Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)
It’s like a mint condition 1957 Chevy given to you by your grandfather. As you are driving it home, you take the corner too fast and roll the antique car in the ditch. A policeman comes to your aid and to add insult to injury, he gives you a ticket for speeding and talking on a cell phone with a buddy while driving. But he also gives you a business card for one of the best repair shops in town. As the wrecked heirloom enters into the repair shop, the master mechanic is grieved that such a classic vehicle has been so damaged. But he is also thrilled that you have chosen him to fix such a prized possession.
The Father Creator has provided opportunity for restoration, now enters the Son of God. Jesus Christ expresses his role in the restoration process in John 14.6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Jesus is the way in the sense that he provided the sacrifice that was necessary in order to stay God's wrath (Rom 5:9; 1 Thess 1:9; Is 53). He is the gate by which we come to salvation and are reconciled to the Father (Jn 10.1-5).
Jesus is the truth. In the midst of Satan's lies and the lies of the world there is one true way (Jn 8.44, 1 Jn 2.15-16). The way is narrow and that is the only way. Truth is narrow by definition (Mt7.14). All other attempts or methods of trying to gain God's favor or affection are lies from the pit of Hell (Gal 1.8). Jesus is the only means by which a man or woman can gain access to God. The integrity of this method is not based on our perceptions or beliefs but is based on the prerogative of the Designer of salvation (Jn 3.16, Rom 9.20). He is the one who determines the standard by which we interact in a right relationship with Him. He and He alone determines what truth is, for he has created all things and knows all things (Titus 1.2).
And Jesus is the life. Not only an aspect of life that comes through breathing, a moving and being, but he has life in a sense of the example to follow (Jn 13.15, Lk 6.40, 1 Jn 2.6, Eph 5.1). He is the supreme prototype (Col 1.15). Where Adam failed, Jesus lives in victory. He is all that the original image was meant to be. He modeled for us what the first Adam could not do (Rom 5.14-17, 1 Cor 15.22). Now we see clearly what God intended us to be through the life of Jesus Christ. It is not only his death and resurrection that are so vital for our restoration, but it is also his life, which is as equally essential (Jn 10.10).
As we look to him and follow his example, we too are becoming all we were meant to be. This is why Jesus’ life is so important to us. He is the only person, the only example, which we can possibly trust to follow without reservation and achieve the goal of glorifying God. He is the perfect image of God in human form (Heb 1.3, Col 1.15).
It’s like a mint condition 1957 Chevy given to you by your grandfather. As you are driving it home, you take the corner too fast and roll the antique car in the ditch. A policeman comes to your aid and to add insult to injury, he gives you a ticket for speeding and talking on a cell phone with a buddy while driving. But he also gives you a business card for one of the best repair shops in town. As the wrecked heirloom enters into the repair shop, the master mechanic is grieved that such a classic vehicle has been so damaged. But he is also thrilled that you have chosen him to fix such a prized possession. As the Master Mechanic looks at the wreck, it is unrecognizable. He will need to look at an original in order to make the repairs. He could have simply exchanged the old wreck for the model but the sentimental value forces him to restore the heap of mangled metal. Each repair is made only after looking to the original model to insure quality restoration. To be continued…
(Part 1) - The Glory of His Image
(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing
(Part 3) – We Need a Savior
(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father
(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son
(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship
(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued
(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship
(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques
(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers
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