TMC

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” — John 14:6, NKJV

How many times have you prayed something along the lines of, “Lord, just show me the way! Where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do? Which direction should I take?”

I certainly have. I pretty much have a whole journal full of these prayers.

I’d guess many of us spend a lot of time asking God to show us the way through life. We want direction for our careers, relationships, families, decisions, callings, and futures. I think sometimes we can become so focused on figuring out where we’re supposed to go that we forget where we’re ultimately headed.

Jesus makes such a fantastic statement in John 14:6. He doesn’t just simply promise to show us the way. He declares that HE IS THE WAY!

But the way to what? Or, rather, to whom?

The Father!

We were created to know God, to dwell in his presence, and to enjoy fellowship with our Creator. That is the overarching purpose of our existence. Everything else in our lives ought to flow from our relationship with him.

To truly appreciate and understand what Jesus is saying, we have to go back to the beginning — Genesis.

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve sinned against God, and humanity’s relationship with him was fundamentally changed. They were banished from the Garden of Eden, where they had enjoyed fellowship with their Creator.

“So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24, NKJV, emphasis added).

The way was now guarded. Humanity had sinned, and access to the tree of life was barred.

Isaiah 53:6 describes our condition:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (NKJV, emphasis added).

We had gone on our way, and we needed a way back.

Now follow this connection into the Old Testament tabernacle. Under the Old Covenant, God’s presence was associated with the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant was kept. Hebrews 9:5 describes the cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat. Isn’t that an interesting connection to the cherubim guarding the way in Genesis?

The tabernacle’s restrictions reminded Israel that access to God’s holy presence was no longer something sinful humanity could simply claim for itself.

Hebrews 9:7 explains that only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, bringing sacrificial blood (from an animal) for his own sins and those of the people (this is a very simplified summary; read Leviticus 16 for more). Then verse 8 tells us:

“The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing” (NKJV).

Did you catch it? The WAY into the Most Holy Place had not yet been revealed.

But keep reading! Hebrews 9:11-12 says:

“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (NKJV, emphasis added).

Jesus accomplished what the sacrifices of the old covenant could never accomplish. And when he died on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). That curtain had separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the sanctuary. Through Christ’s sacrifice, the barrier to approaching God was overcome. Hebrews 10 explains it even more directly:

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-20, NKJV, emphasis added).

A new and living way. Friends, how incredible is that?! The way guarded in Genesis, the restricted access under the old covenant, the blood sacrifices offered year after year—all point us to our desperate need for reconciliation with God and the extraordinary work of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the WAY back to the Father. Through him, we have been reconciled to God, and through him, we have access to the very presence of our Creator.

Jesus says:

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9, NKJV).

And Hebrews 4:16 invites us:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (NKJV).

That invitation is such a privilege—we can approach the throne of grace with confidence because Jesus has opened the way!

In fact, the earliest believers were even identified as “followers of the Way” (Acts 9:2). Their identity was bound to the One they followed.

So what does this mean for the “way” we actually live? (intended)

The Hebrew word derekh (דֶּרֶךְ) (pronounced deh’-rek), often translated as “way,” can refer to a physical road or journey, but also to someone’s conduct or manner of life (Strong’s H1870). It’s not merely about where you’re going. It’s also about how you’re living.

Scripture tells us how we know what steps to take:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, NKJV).

If Jesus is the Way, then we ought to be spending our lives getting to know him! We need to know his Word, understand his character, obey his commands, and learn to live as he lived. God’s Word illuminates our steps, instructs us in righteousness, and teaches us what it means to walk in obedience to him.

God guides us:

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, NKJV, emphasis added).

And 2 Samuel 22:31 reminds us:

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him” (NKJV, emphasis added).

We have the Word of God to guide our daily lives and the Son of God through whom we have access to the Father. So when we pray, “Lord, show me the way,” we should remember that he has already revealed the most important answer.

Jesus never promised to give us a detailed map of every road we will take in this life. But he has revealed the way to the Father, and he has given us his Word to teach us how to live as we follow him.

Our lives are not ultimately about arriving at the perfect earthly destination or successfully accomplishing everything we set out to do. We were created for fellowship with God. Christ has reconciled us to him, and one day we will dwell with him in the fullness of his presence, forever.

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3, NKJV).

From the garden, where humanity was driven out of God’s presence, to the tabernacle, where access to the Most Holy Place was restricted, to the cross, where Christ opened the way through his own blood, Scripture tells the extraordinary story of God’s redemption of humanity.

And look where it ends — God dwelling with his people once again. No sin separating us from him, no veil restricting access, and no more death (Revelation 21:4).

So when we ask God to show us the way, let’s remember where we’re ultimately headed. Our destination is not some earthly accomplishment, position, or circumstance. It’s perfect fellowship with the God who created us, loves us, and made a way for us to be reconciled to him.

Jesus is not merely showing us how to get where we want to go—he is the Way to the One we were created to know.

HE IS THE WAY!

taylormcgee