Knowing The Way

When Jesus told his disciples that he was going to His Father's house to prepare a place for them in John 14:1ff, he went on to say, "and you know the way to the place where I am going."  Not too surpizing, it was "Doubting" Thomas who responded, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, how can we know the way?"  Jesus reply is a game-changer for all those relying on their understanding of doctrine or tradition to pave the way: "I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father except through me."

Jesus' statement makes it clear that the path to heaven is not based on our ability to discern and follow a set of rules or system of rituals.  The path to heaven is singular, it is Jesus himself - he is the path.  It is in accepting him, accepting his life, his mindset, to follow in his steps.  This truth is precisely what our Lord said to the disciples as he called them: "Come follow me" (Matt 4:19).  He did not say to follow a set of rules or comprehend a body of tradition - Jesus said, "Follow me."

Following Jesus means so much more than following rules, it means to become a different person, to become Christ-like, to, as Paul says in Philippians 2:5, "have the same mindset as Christ."  We are called, not to act in a certain way or to acknowledge certain doctrines but to be changed in the likeness of a certain Person.  We are to become Christians (little Christs) - we are to become like Jesus.

I'm not suggesting that rituals have no meaning or that doctrine is unimportant, I am saying that those are things to be addressed by a disciple but do not make one a disciple and discipleship is not a matter of following rules and precepts but in following a person.  Are you doing that?  Are you showing love to your enemies?  Do you give generously?  Is faithfulness a guide to your relationships?  Are you sacrificial, are you honest, are you humble?  Are you becomming like Jesus?

Jesus is the way.  Are you learning from him?  Are you spending time with him?  Are you asking him to transform you?  Is Jesus and the life he modeled your template for life?  Do you know Jesus, do you know The Way?  Jus' Ask'n.