The Way

There is a common saying that states, “All roads lead to Rome.” This saying likely derives from the Middle Ages when a French poet wrote, “A thousand roads lead a man forever toward Rome.” The idea behind this saying wasn’t that every road ever built goes toward Rome, but that the Roman empire was so vast and strong that it seemed everything pointed towards it.

In fact, Rome was actually known for its industrial prowess during its heyday. The empire built amazing monuments, buildings, statues, and, most notably, one of the greatest system of highways in history.

This saying then really does fit the description of Rome pretty well since it is very likely that if someone were traveling down a road during ancient times, it was probably Roman in origin.

While this saying was originally used to describe the power and prowess of ancient Rome, it has been commandeered as a description for a number of different subjects today. One of the most common uses for this phrase in modern times is in conjunction with religion.

There are many people who assume all religions lead to the same destination. Via this assumption, one could essentially choose from a buffet of faiths in order to fill their spiritual belly. This notion states that religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity are all just different sides of a multi-faced coin. However, as Christians, can we really believe this to be true?

According to Jesus, we can’t. Jesus said as much to His disciples after they asked Him to reveal God to them.

“6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

Jesus, throughout His teachings and interactions with His followers, clearly articulates that He is the mediator between us and God. There is no possible way for us to reach God, know God, and understand God unless Jesus is there on our behalf.

If this is the case then, we have to logically understand that the roads of other religions do not lead to God. Only Jesus can lead us to the God of the universe, because Jesus is the One and only way.

“16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

It is clear that Jesus is the only way to God because Jesus is of God. What does this mean about other religions though?

If Jesus is the only way, this means that billions of people all over the world are professing a faith, are following a road, that leads to a complete dead end. What are we supposed to do about this as Christians?

It is important that we fully know and understand the importance of our continued worship and trust in Jesus as God and as the only way to God, but, we also have to understand the utter importance our lives have in making sure other people can find the way.

God left everything in order to show us the way to Him. It is of dire importance, not only that we know the way, but that we show it to others as well.

Questions for Reflection

1. Why is God so insistent upon Jesus being the only way? How can we show others that this is truly the case?

2. Jesus can only be the way to the Father if He truly is from the Father and is God. What case do we have for showing that Jesus is God?

3. There are billions of people who worship in different religions today. How can we show that these “other ways” aren’t leading anywhere?