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In John Chapter 14 and verse 6, the Messiah stated, "I am the way,
the truth and the Life". I have been thinking about this for some time now, as to what that really means.
What was Yeshua trying to tell us? We know He spoke in Hebrew and that He quoted the Tanach(Old Testament). His
followers were Jews so they would have understood what he was saying much more than the modern Church, which has
lost it Hebrew background and has leaned more to the teaching of Plato and the Greeks or so called Hellenization
of the Church. Let's read the scripture and try to gain some understanding from the Hebraic side of the Messiah's
meanings.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.
It is interesting to note that this was in response of the question by Thomas in John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
And of course Thomas asked this question after the Messiah had told them not to be troubled,
and that there were many mansions in His Kingdom. He told them that He was going to prepare a place for them. Lets
look at the beginning of John 14.
John 14:1-4
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for
you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
We can compare verse 2 to Numbers 10:33
33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and
the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place
for them.
Yeshua was comparing Himself with Ark of the Covenant that went before the Children of Israel
to "search out a resting place for them". Now back to Thomas' question, Yeshua answered, the way, the
truth and the life when the question was only the way. The answer was probably a Hebrew idiotism; in which the way, the truth, and the life, may be same as the
true and living way. It could also be that the Messiah was telling them of a promise
that He "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." As it is written
in Jeremiah 29:11
11For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. NIV
We as Messianic believers hold that Yeshua is the "Living Torah" and as such we
know that Torah is Truth, Life and is a light unto our pathways. We get this information from John 1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing
made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Could it be that Yeshua is telling us in John 14:6 that what we hold about Him as Living Torah is really truth.
Is he saying that he is Torah! With this thought in mind I thought we would look at each part of John 14:6 and
see if we can come to some conclusion. So let's begin!!!
Please note that all scriptures are from the KJV, except where noted.
But before we begin let's take a little side trip that might sheds light into what has
been going over in my mind; some of the things that I think of when I read John 14:6. By now you know I love to
take little side trips, Barbara (that's Rev. Barbara DiGillio) once told me that she really loved my little side
trips!! So let's begin the side trip. In one of our discussions at Beth El we discussed the Tabernacle and that
the Tabernacle had only one entrance. Exodus 26:36 "And thou shalt make
an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue,
and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework".
This door had all the royal colors: Blue, Purple and Scarlet. It was adorned with the majestic colors of the Messiah! Man was separated from the Holy of Holies, which
represented the presence of God, and try as they might there was only one way they could enter into the Tabernacle
to offer the sacrifice. The sacrifice had to be brought to the door of the tabernacle.
This is described in Leviticus 1:3
3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male
without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation
before the LORD.
There was also a penalty to be paid if this was not followed, let's look at Leviticus 17:4
4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to
offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath
shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
In the discussion we concluded that, that one door was a representation of the Messiah. It was adorned in the royal colors; it was the only way that Israel
comes to the presence of the Holy G_d. In His book 'Exposition of the Gospel
of John'; Arthur W. Pink wrote, "Christ is not
merely a Guide who came to show men the path in which they ought to walk; He is Himself the way to the Father". Yeshua said in John chapter 10 and verse 9, "I am the door:
by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
G_d is telling us that a pair of lowly doves is more acceptable brought to the "door" than the most prized
bullock of Bashan sacrificed outside of the Tabernacle. Remember Cain and Abel, Cain wanted to do it his way but
G_d was very displeased with his sacrifice because he didn't follow the prescribed way. I could go much deeper
into the sacrifice at the Tabernacle and how it points to the Messiah but Richard Booker in his book, "The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread", in chapter four has done a tremendous job on this subject, and I recommend his book highly.
One more little note before we return to the main stream, we know that the Messiah is our Pesach (Passover) offering,
and would be fitting to end this side trip with the following scripture Leviticus 16:7-9
7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD,
and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer
him for a sin offering.
