Moses Ali

Every morning, before the sun rises and the world awakens, I find solace in the simple act of expressing gratitude to Jesus for the countless blessings in my life. It sets the tone for the day, reminding me of the divine hand that guides me and fills my heart with joy.

As the gentle melodies of worship music fill the air, I am transported to a realm of spiritual connection and devotion. This morning, as the rays of sunlight gently pierced through the curtains, I found myself immersed in the inspiring sounds of “The Way” by Housefires. The lyrics resonated so deeply within me that they compelled me to put pen to paper and share my thoughts in this blog.

I encountered a particular challenge within the chorus line that captivated my attention. For several consecutive hours thereafter, I found myself immersed in continuous contemplation of it, fervently glorifying my King:

‘I believe You are – The way, the truth, the life‘

Embedded within the scripture, a verse resonates with profound significance and aesthetic beauty, dwelling within the Gospel of John, specifically in its fourteenth chapter:

Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

– John 14:6 AMP

In composing this scripture, John’s narrative endeavours to establish Jesus as the Christ—the awaited Messiah for the Jewish community—and concurrently as the Son of God for the Gentiles. The primary motif that underpins John’s Gospel centres on the essence of Jesus Christ’s divinity. Nowhere else is the divine Sonship of Jesus more emphatically proclaimed than in this scripture. Within this verse, it distinctly illuminates Jesus’ unequivocal position as the exclusive “way” to God, the sole provider of access to the divine realm. Jesus, in embodying truth, not only fulfils the teachings encapsulated within the Old Testament but also reveals the authentic nature of God. Uniquely, He epitomises life, fulfilling the promises of “life” bestowed by God within the Old Testament, possessing life within Himself and thereby endowed with the capability to bestow eternal life upon all who exhibit unwavering faith in Him. Timothy elaborates upon this paradigm in the second chapter:

For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus

– 1 Timothy 2:5 AMP

Without a shadow of doubt, salvation eludes anyone who does not prostrate and yield to the reign of King Jesus. In Acts 4:12, this eternal truth is succinctly articulated:

There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].

– Acts 4:12 AMP

Some adherents of the Islamic faith argue against the explicitness in Jesus’ declaration. They assert that all prophets, collectively, represented the way, the truth, and the life, acting as conveyors of the singular true religion from God to humanity. Consequently, they stood as the solitary path to God, with any contradictory message being deemed false. However, it is pivotal to clarify that Jesus’ proclamation transcends the mere guidance of humanity towards heavenly realms or the conveyance of God’s authentic religion. Jesus made assertions that only God could rightfully make, assertions that no other prophet would dare utter. For instance, Jesus declared Himself as the embodiment of Life, a characteristic singularly attributed to God throughout the Holy Bible. According to scriptural teachings, Yahweh alone stands as the source of life and the ultimate veritable God. Yet, both Jesus and His followers unequivocally proclaimed that Christ is the fountain of life and the one true God.

Within his hadiths (sayings), Muhammad proclaims the veracity embodied within God and His Word. Additionally, Muhammad affirms the role of God as the Sustainer of the universe and the sole entity capable of absolving sins, particularly Muhammad’s transgressions. In stark contrast to Muhammad, Jesus never sought forgiveness but unequivocally affirmed Himself as the sole forgiver of sinners and as the sustainer of the entirety of the universe. Jesus was unmistakably cognizant of His sinless nature. Muhammad, akin to all adherents of the Islamic faith, commenced prayers with a recital from the chapter Surat ul-Faitha from Quran verse 6:

“Guide us (O’ Lord) on the Straight Path.”

The phrase, “Show us the straight path,” has been subject to diverse interpretations by various scholars. Nonetheless, irrespective of the chosen translation, the crucial contention remains that Muhammad could not represent the way if he himself required guidance upon the path.

As previously expounded, Jesus’ proclamation that He embodies the way, the truth, and the life transcends the actions and words of preceding prophets, guiding humanity towards the truth of God. Muhammad’s own assertions concede that he could not have embodied the way, the truth, and the life but rather was reliant on the One who sustains life in all beings. He, akin to the entirety of humanity, necessitated the intercession of the Saviour, whose name is Jesus Christ the Lord.

In conclusion, I wish to reference an impactful video compilation by William Franklin Graham Jr. (Billy Graham), affirming Jesus as the exclusive path to salvation. In the video compilation, Billy Graham eloquently articulates the significance of Jesus as the exclusive path to salvation. He highlights the unique attributes of Christ – His love, grace, and redemptive power – which enable individuals to experience forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. Through personal anecdotes, biblical references, and heartfelt appeals, Graham communicates the profound impact that encountering Jesus can have on a person’s life.

Reference: https://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/jesus-as-way.htm