Gospel in Art: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, by Daphne Stephenson © Copyright 2008-2022 Daphne Stephenson

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 13 May 2022
John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples:

'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.'

Thomas said, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus said:

'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

No one can come to the Father except through me.'

Reflection on the painting

So far in our readings this week, Jesus has been telling us that he is the shepherd. Yesterday he said he was the light. Today he tells us that he is 'the Way, the Truth and the Life'. These are all beautiful metaphors Jesus uses about himself, to help us grasp who he is.

Jesus is the Way. Why is Jesus the only way? The short answer is that that is how God designed the universe: we are to enter heaven through the gate of his Son. But a more poignant explanation is that the distance between God and us is just so vast, that we would get lost without Jesus. Only by getting to know Jesus will we be able to grasp the infinite glory of God.

Jesus is the Truth. As he is the son of the father, Jesus embodies truth. He is the key to unlock that deep desire within us to know the truth, to understand where we come from, and what we are called to do with our lives.

Jesus is the Life. Recognising that Jesus is the path and the truth will give us life. Our souls will be nourished by his giving us life. Without Jesus, we are dead, spiritually, even while we live, and eventually physically too.

Our painting by Daphne Stephenson is titled 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life'. Her style of painting is called 'Primitive Naïve Art'. There is a lovely quotation by Alan Bowness on Daphne's website which explains well what this style of painting is: "Naive artists make an appearance when art becomes too precious or too clever. Someone with a natural gift, untrained, comes along and overturns everybody's preconceived notions, and makes us rethink and return to a pre-renaissance naturalism".

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art
Today's image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-14-1-6-2022/