Throughout Leviticus, Moses gives the instructions from G_d that the sacrifices are brought
to the door. Rav Shaul tells us that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, and I add that we should
present it to the "Living Door". Amen
Now back to the main attraction. As mentioned earlier Yeshua spoke
Hebrew to His followers, and each Hebrew letter has a numerical value. It is I think not accidental that this subject
arose in John 14:6. Fourteen (14) is made up of two Hebrew letters, the "Yod (10)" and the "Dalet
(4)" and six (6) is the Hebrew letter "Vav (6)". Not only do Hebrew letters have numerical values
they also paint pictures. The Yod is the 'hand', the Dalet is a 'door' and the Vav is a 'nail or hook'. The Yod
represents the 'closed' hand that symbolizes to work or a deed done. Frank
Seekins in his book "Hebrew Word Pictures" shows some uses of the Yod in different
words, I like the one for "To Know" 'ah-ad'
which means "The hand (work) that knows the door (way)". The Dalet symbolizes a door, a path, or a mode
of life. The Vav represents a nail or hook and symbolizes a joining, a securing or to be bound.
Number values also have meaning in scripture. Ten (yod) represents
'perfection of Divine order'. Four (dalet) represents 'creation' or 'the world'. Six (vav) represents 'mankind'.
So we could say using the Hebrew letters, yod, dalet and vav with their numerical values. "He hands (yod 10) or shows the door (dalet 4) to mankind (6) secured by the nail (vav)". Or another way of saying this "He is the door for mankind
secured by the nail". Now you see why I don't think this subject was put at 14:6 accidental.
One other thought from Frank Seekins' book about the yod when we speak of the midwife the word 'al-ad means "the hand that controls the gate". I believe that
in John 14:6 Yeshua is saying "I am the one that controls the gate". I know some of you will be shocked
by this but numerical values and pictures in scripture has been around for a long time. There is another use of
the 'Yod' 'Dalet' 'Vav' combination in scripture that I think could be placed here, and that is Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any
man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
So lets get on with some more scriptures, I promise not to give numerical or word pictures for the rest.
I Am The Way:
Psalms 139:24
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Proverbs 2:9
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Proverbs 15:24
24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Isaiah 49:11
11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
Isaiah 35:8-9
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of
holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall
not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there;
but the redeemed shall walk there:
Jeremiah 32:39
39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children
after them:
Matthew 7:13
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat:
John 1:9
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he
that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 10:9
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in
and out, and find pasture.
Romans 5:2
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Acts 2:28
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of
joy with thy countenance.
Acts 16:17
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew
unto us the way of salvation.
Ephesians 2:18
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Hebrews 9:8
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was
not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living
way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest
over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 Peter 1:21
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope
might be in God.
So it appears that the way certainly points to Torah! Yeshua has provided the way into Holiness! Without Yeshua
man would only be as Rav Shaul says, "They are all gone out of the way" (Rom. 3:12). Man would try to manufacture a way, as it says in Prov. 14:12 "There
is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death".
Messiah is the Way, the Way to the Father, the Way to Heaven, the Way to eternal blessedness. So now let's go on
to the next point.
The Truth:
Messiah is the full and final revelation of G_d, the Father. Ever since Adam believed HaSatan's lie, man has been
groping around in ignorance and error. Proverbs 4:19 tells us "The way
of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble".
And Rav Shaul tells us in Eph 4:18 "Having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart":
Truth is not to be found in any system of man's philosophy but only in the Messiah Yeshua,
for He is Truth. He reveals the Father and exposes man. There is a quote from the Rebbe(Rabbi Schneerson) about
truth that I love, "The truth can never be old-fashioned..It was never
in fashion to begin with." I think that sums up how man looks at truth.
Deuteronomy 32:4
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God
of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Proverbs 8:7
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Psalms 26:3
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
Psalms 33:4
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Psalms 45:4
4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall
teach thee terrible things.
