Tag: ascension

The Way, The Truth, And The Life

In a world with countless beliefs, how do we know what’s true? Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism are the four most practiced religions globally, with Christianity making up over 33% of the world’s population. Each of these beliefs acknowledges Jesus in some way…

Carl Pollard

In a world with countless beliefs, how do we know what’s true? Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism are the four most practiced religions globally, with Christianity making up over 33% of the world’s population. Each of these beliefs acknowledges Jesus in some way: Islam sees Him as a prophet and Messiah, Buddhists view Him as an enlightened figure, and Hindus consider Him a deity. They all agree—Jesus is worth listening to. But what did Jesus say about Himself? In John 14:6, He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If these religions point to Jesus, and Jesus points only to Himself, that’s a bold claim worth considering! 

This statement comes from Jesus’ farewell talk with His disciples during the Last Supper, recorded in John 13–17. It’s Thursday night, hours before His crucifixion. Judas has left to betray Him, and Jesus is preparing His followers for His death, resurrection, and ascension. He comforts them, saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled… In my Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1–4). But Thomas, confused, asks, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus’ response is direct: He is the way, the truth, the life. The Greek words emphasize exclusivity—He’s not a way but the way. This isn’t just for Thomas; it’s for all of us searching for God. 

The Way: Jesus is the only path to God. In November, 1975, seventy-five convicts started digging a secret tunnel designed to bring them up at the other side of the wall of Saltillo Prison in northern Mexico. On April 18, 1976,6 months later, they tunneled up into the nearby courtroom in which many of them had been sentenced. The surprised judges returned all 75 to jail. It helps to know the direction you’re going in life. We can’t find our way to God by guessing or following our gut. Acts 4:12 says, “There is salvation in no one else.” Following Jesus means trusting and obeying Him, walking the narrow path (Matthew 7:14).

The Truth: In a world that says truth is relative, Jesus stands as alētheia, reality itself. He calls us out above the world telling us to “just chase what feels good.” His truth tells us we’re sinners who need a Savior (Romans 3:23) but are loved and forgiven (John 3:16). His truth sets us free (John 8:32).

The Life: Jesus offers “zōē,” abundant, eternal life. Not a life running on empty, but one full of purpose and hope (John 10:10). He proved it by rising from the dead (Revelation 1:18). No job, bank account, or relationship can match that.

The Only Way: Jesus says no one reaches the Father except through Him. In 2025, that’s not popular, but it’s clear. He’s the bridge to God (1 Timothy 2:5). We don’t have to be harsh about it—Jesus loved everyone, and so should we. But love means pointing people to Him.

So what do we do? Follow the Way—trust Jesus, obey the gospel, stay on His path. Live the Truth. Let His teachings guide your life. Share the Life, tell others about Him. Jesus isn’t just a way, truth, or life—He’s THE way, THE truth, THE life. Trust Him, follow Him, and share Him with a world that needs Him now more than ever.

Almost Too Good To Be True!

How often we hear that the gospel, defined, is “good news.” It is God’s good news, meant to be shared. That’s exactly what the women and the two disciples are doing with the larger group of disciples when Jesus makes His final appearance before returning to heaven. But there are a few things He wants to impress upon them before He goes

Neal Pollard

How often we hear that the gospel, defined, is “good news.” It is God’s good news, meant to be shared. That’s exactly what the women and the two disciples are doing with the larger group of disciples when Jesus makes His final appearance before returning to heaven. But there are a few things He wants to impress upon them before He goes. Notice how the book of Luke ends (24:36-53).

There is a reminder of His identity (36-43). The predominant reminder in this last appearance is of His humanity, the identity He took on to save us from our sins. He shows them His hands and feet (40) and then eats a meal before them (41-43). He will appeal to His Deity in His final instructions, referencing His Father in heaven (49), but He did not want them to forget the brotherhood He shared with them all. How often do I benefit by remembering, as I go about as His disciple, that Jesus fully understands what I am going through? Read Hebrews 2:9-18, for example. He was for a little while made lower than the angels in order taste death for everyone (9). He was perfected in His work as our great High Priest by suffering as a human (10). He is not ashamed to call us “brethren” (11). He partook of sharing our nature, flesh and blood (14). He had to be made like His brethren in all things to become a merciful and faithful High Priest (17). He was tempted in His suffering, which helps Him come to our aid as we suffer (18). There are a multitude of additional passages reinforcing and supplementing our understanding and appreciation of Christ’s humanity, but the resurrected Jesus wants them to remember His humanity after He ascends to heaven. 

There is a reminder of His history (44-48). It is a mind-boggling truth that Jesus’ history goes back to His preexistence, before He became human. The facet of history of highest interest to Him is sacred history. So, He opened their minds to understand the Scripture (45). He appealed to the three major divisions of the Hebrew Old Testament, the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms (44). We might call them the books of history, prophecy, and poetry. They are saturated with the themes He elaborates upon in verses 46-47, His suffering, His resurrection, and His plan of salvation. By looking to God’s past revelation, they would be equipped for their present mission and fortified for their future reward. So it is for us today. The verification of Scripture, fulfilled prophecy, 

There is a reminder of His destiny (49-53). It included ascending to heaven to carry out the promise of His Father upon them, to be His witnesses, “clothed with power from on high” (49). Luke gives us fuller details of what happens in this discussion in Acts 1:4-8, and it includes His marching orders and an elaboration of what we read Him telling them about being His witnesses starting in Jerusalem (46-47). His immediate destination is heaven (50), and theirs is Jerusalem (52-53). They went there with great joy and, once there, “were continually in the temple praising God” (53). They were mentally preparing for their earth-shattering, world-changing mission. Heartache was overwhelmed by hope. Disappointment was conquered by determination. They were about to turn the world upside down, an intention they made good on from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the world (Acts 1:8; 17:6). Lest we forget, their role in His destiny is the same as ours. We are standing on their shoulders, carrying on their mission today. Jesus needs us to help fulfill His destiny in our world just as He needed them. They rose up and met the challenge! What about us?