In the first century religion was very confusing. When it came to God, the Jewish people were monotheistic while the Romans and Greeks were polytheistic. Was there ONE God or MANY gods? Among the Jewish faith you had the prophets who taught the way to God was through Abraham. There was another powerful religious sect known as the Pharisees who taught one could only be right with God through temple worship. But then, you had the Sadducees who taught rightness with God was through adhering to the law of Moses. Imagine how difficult it would be to know the truth in all these misfit pluralistic opinions of truth.
Is there one God or many gods? How do you connect with God or the gods? Is it through your ancestry, or through the temple, or by keeping the law of Moses?
And then, you had the issue of the after life. The Pharisees believed in eternal life. They believed some would experience a physical resurrection. Of course, eternal life would only be enjoyed by those who were in good standing with the temple. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection or life after death. The Romans believed eternal life was only for the rich.
As you read through the Gospel you begin to see these questions surface as people encountered Jesus. Jesus, will there be a resurrection? Jesus, how can someone be saved? Jesus, what is the truth? Jesus, if we break the Sabbath are we out?
In the midst of all these religious ideas Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6
Jesus says let me simplify these very important questions for you. Yes, there a God? Yes, you can know Him. I’ve paved the way for you to know God, so just relax! And lastly, about the after life, I’m going into eternity to prepare a place for you, and I will come back to take you where I am.
Jesus said he was the truth, or he would always be truthful. Jesus never said there wasn't other truth, he was simply stating we can trust him to be truthful with us.
Jesus takes life’s three biggest questions and in nine words says - I’ve taken care of that for you.
That’s why JESUS is the SUBJECT!
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