Psalms 85:11
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down
from heaven.
When I think of Psalms 85:11 in my minds eye I can see the Messiah during the
resurrection, leaping from the grave!!
Psalms 117:2
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD
endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Matthew 22:16
16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we
know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any
man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Word in the Greek is Logos, which has the same meaning as the Aramaic word Memra which means G_d in action, in other words Torah!
John 8:32
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John here is saying you shall know Torah and it will set you free.
John 8:18-19
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known
me, ye should have known my Father also.
John 18:37
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this
end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Romans 15:8-9
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth
of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify
God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy
name.
2 Corinthians 1:19-20
19 For
the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not
yea and nay, but in him was yea.
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Here the Bible speaks of the promises of G_d, what are the promises? Where
can the promises be found? Need we say more, Torah of course! One of the things that I guess I should clear up
is when I say Torah, I do not mean LAW as it is translated in the Greek. Torah is G_d's prescribed way of life,
it is teaching us how to live and how to live with others. Continuing with the truth.
Colossians 2:9
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:17
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
1 John 1:8
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we do not have Messiah then truth is not in us!
1 John 5:6
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it
is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
1 Timothy 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
Ephesians 4:21
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth
is in Jesus:
1 John 5:20
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding,
that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true
God, and eternal life.
Revelation 1:5
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed
us from our sins in his own blood,
Revelation 3:7
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Revelation 3:14
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things
saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Revelation 19:11
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
So once again it appears that "Living Torah" is the truth in John 14:6. In Him are hid "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3). Messiah is not one that came to teach a doctrine about G_d. He came to reveal G_d, for He is Himself the Truth about G_d . John 14:9 Jesus saith unto
him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
The Life:
Proverbs 8:35
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain
favour of the LORD.
John 1:4-9
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the
world.
John 5:25-29
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son
of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to
have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
John 6:33
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life
unto the world.
John 6:51
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the
world.
John 6:57
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth
me, even he shall live by me.
John 6:68
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the
words of eternal life.
John 8:51
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see
death.
John 10:10
10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come
that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:28
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest
thou this?
John 14:19
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because
I live, ye shall live also.
John 17:2-3
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life
to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Colossians 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with him in glory.
2 Timothy 1:10
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Ephesians 2:1
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
1 John 1:1-2
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which
was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
1 John 5:11-12
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Revelation 22:1
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:14
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to
the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:17
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
1 Peter 2:4
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1 John 2:23
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father
also. (or life!)
Revelation 5:8-9
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having
every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new
song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and
people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their
hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before
the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our
God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed
in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they
which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth
on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the
sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
You can choose the Way, the Truth and the Life or you can choose the following. If your name
isn't found in the Book of Life (the life supplied by the Messiah) then your fate is as sealed as ours (the believers
of Messiah).
Revelation 13:8
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written
in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 20:15
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.
Some people will tell you that Hell is not real and that a truly merciful
G_d won't let anyone perish, but whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. G_d said it is real and that you
will perish if you haven't found His Truth. I realize that there are a lot of scriptures
for you to read, but at the same time what is the best teacher, the Bible of course, God's Word is the best teacher
we have. In the above passages we find that the Messiah is truly the LIFE and the giver of life. We also find that
the Torah is life and the giver of life. So I think we have come to the end of this article with the understanding
that Messiah was using another Hebrew idiotism to tell us that He is "THE
LIVING TORAH". At least I hope that I have in some way made you think about how deep
John 14:6 can be. I have heard it preached from the pulpit but never in this way. Next time you hear a preacher
please go and look up the scriptures that he uses and see if you can glean anything deeper from them.
B'Seder
We would like to thank Rabbi Mike for his article. If you care to post
him with your comments (pro or con), please do so. Rabbi
Mike
You may order books and tapes by Frank Seekins' by posting
him at.
Living Word Pictures
Tell him Mayim Hayim Ministries sent you :-) .
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