Jesus is the way?

Question

When Jesus said he is the way and no one goes to the father but by him, what exactly did he mean?

Could he have meant he is the Way, as in the Road? By that I mean, did he mean we should take the same path as him, to be like him? Where did the interpretation of him personally being the only way into heaven come in?

This is a serious question. Please, only sincere thoughtful responses.

What exactly did he mean by "through" Him?

Answer 1

I think if he did say these words, I think it was very profound reference to earlier prechristian concepts of the middle way.

Answer 2

Sh*t. And I had just taken a left.

Oh...ooh...only sincere and thoughtful responses? Then, yes, I do believe your interpretation has great merit. The likelihood is that he metaphorically meant a path. However, many Christians interpret this to mean that only by accepting Christ as saviour can one enter heaven. There is extensive metaphor in the Bible so I see not one lick of proof Jesus meant "through me" as in "he's the only way to get in". Water in the Bible is a metaphor for truth and knowledge. The tree was often utilized as a terminology for God. Unfortunately, many humans read the Bible as a metaphor when it doesn't suit their beliefs and biases, and as literal when it does.

I myself am a a humanist (agnostic) but I've read much of the Bible. I am hoping that Jesus meant a road of kindness, compassion, and humanity would lead to 'salvation' - although you & I may understand salvation differently.

All the best.

Answer 3

John 14:6
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jesus showed us the way, He is Truth, He is Life. No one can come the Father unless you have Jesus as Lord and Savior.
1 Timothy 5:8 is the Scripture to remember.
"There is one Mediator to God, that is, the man Jesus Christ."
A mediator is someone who stands in proxy of two parties. What is great is Jesus sits at the right hand side of God, but He walked among us. He knows what we went through, He intercedes for us to our Father.

Answer 4

Jesus didn't say that, the people that wrote the bible said that as yet another way to try to convince people that the only way through life is Christianity. And they succeeded for the most part. Until now when people are starting to wise up.

Answer 5

God tells us that the only way to have a relationship with God is by accepting His son, Jesus. There is no other way because this is the way the God has said it is to be.

Acting like Jesus is not enough. God knows each individual person's intentions so there's no faking it.

Answer 6

I believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We have to accept Jesus as our Savior. Have your ever read the book
"The Purpose Driven Life", get it and read. Jesus loves us and wants us to remember that whatever we do in life, it should be for Him. We will be judged by the way we deal with things in this life. He knows that we will make mistakes but if we are truly sorry for the mistakes that we make, they will be immediately forgotten in heaven. Our purpose here is to Glorify God and to live our lives the way that would please Him. God Bless!!!

Answer 7

firstly, congratulations on waking up and challenging what others tell you.

I offer the idea that jesus is indeed merely a role model, no more divine than you or I, merely more awakened and understanding the nature of things.

>>"Jesus means we need to accept Him as saviour to get saved (to heaven). "<<

to me that idea is absurd, as God is the only one capable or worthy of being called Savior, so to call jesus that, would be idolotry.

>>"That means that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and we can only go to God if our sins are cleansed. Jesus is the only way we can do that. Nothing else can cleanse us of our sins. "<<

God is not strong enough to, yet Jesus, a Man is? oh yeah, that makes sense.

Answer 8

I think you are correct. Jesus also said "In gaining an entrance into the kingdom of heaven, it is the motive that counts. My Father looks into the hearts of men and judges by their inner longings and their sincere intentions. " That's pretty clear.

Answer 9

When He said this, He meant it literally. (Am I going too fast for you? I know how stoners can be.) He meant that only by believing Him to be the Son of God, and only by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, believing that He was put to death on the cross for the sins of the world ( my sins, your sins, everyone's sins, OK?), and that He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to the right hand of God will you be able to even come to God. Only by praying in the name of Jesus, or asking of God in the name of Jesus can you even be acknowledged by God. In other words, there is no other way for you t5o even talk to God, unless you do it in the name of Jesus Christ. You cannot pray in the name of or 'through' Mary, or the saints, but only 'through' Jesus. That's about as clear and simple as I can make it.

Answer 10

Jesus was a messenger to deliver God's message. He thought of himself as the message he was delivering.

If a person came to you and said, "I am the way to Heaven,( or to God's salvation)".

Would you not ask him for instructions; instruction on how to live your life, so as to go to Heaven?

Jesus provided us with about 100 verses of his instructions on how to live our lives and how to go to heaven. Until you believe those instructions, and follow those instructions, then you do not qualify as "believeing in him" as written in John 3:16.

To say I am going to Heaven because I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or because I believe Jesus died for my sins, has no merit if you do not follow Jesus' instructions.

Proof: Satan believes that Jesus is the son of God.
Satan believes that Jesus died on the cross and rose again.
Satan believes that Jesus died for the remission of sins.

Does that mean that Satan is a Christian?

But Satan's personality does not allow him to follow Jesus' instructions.

Therefore, Jesus' messages are the way, and to read, believe, and follow his instructions qualifies you as a Christian.

Answer 11

The verse in question: "I am the way..." doesn't leave a lot of room for interpretation. He literally means the only way to God is through Him.