On John 14:6: The Same Spirit in Baha'u'llah as in Christ
There are certain passages in the Bible that are well-known to most people in the West, whether Christian or not. John 14-6 is one of them.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The voice speaking in this passage is that of the same "quickening spirit" who said "Before Abraham, I am." Both passages refer to Christ's station as the timeless Word of God. Neither refers to the temporal personality within which and through which "the word was made flesh." Just as we know the sun's inward nature solely through its outward image, it is only through the Word -- the "image of the invisible God" -- that we can know anything of God or receive His spiritual gifts. Even though the divine image reflected in the mirror of Jesus reappears in the mirror of Baha'u'llah, it remains the same pre-existent Word, the same quickening Christ-spirit or Logos. Whenever it appears, this luminous reality is "the way, the truth, and the life" through which alone we may approach the Father.
Gary L. Mathews, He Cometh in the Clouds, pp. 82
2 comments:
I really appreciated this post, George. Thanks!
I tend to take Jesus' words as literal. I think that when He says that He is the way the truth and the life that is exactly what He means. I think it is best to take Jesus as His Word and not try to read into things that He says. His message in the Bible is very clear.
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