The heart of the Christian message is a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. That is our greatest need—and it is what Jesus came to offer us.
In John chapter 14:1–6, Jesus said,
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
I want to look for a moment specifically at that last statement Jesus made, and what it means when He said, “I am the way…” Certainly, Jesus is the exclusive way into a relationship with God. The way to God is narrow because Jesus is it.
But also, when we speak of the way, it also denotes a method, the way something is done. Jesus’ way was personal, relational, and unhurried. He always had time for people and was content to minister wherever He was.
Yes, He spoke to large crowds, but we also find time after time where Jesus lingered with people, talking with them, and sharing meals with them.
He never seemed to be in a hurry…yet no one in the history of the world had more to do than Him!
By contrast, the pace of many men and women that I know is “build, build, build…” and “go, go, go…” They don’t stop. They take their work home with them every night and have no time for their kids or friendships with others.
I remember years ago when we were having our home treated for termites, and I had promised to take our youngest son Spencer fishing. It wasn’t until they had put a giant tent up around the house that I remembered the fishing poles were in the garage.
I went to the house and walked up to one of the guys there and said, “Hey, can I go in the garage and get something?” He said, “What do you need to get?” I said, “I left a couple of fishing poles in there, and I promised to take my son fishing.”
This guy very sarcastically said, “Oh, it must be nice.” I turned to him and said, “Listen, it is not a luxury that I take my boy fishing; it’s a necessity.”
He hung his head and said, “I’m sorry. I missed my kids’ entire childhood because I was so focused on work, and now I’m not close to them even to this day.”
He said, “Yes, you can go in there, get your fishing pole, take your boy fishing, and have a good time.”
Friend, the way of Jesus—an unhurried, relational life—is something we must learn if we are to experience the fullness of what God has for us. Consider what He said in Matthew 11:28–30…
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That’s the way of Jesus.
This key message is central to what we teach day in and day out through the ministry of Answers with Bayless Conley.
With your support, we’re reaching people around the world with that message in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Farsi, Dutch, German, Russian, Hindi, Nepali, and Tamil—so people of different tongues, tribes, and nations can know Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
