Tavern Talk #81 - The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Cooper Shattuck
3 days ago
2 min read

This past Sunday, we looked at one of the most familiar yet profound passages in Scripture: John 14:1–6. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Words that have comforted generations, but they’re not just for the disciples in the Upper Room; they’re for us right now.

The Way

Remember getting directions somewhere? Somehow we managed to get to our destinations using maps and handwritten notes. GPS has changed everything. Sometimes for the better and sometimes not (if you’ve ever ended up going in circles, at the wrong destination, or in a threatening holler in West Virginia, you know what I mean!). Some of us have a better sense of direction than others. Just ask Lisa.

Jesus doesn’t just give us directions. He is the way. We can’t get there on our own. Think about Disney or other customer-focused enterprises. They don’t just point you down a hallway; they show you the way. They accompany you to a solution or someone who can provide one. Same with Jesus. Sure, his way is directional and instructional -- like a YouTube tutorial. Not only do you hear “this is how,” you see “here is how.” But it is more. Instead of simply showing you how to fix the toilet, he is there with you.

The Truth

Context matters. Back then, religious leaders were misrepresenting God, twisting what people were supposed to believe and do. Sound familiar? Today, lying is rampant. Worse yet, people speak with authority about things they know nothing about.

Jesus cuts through all of that. What He says is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. When He speaks, you can trust it. No spin. No hidden agenda. Just the truth that matters most. If you are confused about what to believe, just look at the red letters of Jesus. If someone tells you something that contradicts them, you know it isn’t the truth.

The Life

“This is the life!” We say that when we’re relaxed on vacation or enjoying a great moment. But John used that phrase to describe Jesus. Not just life, but the life. The only never-ending life.

Advertisers want you to believe their product defines “the life.” But life isn’t found in stuff. Jesus is life. A life with Him is The Life and it doesn’t end. It’s eternal. And it isn’t just about eternity but life here and now.

The Point

Notice Jesus didn’t say He was a way, a truth, or a life. He said the. The way, the truth, the life. The only. Not one option among many, but the answer.

That’s not just reassurance for the disciples who were confused back then—it’s reassurance for us today.

Lost your way? Jesus is the way.
Confused about what to believe? Jesus is the truth.
Wondering if there’s more to life? There is with Jesus, who is The Life.