John 14:6

Jesus again gave an enigmatic answer. He had already said plainly that He would die and rise again at least three times (cf. Mark 8:31-32; Mark 9:30-32; Mark 10:32-34). Nevertheless the disciples’ preconceptions of Messiah’s ministry did not allow them to interpret His words literally.

The words "way," "truth," and "life" are all coordinate in Jesus’ answer; Jesus described Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. The "way" is slightly more dominant in view of Thomas’ question and its position in relation to the "truth" and the "life." Jesus is the way to God because He is the truth from God and the life from God. He is the truth because He embodies God’s supreme revelation (John 1:18; John 5:19; John 8:29), and He is the life because He contains and imparts divine life (John 1:4; John 5:26; John 11:25; cf. 1 John 5:20). Jesus was summarizing and connecting many of the revelations about Himself that He had previously given the Eleven.

"He not only shows people the way (i.e., by revealing it), but he is the way (i.e., he redeems us). In this connection ’the truth’ . . . will have saving significance. It will point to Jesus’ utter dependability, but also to the saving truth of the gospel. ’The life’ (see on John 1:4) will likewise take its content from the gospel. Jesus is both life and the source of life to believers." [Note: Morris, p. 569.]

Jesus was not saying that He was one way to God among many. He was not saying that He pointed the way to God either. He said that no one comes to God the Father but through faith in Himself. This means that religions that assign Jesus a role that is different from the one that the Bible gives Him do not bring people to God or eternal life. This was an exclusive claim to being the only way to heaven (cf. John 10:9; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). It is only because of Jesus Christ’s work on the cross that anyone can enter heaven. Since He has come it is only through faith in the promise of God that His cross work satisfied the Father that anyone experiences regeneration (John 1:12; John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; et al.). Since He has come, rejection of God’s revelation through Him results in eternal damnation (John 3:36).

This is the sixth of Jesus "I am" claims (cf. John 6:48; John 8:12; John 10:9; John 10:11; John 11:25; John 15:1).

"We should not overlook the faith involved both in the utterance and in the acceptance of those words, spoken as they were on the eve of the crucifixion. ’I am the Way,’ said one who would shortly hang impotent on a cross. ’I am the Truth,’ when the lies of evil people were about to enjoy a spectacular triumph. ’I am the Life,’ when within a matter of hours his corpse would be placed in a tomb." [Note: Ibid., p. 570.]