CHILDREN LESSON 8 THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Text: John 14:1-15
Setting out on a journey demands a thorough knowledge of where one is heading to. In fact, whoever sets out on a journey will first determine the first step, the next turn and the ultimate destination. When we have a long trip to undertake, we want to study our guide map to get an idea of how long it will take and the roads we will travel on to get there. We determine the fastest and best routes before we start the journey.
Everyone born into this world is on a journey. It is a journey that starts immediately a child is born and ends when the person dies. However, there are two destinations to the journey of life – hell and heaven. Individuals will have to choose the way to follow to get to the desired destination. This is the central theme of Christ’s message to us in our Bible passage.
Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus could not understand the way he would take to get to the eternal home that Jesus told them He was going to prepare. He then asked a very important question – “Lord, we know not wither thou goest, and how can we know the way?” In response, Jesus reveals to us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jesus is the only Way to heaven, any other way is counterfeit. He is the Truth and nothing but the Truth. Anything outside Christ is false. He is the Life and the giver of life. Have you received Jesus as your personal Saviour and Lord? If yes, then continue to follow Him, He will lead you to heaven the eternal home He has gone to prepare for His friends. If your answer is no or not sure, please come to Jesus now and surrender your life to Him. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
- JESUS, THE WAY: John 14:1-15; 10:9; Acts 4:12
“I am the Way, The Truth and The Life,” is one of the “I am” statements of Jesus in the Bible. On the last night before His betrayal, crucifixion and death, Jesus was preparing His disciples for the days ahead. For over three years, these men had been following Jesus and learning from His teachings and examples. Yet they did not fully understand the purpose of Christ’s coming into the world.
Jesus then spent the last part of His life on earth to explain the reason for His coming. He spoke to them about heaven, describing the place where He was going to prepare for them. He made them to know that the only way to get to heaven is through Him. He is the way to heaven. Jesus is the Way carries multiple meanings.
- i) There is no other way to heaven apart from Jesus. We are to simply know, trust Him daily and walk by faith knowing that He is leading us in the right path.
- ii) Jesus as our Good Shepherd goes ahead of us in the journey of life. All we need do is to follow His footsteps. As His sheep, we do not choose the path to safety and protection, but rely on the Shepherd to guard and care for us. In order to be safe, we have to trust the Good Shepherd, and not wander off on our own trying to find out our own way. When we follow Jesus, the Way, He leads us to exactly where we need to be.
- iii) Jesus makes it clear that He is the way to the Father, and by extension, to heaven. After we have completed the journey of this life, we will find ourselves in a place of rest where the Father is.
We should rejoice because Jesus is the:
– Word that became flesh.
– Anointed Messiah.
– Yoke-breaker and deliverer of the oppressed.
- JESUS, THE TRUTH: John 14:1-15; 1:14,17; 5:33; 8:32;17:19; 18:37; Ephesians 4:21
The statement that Jesus is the Truth is not merely a theory. It is a confirmation of the fact that His word and teachings are the ultimate reality and reliable source of divine wisdom. It also teaches us that truth is found only in the Person and teaching of Jesus Christ. When Jesus declares that He is the Truth, it means that He testifies to the truth, and teaches the truth because He Himself is the Truth. In Him there is nothing false, nothing misleading and nothing fake or uncertain.
The world in which we live is filled with lies, falsehood and deception. Those in position of authority deceive the populace, the people themselves deceive one another, children deceive themselves and their teachers, workers deceive their employers and vice versa. All these have made the world to know no peace. There is trouble and chaos everywhere because of lack of trust. If everyone will embrace Christ today, the truth will be revealed and there will be peace.
In John 1:1, the Bible declares that Jesus is the Word that has been before the foundation of the world. Through this Word, the world was created and everything in it. Also, by the Word, the world has been kept. Therefore, the desire of God for His creatures is to accept Jesus, the Truth of His Word. This is the only way to be saved and prepared for eternity in heaven.
Remember, Jesus as the TRUTH is the:
– Timeless message to all generation.
– Reliable source of divine wisdom.
– Undefiled Son of God.
– Trustworthy Saviour of the world.
– Heart and central truth of the entire gospel project.
- JESUS, THE LIFE: John 14:1-15; 11:25; 17:3
When Jesus refers to Himself as the “Life”, He indicates that true life – eternal and spiritual comes through Him. This part of John 14:6 emphasizes the fact that Jesus is the only One who can give life and give it more abundantly. He is the One that has power to give eternal life. Life on earth is for a very short time, to God it is like a fleeting breath. But it is what we do with our short life that will determine where we shall spend the endless life at the end.
Jesus Christ as the source and origin of life created all things. He gives us the breath of life and we come alive. He laid down His life on the cross at Calvary to save us from sin and give us eternal life. After salvation, Jesus makes available to us abundant life. We can have access to all the good things that will make life comfortable for us. This is why Jesus is the Life. He is Life and the life Giver. Have you received life through Jesus, the life Giver? If no, the door is still open for everyone to come in.
All a sinner needs do is to accept responsibility for all his wrong doings. Repent and ask for forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus. Ask Jesus into his heart to be his personal Saviour and Lord. After our journey on earth is ended, Jesus will receive us to live eternally with Him in heaven.
It is important for you to always remember that Jesus is our:
– Loving Saviour and Life Giver.
– Immortal and invincible Lord.
– Faithful witness of the heavenly Father.
– Everlasting Messiah, Priest and King.
QUESTIONS:
- Jesus is the only way to _________________________________
- Jesus as the Truth is the T _____ R ____ U_____ T _____ H ____
- Jesus gives abundant _________ to all who come to Him.
- What step should a sinner take to receive eternal life?
- What is Jesus’ declaration in John 14:6?
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
LESSON: Jesus is the only way to heaven.
THOUGHT: I will follow Jesus till I get to heaven.
ACTIVITY: Prayer and altar call.
HOMEWORK: Share the love of Jesus with a classmate.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 138 – WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN
CHORUSES: (1) Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life … (2) Jesus the same yesterday… (3) Jesus is Alpha.
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary: 1. Eternal 2. Source 3. Origin 4. Abundant 5. Multiple.
