Session Six: I Am the Way
In this session, we’ll explore:
Jesus as the way, the truth and the life
Our call to tell people about Him
‘My evidence that I am saved does not lie in the fact that I preach, or that I do this or that. All my hope lies in this: that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. I am a sinner, I trust him, then he came to save me, and I am saved.’
Charles Spurgeon
1. Reflect
What do people mean today when they talk about truth? Is there any such thing as truth or does it all depend on your point of view?
2. Read
Read John 14:1–14. Look at verses 1-3. What is it that Jesus is promising his disciples?
When Jesus speaks about being the way, the truth and the life, what do you think that he means?
What do you think that Jesus means by truth? How does this compare with what you said earlier about truth?
“No one comes to the Father except through me.” What does Jesus mean by this and why is it true?
Look at verses 8–11. What does Jesus tell us here about the relationship between himself and the Father?
In verses 12–14, what is Jesus giving us authority to do? What are the limits of that authority?
Need help? Here are some hints…
1. Jesus is speaking about his need to leave this life to enable another life to begin in his followers. His promise to come back hints towards the resurrection and future coming at the end of the age (we’ll cover that in a later study)
2. Jesus’ words speak to us about direction, meaning and hope in our lives. This links up with other things that we have seen him say in this module. There is a consistency to Jesus’ understanding of himself and his message to his disciples
3. Jesus speaks about being the truth. His life, actions, attitudes and his teaching all speak about what is true. He’s the standard that we compare everything else to. Can you see why that might not make some of his teaching popular today?
4. Jesus is claiming to be unique. Think about what that means for the world. Think about how you would respond to someone who suggested that it was arrogant of Christians to claim to have exclusive access to the truth and to the way of salvation.
6. Jesus expects his followers to be activists. It is not enough to have a comfy belief; we are called to continue Jesus’ work. We can only do what Jesus’ gives us authority to do. It must be in his name, i.e. the thing that he authorises.
3. Act
We each have a responsibility to help people understand the truth about Jesus but some people are released to work full-time in this role. Pick one of the organisations here and find out something about the work that they do in sharing the Good News or making it available to people. The people named have links with BSBC.
BMS World Mission
Bible Society
Scripture Union
Wycliffe Bible Translators
London City Mission
European Christian Mission - Roland and Carolien Smith
One Mission Society - Storly and Kate Michel
World Venture - Paul and Lizzie Reed
4. Pray
Pray for the organisation that you researched and any mission workers that you read about.
