The Way, the Truth, the Life

Jesus isn’t one path among many; He is life itself.

John 14:6 | Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year – and it’s especially sweeter this year with a baby in the family! Now we get to see the wonder of the holiday through his little eyes and watch as he takes it all in. As I’ve been thinking about that though, it hit me just how many choices or options come with the holiday —from what gifts to buy, what events to attend, where to spend time, what traditions to keep or even start for the first time, what cookies to bake. It can very quickly lose its wonder and start to feel overwhelming. And if I’m being honest, as my husband and I learn to navigate parenthood – a lot of normal life can feel that way too. The decision fatigue sets in or we stress about making the right decision, the best decision, and just feel overwhelmed. But in life, and in this holiday season, we can be reminded that there is one decision/direction that is so clear. In John 14:6 Jesus cuts through the whole idea that faith could work the same way. He isn’t offering Himself as just another option on a seasonal spiritual menu. He isn’t saying, “Here’s one path you might like if it fits your vibe.” He says, plainly and boldly, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Not a way.

Not a truth.

Not a life.

The Way. The Truth. The Life.

Christmas is where that wonderful and bold claim becomes real. Jesus didn’t just show up as the newest teacher with good ideas, or a leader with flashy inspirational thoughts, or even advertising why He’s the best option out there – I mean he was born in a manger! During Christmas, it’s easy to treat Jesus like one part of the season. He’s in the songs, the nativity scenes, the Christmas Eve services. But He can easily get put on the same shelf as everything else: family, gifts, lights, memories, nostalgia, comfort. He can easily become another good thing in a long list of good things.

But especially as we seek to create traditions with our little family of 3, we want to make sure that Jesus is not another thing we add in, but He is the foundation for the season and the sole foundation for our faith and life. Because as our son grows up and starts to look at the options in front of him for how he can live and things he can pursue, I want to make sure he knows the options the world offers – like success, relationships, popularity, perfection, fun, even good traditions – while they can be wonderful, they will all fall short eventually. They can make moments feel full, but they can’t make a heart full. They can keep us busy, but they can’t help us experience life to the full.

And so I want to start with Christmas. Where the way, the truth and the life came to us. As I sit by our Christmas tree, snuggling our little man, I’m reminded that this season celebrates the way, the truth and the life, became a baby – taking his first breath and little cries in a manger so He could breathe life into us. So as we enter into this Christmas season, with all of it’s wonderful options, I don’t want to treat Jesus as one part of a warm, nostalgic holiday. I want to be reminded and pass on that there is one decision we don’t need to stress about – that there is one way, one truth, and one life in Jesus and that’s the most wonderful part of the season.