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I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life



“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” (RSV-CE Jn. 14: 6-7)

The setting of this self-identifying statement is extremely important.  Jesus is dining with His disciples at the “Last Supper”.  He and they are well aware of His impending death.  The second part of this passage is central to the one of John’s themes, Jesus and the Father are one.  To know Jesus is to know the Father and know the Father one must know Jesus.  It is fitting those scholars count this chapter part of the “Farewell Discourse”. 



Jesus is reassuring his closest followers that death is not the end, death is a path to the Father.  More importantly, Jesus is quite clear that He is the one way to the Father.  Without Jesus humanity would be cut off from the Father.  Instead, Jesus reveals the way, and that way is Him.  His way is true because he was sent from above to dispel sin and error, guard His flock, and guide his sheep to the new life in the resurrection. 

1
6:35, 41, 48, 51
I AM the Bread of Life
2
8:12; 9:5
I AM the Light of the World
3
10:7, 9
I AM the Gatekeeper
4
10:11, 14
I AM the Good Shepherd
5
11:25
I AM the Resurrection and Life
6
14:6
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
7
15:1, 5
I AM the Vine my Father is the Gardner/You are the Branches

Sources:
  • Bergant, Dianne C.S.A., and Robert J. O.F.M Karris. The Collegeville Bible Commentary. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1986.
  • Brown, Raymond D. S.S., Joseph A, S.J. Fitzymer, and Roland E, O. Carm. Murphy, . The Jerome Biblical Commentary. Vol. I and II. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1968.
  • Hunt, Michal. "The 7 Symbolic "I Am" Metaphors of John's Gospel." Agape Catholic Bible Study. AgapeBibleStudy.com, 2007. Web. 21 June 2015. <http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/charts/Seven%20Days%20and%20Seven%20I%20AMs%20in%20John's%20Gospel.html>.
  • Just, Rev. Felix, Ph. D. "Christology in the Fourth Gospel." Catholic Resources for Bible, Liturgy, Art, and Theology. Felix Just, S. J., 8 July 2013. Web. 21 June 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fcatholic-resources.org%2FJohn%2FThemes-Christology.htm>.
  • Just, Rev. Felix, Ph. D. "I AM" Sayings in the Fourth Gospel." Catholic Resources for Bible, Liturgy, Art, and Theology. Felix Just, S. J., 11 July 2012. Web. 12 June 2015. <http://catholic-resources.org/John/Themes-IAM.htm>.
  • Lewis, Scott M. The Gospel According to John and the Johannine Letters. Collegeville, MI: Liturgical, 2005. Print.
  • Martin, Francis. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015. Print.
  • Mays, James L., et al., . Harper's Bible Commentary. New York City, New York: Harper San Francisco: a Divison of Harper Collins Publishers, 1988.
  • Wilson, Neil S., and Linda K. Taylor. Handbook of Bible Charts & Maps. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2001.
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