Jesus Christ is the Life (John 14:6)

by Whitney V. Myers

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Sunrise on Lake Constance (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) - Pixabay Photo - Used under license

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" (John 14:6)

Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).  This lesson explains the "I am the life" portion of this verse.  I encourage you to read first the two predecessor lessons which explain the "I am the way" and "I am the truth" portions of this verse.  Here are the links:

"Jesus is the Way to Heaven" (Ref. 1)
"Jesus is the Truth" (Ref. 2)

The About the Way page also teaches about the Way of God in the Old Testament and the Way in the New Testament.

     Consider.  What does it mean to you that Jesus Christ said "I am the life"?

     Jesus is the Creator and Source of Life.  Jesus Christ is the source or fountain of all life.  Scripture tells us "For by Him all things were created" and "All things have been created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).  John writes, "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" (John 1:3).  

The Greek word for life is zóé, which means both physical (present) and spiritual (particularly future) existence (Ref. 3).  Life always comes from and is sustained by God.

"Life" here has no limitation, and includes life of the body, the life of the soul, the life of the spirit, life in the present, and life in the future (Ref. 4).

     Life is through Christ rather than the Law.  Jesus' Jewish listeners were familiar with the law given through Moses.  Yes.  God gave the law (Exodus 20:1-17, Exodus 24:12).  Yes.  God instructed the Israelites to obey the law (Deuteronomy 30:15-18).  However, the law itself did not impart life.  Only Jesus can impart life.  I suggest that this point is central to what Jesus meant when he said "I am the life."

The Apostle Paul emphasizes faith in Christ versus the inability of the law to impart life.  "If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21).  "For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law" (Galatians 3:21).  "The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24, italics added).      

     Jesus is the Key to Blessed Life.  Jesus spoke about the sheep under his care, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they [believers] may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10, brackets added).  The Greek word for abundantly in this verse is perissos, which means all-around and going beyond the expected limit (more than enough) (Ref. 5).  As believers in Christ, Jesus cares for us and meets our needs.  David, the Psalmist, captured this truth when he wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake" (Psalm 23:1-3). 
 

     Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life.  Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:27-28, italics added).

The Greek word for eternal in eternal life is aiónios, which means unending, and age-long (Strong's Concordance - Ref. 6).  Aiónios includes the character of that which lasts for an age, as contrasted with that which is brief and fleeting (Ref. 6).  "Aiónios does not focus on the future per se, but rather on the quality of the age it relates to.  Thus, believers live in eternal life right now, experiencing this quality of God's life now as a present possession" (Helps Word-studies - Ref. 6, Ref. 7).

Jesus Christ is the life.  Jesus imparts life that the law cannot impart.  Jesus is the key to a blessed life.  To those who believe in him, Jesus gives eternal life - the quality of life which begins now and continues into eternity after our physical death.  Thanks be to God for Jesus who is our life!

     Apply.  Take time now to thank God for the life that he gives you through his Son, Jesus Christ.

References
1.  http://www.scriptureway.com/home/jesus-is-the-way-to-heaven
2.  http://www.scriptureway.com/home/jesus-is-the-truth
3.  https://biblehub.com/greek/2222.htm
4.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/john/1.htm
(Ellicott's Commentary on John 1:4)
5.  https://biblehub.com/greek/4053.htm
6.  https://biblehub.com/greek/166.htm
7.  http://www.scriptureway.com/home/what-is-eternal-life