Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

--Parallel verse:
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬-‭7‬
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Have you ever wondered why God did not choose to save mankind a different way? He is all powerful and he could have just granted us access into heaven. So why did he decide to send Jesus? What was the point?

There are a few reasons I think God chose to send Jesus: 1) He was the Perfect Sacrifice. Jesus showed in his human form that perfection is possible, though he is the only one to achieve it. The rest of us are sinners saved by grace. He also showed us a model for perfection, constant communication, and reliance on God for our strength, love, justice, and truth. 2) Jesus had the power to break the hold of sin and death on mankind universally, and on us individually. All of us have ungodly fear (death, rejection, isolation, etc.) as sinners; and with ungodly fear as a root, more sin is the fruit. 3) He modeled what real life looks like — the life God designed us to live — fulfilled and adventurous in our love of God and each other. 4) By living our life on earth, he became familiar with our challenges, struggles, hurts, and pain. He can empathize perfectly with each of us. He can help carry our loads. And he can advocate to God the Father for our good. 5) God did not want us to robotically follow him, and he could not have sin in his presence, so Jesus’ sacrifice was the only way to restore us into a heart-level relationship with him. This relationship, for those faithful to him, will result in eternity with God, who is light and the source of true life!

Jesus was at once our perfect high priest (spiritual ruler on earth), the perfect sacrifice (payment for our sins), the perfect warrior king (conquering the power of the fear of sin and death), and the perfect living advocate for all of time (he petitions God for our good).

What an amazing Savior we serve! He said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through me.” He goes on to explain this statement further, by saying if we know him, we know the Father.

What if the true meaning and fulfillment in life was found in God, the source of life, not in a career or other success, or even in a marriage or family? What if following Jesus isn’t just a prayer plus going to church once or twice a week? What if it is something far deeper and much more rich and fulfilling than that?

Right here, we find that it is! Following Jesus is the definition of life the way God designed it to be. He made such a beautiful planet for us to enjoy. Why would we not also believe that he alone is the complete and only source of real life?

Lord Jesus, you are the Way to God, the Truth about God, and the source of Life in God. May your Spirit fill me with the fullness of all of the depth of life I can experience in you. The more I taste of this life in you, the more I want it. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭8‬)