I’ve always liked Thomas, the doubter among those who walked around with Jesus, probably because I’m a doubter myself. Lots of questions swirl around in my head when I hear someone speak, and although I rarely voice them, I give attention to my doubts.

As Jesus prepared his disciples for his impending crucification and resurrection, he spoke of leaving and returning and how the disciples should understand this—You know the way to the place where I am going.

Thomas responded, “Huh?” Actually, that’s my paraphrase. Thomas really said, Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Seems like a good question to me.

Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.

Jesus was going to the Father, and there’s only one way there. That’s what Jesus helped Thomas understand. Thomas knew the way because Thomas knew Jesus.

Despite common platitudes, only one road leads to the top of the mountain—the way of Jesus. Not Buddha, not Confucius, not Krishna, not Kali, not Mohammad, not witchcraft, not paganism, not secret societies, not wisdom, not education, not donating massive amounts of money to charity, not a life of good works outweighing the bad, and especially not some vague belief in an absorption into the universe.

Only Jesus.

No doubt.

John 14 in week forty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Quaritsch Photography