I have a theological question. There are people out there that have more knowledge of what I am about to ask, than I do.
In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." When he referred to those 3 things (way, truth, and life) was that an allusion to the trinity; the 3 parts of the one God? Father, Son, and Spirit? In verse 10 Jesus answers Phillip and outright says that He, Himself, is the Father and the Son. The Father lives in Him, and He in the Father. Verse 17 and 18 might suggest that the Spirit is in Him too.
So I wonder if it is possible that it is like this:
Way = Jesus
Truth = Father
Life = Spirit
All 3 = I Am
All of these parts are one? I do think that there is support even in this passage that it might not be the case. I am just wondering if there is something more to the words Jesus chose here. The way. The truth. The life.
I probably made a jump here in the theology, but it all started when I started wondering why Jesus used those 3 specific words and started it with "I Am". That is how God referred to Himself in Genesis when Moses was to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of captivity.
Screwing things up one verse at a time.
Peace!
5 comments:
Bryan,
I've never really thought about it this way. It certainly seems plausible that Christ was referring to the trinity, but remember that the Holy Spirit had not yet come (Pentecost). Jesus speaks several times about He and the Father being one.
Good question! Let me dig a little, OK?
David
And to your point, Jesus does talk about the Holy Spirit a little later in the chapter. He talks about the Holy Spirit coming as a Counselor. I think this furthers my argument, but I am by no means an expert.
From my ESV Study Bible
John 14:6
John 14:6 Jesus as the one way to the Father fulfills the OT symbols and teachings that show the exclusiveness of God's claim (see note on 3:18), such as the curtain (Ex. 26:33) barring access to God's presence from all except the Levitical high priest (Leviticus 16), the rejection of human inventions as means to approach God (Lev. 10:2), and the choice of Aaron alone to represent Israel before God in his sanctuary (Num. 17:5). Jesus is the only “way” to God (Acts 4:12), and he alone can provide access to God. Jesus as the truth fulfills the teaching of the OT (John 1:17) and reveals the true God (cf. 1:14, 17; 5:33; 18:37; also 8:40, 45–46; 14:9). Jesus alone is the life who fulfills the OT promises of “life” given by God (11:25–26), having life in himself (1:4; 5:26), and he is thus able to confer eternal life to all those who believe in him (e.g., 3:16). This is another “I am” saying that makes a claim to deity (see note on 6:35).
from the left:
the way, truth and life for everyone is that ONE unique spirit filled "thing" instilled in every man (who believes)when Jesus conquered death (not until)- too difficult to understand in anthropomorphic terms (too much thinking, not enough Venn diagram practice in Philosophy 101), but very easy to FEEL when we are in line with our unique, God placed Way, Truth and Life (none of which exist without the others).
Jesus' "last temptation" seems ridiculous when knowing he stated "I am the Life" because he wasn't until he "chose" (as a human) to be a lamb for ALL humanity, i.e., if he was really tempted to do otherwise because of his human "power" then he would NOT have been any of those 3 things.
And, the Holy Spirit (IMO) didn't exist until Jesus overcame death and "metaphysically" (for lack of better human communication) instilled that Way, Truth and Life into mankind. 2 cents from the left.
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Patrick
Patrick, I appreciate the "view from the left". I guess I would usually fall in a moderate to concervative vein and I am normally right leaning on most issues. It is good to have input from all sides here. Very interesting. Thanks.
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