©Black Apologetics Ministry 2001-2003
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“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Me”, (John 14:6) is the proclamation that went forth from Jesus Himself some 2,000 years ago. Now some 2,000 years later, these very words still continue to be the center of many heated debates. Many still question the validity of one Man, Jesus the Christ, being the only way to God.
In a day and age, when religious tolerance has become the norm, one may ask ‘Why not Muhammed as the way?’, ‘Why not Buddha?’, or better yet ‘Why not all three- Jesus, Muhammed, and Buddha as the way’? Surely, it would seem logical that there can be many ways to God. If Christians are deemed narrow minded because of their belief in one Man’s life, death, and resurrection, it is only because Jesus set Himself apart from and far above any other individual, man, and or prophet. So what is it that set Jesus apart from, Muhammed, Buddha, and any other individual?
Consider the following:
1. Jesus is the only One who has given us the gift of eternal life.
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). I don’t know about you, but I have received many gifts in this lifetime, but I have yet to receive one more powerful and more valuable than the one of salvation. Why is the gift of salvation so important? Because without it, we could never be saved from our sins and are eternally condemned and destined for eternal damnation (hell). In fact, Jesus emphasized this point in John 3:18, when He proclaims that “He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Now, I know by now you are probably asking, ‘How do I know that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God?’, which brings me to the next point.
2. Jesus is the only One who claimed to be God.
“I AM." Does this name sound familiar to you? Especially any of you who are familiar with the Old Testament. Moses had an encounter with God at the burning bush in Exodus 3:13-14, and Moses asked God, "who should I say sent me (paraphrase)", and God said unto Moses, “ I AM THAT I AM…I AM hath sent me to you”. Now let’s fast forward this about several thousand years, and Jesus is speaking with the Pharisees in John 8:58 and He says, “Verily, Verily, I say unto you before Abraham was, I AM.” In other words, before Abraham even came into existence, Jesus existed in the beginning, because He is none other than the great “I AM”, God in the flesh. In fact, Jesus does not stop with that statement, but on numerous occasions, proclaimed that:
“I AM the Bread of Life” (John 6:35)
“I AM the Door” (John 10:7)
“I AM the First and the Last” (Revelation 1:17)
“I AM the True Vine” ( John 15:1)
“I AM the Light of the world” (John 8:12)
“I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11)
“I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)
“I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6)
At no point does Jesus state, “We are the Way“, or “ We are the Door”, as if to include other individuals, but is very specific and clear that He is, the “I AM” of yesterday, today, and forevermore.
3. Jesus is the only One with the power over death and the grave through His Resurrection.
If you are still questioning whether Jesus is truly God in the flesh, His power over death and the grave through His Resurrection should erase all doubt. Never, ever in the history of the world, has anyone ever lived to conquer death, but Jesus. How many people do you know have died, I mean, really died, I mean you went to the funeral and grave site, the preacher said ‘Ashes to ashes and dust to dust’ and a few days later and they came back and to tell you about it?
In fact, none of the so-called great prophets - Muhammed, Buddha, nor anyone else, has walked away from their grave site and came back to share that experience with us. In our modern society, with all of its inventions, discoveries, and technology, no one has yet to figure out the way back from the grave- But Jesus. Can He be God? ABSOLUTELY, because no one has the power over death and the grave BUT God! Now of course, I can hear the skeptic say, ‘He could not possibly be alive, I have never seen Him...’ Please keep in mind, that you have never seen me either, but it does not mean that I am not alive. No, in fact, I am very much alive and speaking to you at this very moment through my words. How do we know that Jesus is alive, because He is still speaking through His Word, in which, He tells us, “ I AM He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.(Revelation 1:18). Indeed, He is the Living Word.
So, my friend, what more can be said? Jesus Himself, in His declaration of “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Me”, leaves no room, for Muhammed or anyone else to SHARE His glory. In fact, Jesus forces us to a crisis of belief, in which we either must believe that either He is obsessive liar, blasphemer, and/or lunatic, or that He truly is The Way. The only Way. Which way will you choose?
If you have not believed Jesus as the only Way to God, and would now like to start believing, please pray this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and that you died for me. Forgive me of my sins. I’m asking you to be my Savior and to save my soul. Give me your gift of eternal life in heaven. Help me now to live for you. I pray in Jesus name. Romans 10:13 says “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”