Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6

Over the course of my life, I can’t think of a time that I’ve heard an interpretation of these words spoken by Jesus as anything other than a doctrinal argument. And while this verse continues to inform my understanding the uniqueness of Jesus, when I experience them relationally rather than doctrinally, I sense an invitation to inclusion and communion and nothing like a threat of exclusion. I hear Jesus revealing something about himself to Thomas, who perhaps was struggling as I often do with doubt, anxiety, and fear. I hear a friend preparing another friend for both heartache and joy to come on his journey home.

When I’m in doubt about the way in which I am traveling – about the deeper motivations of my heart, when I’m groping for a hold on the route but the darkness and fog of chaos prevent me from seeing my hand in front of my face. When I’m beset by those who adhere to the view that the end justifies the means… I hear Jesus say, “I am the way.”

When I’m lured by the voice of anxiety, whispering to me that no person and no experience can ever be truly understood, and that my interpretation of life is limited and often distorted. When I can no longer see beauty in the mystery and can only sense a deep sadness and separation from what feels like the unknowability of things… I hear Jesus say, “I am the truth.”

When I awake to news of fear and chaos and destruction, when I think about the myriad communities of the powerless oppressed by the powerful, when I’m tempted by the allure of the path that avoids suffering. When I remember the death of friends and family over the years, especially my dad… I hear Jesus say, “I am the life.”

So in this sense of relationship I say yes to these words of Jesus. I say yes to the one whose presence is the way, the truth, and the life. And when my view on the road towards our father’s house is darkened and dim, he provides sufficient light for the road ahead.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” ~ John 14:1-7