Starting Over (1980).
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. The Soul of Man under Socialism, in Fortnightly Review (London, Feb. 1890).
This is what is sad when one contemplates human life, that so many live out their lives in quiet lostness . . . they live, as it were, away from themselves and vanish like shadows. Their immortal souls are blown away, and they are not disquieted by the question of its immortality, because they are already disintegrated before they die. Søren Kierkegaard (1813-55), Danish philosopher.
John 14:6 contains one of the great 7 "I am's" of the Book of John. (6:48, 8:12, 10:9, 10:11, 11:25 and 15:1). The "I am" is not simply "I reveal" or "I know" but rather a definitive I AM! The pronoun in the Greek is emphatic, and the use of it as such means to turn us from the method or thought to a Person. Each of the 7 "I am's" are definitive statements of eternal absolutes! These are not open for conjecture, for speculation, for philosophical debate. These statements by Christ are absolute and eternal. They are the plumb line for all else to be measured against.
To know Christ is to know all; there is no other. Outside of Christ is darkness. Jesus is the very embodiment of all truth. Jesus is the truth of God, the truth of all being and existence. When Jesus says "I am the way," He is in essence saying "Come, follow Me, for there is no other way unto eternal life." When one is lost, and only One knows the proper way...we do well to follow. We soon find that Christ is far more than a simple method or direction to follow...Jesus Christ is THE WAY.They lose nothing who gain Christ. Samuel Rutherford
All knowledge outside of Christ is ultimately ignorance. Realizing and confessing our ignorance to Him is the first step of true knowledge. Even upon receiving such "life and soul saving knowledge" as one has in Christ, we still possess but a faint glimpse of His infinite wisdom and majesty. The first part of John 14:6, I am the way, is the most important part in that the two statements of fact which follow, simply undergird the first. When we abide in Christ we abide in the way; we live enlightened by Him in regards to ultimate truth. Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God! When we come to know Jesus, we come to know God.
That being said, it becomes quite evident that the highest truth one can ever possess is simply that of Jesus Christ. All who are apart from Christ are dead even while they live. Upon their physical death, they are doomed to eternal darkness and damnation. We ultimately need to know, no other truth but that of Jesus Christ and His Word.
Christ is the way, He also leads us along the way through His Word, by His Spirit. All men will come to God as their final Judge. But only through Christ may one come to God as His child. Jesus is the way to God simply because He is the revealed will and truth of God. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, the manifestation and revelation of God Almighty to His creation.
Even with mental consent of Christ, with a confession of sin, we still cannot come unto Christ, unless God draws us. There are many professions of sin and Christ today simply by those whose conscience is troubled by the fear of impending wrath. Unless God draws you by the Holy Spirit, unless there is a work of regeneration in your heart...all is lost!
Such an absolute statement finds itself at odds with human wisdom. Mankind resents absolutes. Mankind resents perfection and holiness. It's much more comfortable to form our own gods, to set our own standards, to live our lives by our own definitions. We rebel against absolute authority. We despise the idea of accountability. Subsequently, man has come to rely upon science, technology, medicine, politics, military strength, money, philosophy, intellect and nature. Yet the eternal fact remains, all are dead who are outside of Christ.
Though you may have the best of education that this world has to offer, you are still deaf, dumb and blind to absolute, eternal Truth unless you have Christ. Though you may have wealth that staggers the mind, you are poor and wretched unless you have Christ. Though you may have all appearance of heath and happiness, you are actually in a state of death and decay unless you have Christ.
Thomas a' Kempis is famous for saying: Follow thou me. I am the way and the truth and the life. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth with thou must believe, the life for which thou must hope. I am the absolute way, the infallible truth, the never-ending life. I am the straightest way; the sovereign truth; life true, life blessed, life revealed, life unrevealed.
We must endeavor to not only know about Jesus, but to truly Know Him! There is a big difference. Historical recognition will not save your soul, such salvation comes only upon recognizing and receiving Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Upon accepting Christ, seek diligently to know Him intimately as your Lord, your King, your High Priest, your redeemer and ultimately, as your friend. To be a friend of God is a goal of highest ambition and honor. Know Christ and be at peace...for all eternity. In Christ, man meets God and God meets man. Do you desire truth today? Do you desire eternal life? If so, desire Jesus Christ!
Isa 35:8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.
John 10:9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Rev 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
John 6:33-35 "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
II Jn 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
Ps 25:9 The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.
Matt 7:13-14"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. " Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Col 2:6-10 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Who do you think Jesus Christ is today? Is He a simple historical figure of 2000 years ago? Is He merely a prophet? Is He merely a good man who did good things and spoke words of wisdom? Or, is He your personal Lord and Savior? That choice is indeed yours today...I hope and pray that the reality of the Son of God will become reality in your heart today. Recognize the sin in your life, recognize your need for repentance towards God, recognize your need for a Savior and then ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart; and ask Him to be the Lord of your life. God Bless.
