Sunday 3 May 2026

Psalm 31

Background
This passage contains two great questions from the disciples, two overt claims to divinity from Jesus, and a powerful reminder that Jesus is the one way to God.

It’s been a difficult last few days for the disciples. They are in Jerusalem celebrating Passover, but possibly against the will of some of them. They are afraid that the authorities will try to kill Jesus, and yet they have some hope that at this feast something spectacular may happen, and Jesus might reveal himself as Messiah and overthrow those very same authorities. They have just eaten a meal where Jesus reveals that one of them will betray him, and now they have been told that he will soon be leaving them to go to a place where they cannot follow. They are tired, confused and afraid.

Into this confusion, Thomas asks a question, and Jesus answers with one of the defining statements of his ministry; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). It’s an unequivocal statement; Jesus is the only way to God, Jesus is the only way to access salvation and heaven. To some in our pluralistic world this exclusivity seems wrong and difficult to believe. But it has to be the case.

Firstly, because otherwise the sacrifice Jesus is about to make is unnecessary. And Jesus is not going to the cross purely for symbolism. He is doing it because there is no other way to bring the opportunity of salvation to all people – see his prayer in Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-42 for proof of this.

And secondly, because of his very nature. Jesus is the only way to God because Jesus is God! If the disciples were feeling confused at this point then Philip’s second question unleashed a new wave of complexity. When Philip asks “show us the Father, and this will be enough for us”, Jesus responds with the incredible claim of “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father… I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:9-11).

To be with Jesus is to be in the very presence of God! This is a powerful claim to deity, and Jesus follows it with another, telling the disciples that he (Jesus) will answer their prayers. “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask mea for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14). So it’s not that Jesus will ask the Father to answer prayers… but Jesus himself will answer their prayers to himself, because he is God.

These are incredible claims, made not just by a prophet, or a rabbi, or a good religious teacher. They are made by a person claiming to be God in human form, and therefore to being the only way, but also the very way to God, open to everyone who will believe.

And the disciples may have been confused here, but by the end of the conversation they have fully understood, and they believe (John 16:29-31). They believe that Jesus is God, and that he is the only way, and this has been the belief of Christians and the Church since then.

To Ponder:

• If you could ask Jesus a theological question, what would you ask?
• How would you describe the relationship between Jesus and God the Father?
• If you struggle to believe that Jesus is God, why is that?
• If you struggle to believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation, why is that?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I believe that you are divine, that you existed before the world began, that you are God in human form. And I believe that your teaching is the way to live, that you teach the greatest truths about human nature, and that there is life in your way. I believe that no one comes to the Father except through you. Help me to pray and live with new faith because of these truths. Amen.

Bible notes author: Mark Williamson
Mark Williamson works for One Rock International, helping Christian leaders to start up and scale up mission projects. Methodist lay leaders are invited to join the next online One Rock Institute course of training and coaching in Christian leadership, starting in September 2026 – see https://onerockinternational.com/institute/.  Mark is also chair of Fresh Expressions UK, a local preacher, and a member of Methodist Central Hall Westminster.