“I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
These words of Jesus make an exclusive claim, and the western world does not like it. Are not all beliefs equally valid? Does not everyone have the right to choose their own way? The claim that Jesus is the only way is just plain arrogant.
But are all beliefs the same? Clearly not. I think members of the flat earth society got it wrong. As for religions, it is offensive to other religions to say that they basically are the same as Christianity. They do not believe that – they hold very different beliefs, and they are upset if we suggest that they believe what we do. It is in fact nonsense to say all religions are the same. They can all be wrong, but they cannot all be right.
So why follow Jesus? Why believe in him? There are many books and podcasts to help you find answers to these questions (search John Dickson or Tom Wright for example) and it is my belief that there are good reasons to believe in the claims of Jesus. Here are some brief points to note.
The majority of people in the world believe in some sort of God and most people believe in right and wrong. Deep down we long for things to be made right and we get angry when we experience injustice. The trouble is, we tend to see injustice everywhere else but in us. C.K. Chesterton once responded to a newspaper challenge to answer the question: “What is wrong with the world?”. His answer was profound and very short. He wrote: “I am”.
He is right. If we are honest, none of us could look God in the eye unforgiven. We are damaged people and while we yearn for justice, we do not want it for ourselves because we know we could not face God. That is why Jesus came. He lived the life we should have lived and died so that all the violence and injustice of the world, including mine, could be drawn onto his shoulders, buried with him in the grave and then its power destroyed when Jesus rose from the dead.
Yes, Jesus rose from the dead. The evidence is compelling. And if he did, it changes everything. It validates his claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. It means his claims to be Saviour, the one who forgives those who turn to him are true. If you would like to pursue this discussion further, please feel free to contact us through this website.
