Community Church Blog

Why is Jesus the Only Way?

by David Bolender on March 31, 2020

After Jesus predicted His betrayal and Peter’s denial, He talked to the disciples about going to His Father’s home to prepare a place for them.  He told them, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas replied that they didn’t know where Jesus was going and didn’t know the way.  Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” [John 14:4, 6]. Many today challenge the exclusivity of Jesus’ “I am the way” statement and instead suggest that there are many ways to get to His Father’s Home in heaven.  Let’s look at how Jesus’ statement fits within the storyline that runs through the Bible?

Sacrifice is central to the storyline of the Bible.  When our ancestors rebelled against God by listening to the lies of the serpent, sin corrupted God’s perfect creation.  Because of sin, Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness, so God provided animal skins to cover them [Genesis 3:6-7; 21].  This initial sacrifice which required shedding of blood physically linked death with sin. The pattern of sacrifice continues and expands through the storyline of Scripture.  Able offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving [Genesis 4:4], Noah’s sacrifice of thanksgiving was pleasing to the Lord [Genesis 8:20-22], Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice Isaac came out of utter devotion to the Lord and added the idea of a substitute [Genesis 22].  During the Passover in Egypt, the need for spotless lamb was introduced as well as the representative role of the firstborn son and God’s distinguishing of a people for Himself [Exodus 12].

It is in Leviticus (everyone’s favorite Bible book) that God reveals His requirements for an acceptable sacrifice and emphasizes the need for atonement (forgiveness for sin).  He chose one tribe to act as priests and workers in the Temple. The priests served as intermediaries between God and His sinful people. Although required sacrifices were offered daily, on one special day, the Day of Atonement, the High Priest alone was allowed to take the blood of the sacrifice into the presence of God to make atonement for his sins and the sins of the people.  This ritual sacrifice continued through the lifetime of Jesus. He was certainly familiar with it.

So, what does all this have to do with Jesus’s statement about Him being the way? We have an inherited sin debt that must be paid to avoid the just anger of God.  Our problem is that we, by our own efforts, are unable to pay this debt, because we need an effective sacrifice as payment. This is where Jesus fits into the storyline.  He is God the Son who has come to earth as a human, He is eternal, He lived a sinless life as our spotless Passover lamb. On the cross Jesus shed His blood and took on God’s wrath to make atonement for our sin.  He became our Great High Priest. But unlike the High Priest of the Hebrews who had to sacrifice every year, Jesus’ one sacrifice was permanent – once for all time. He then sat down at the place of highest honor at God’s right hand [Hebrews 10:12-14].  Only Jesus satisfies God’s requirements for the perfect sacrifice that actually removes our sin. That is why Jesus is the only way for us to be reconciled to God.

Tags: jesus, sin, atonement, sacrifice

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