Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except by me.
John 14:6, NIV

I love the way Jesus simplifies our spiritual and emotional lives. While religion stacks demands and commands, Jesus has removed the weight of all the law and the prophets by putting them on His back. Statements like, "Don't worry about tomorrow," "Follow me," and "Forgive as your heavenly Father has forgiven you" show us how we can simply find spiritual peace because of who He is and what He has done.

As we reflect on the last part of today's verse, "no one comes to the Father except by me," there are two ways of understanding it. The first is that Jesus is setting Himself up to be the exclusive way to Father God. The second is that He is simplifying the way to Father God. Both are true, however, within the conversation, it is clear that Jesus is trying to clarify and simplify for the disciples who He is. He wasn't trying to exclude others but make a clear and singular path.

Why does this matter? While all faiths are exclusionary in some way, the Father's desire is that "none should perish." He sent Jesus to earth to simplify all of the archaic voices that compete to tell people how they should live their lives in a way that pleases God. Instead of fulfilling laws, commands, fasts, meditations, and observing days and traditions, He put them all together and says, "I am the Way." It is His heart to make access to an eternal relationship with Him as uncluttered as possible. Face to face is the goal, not following laws and rituals.

Jesus takes us out of the realm of religion and places us into a relationship with Him. Then He walks us into a relationship with the Father. As we trust Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, He brings us confidently before the Father, without sin, guilt, or shame. Let's keep our spiritual lives simple. Go to Jesus.

Love, Pastor Stuart