Week of August 6

The Universalists’ claim, that “all paths lead up the same mountain,” meaning that all religious trails arrive at the same destination of eternal salvation, has been around for centuries. This fact concerns me. However, that a growing number of popular, professed Christian heralds have emerged with similar types of messages sounds a major alarm in my mind. 

It seems to me that the answer to the question of “how” we get to heaven must be accurate or the result will be costly! I am most grateful for John 3 and Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus. The Lord certainly knew that there were many paths, but He also knew and proclaimed that there was only one way to eternal life. Let’s listen again to the Messiah’s words about the only pathway to eternal life.

Our focal verses are drawn from a discourse on salvation and they are significant. Jesus begins with a “double amen” statement, the third in this chapter (3:3, 5, and 11), and embarks on the first extended teaching section in the Gospel. If I state that something is “A-number one” or at the “top of the list,” then you will understand that I mean the claim is crucial or essential. John uses this expression when he writes to indicate that the statement was very important and not to be overlooked by the reader.

The theme in this segment of the Gospel account deals with Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth and with the importance of believing in Him. John presents four important motifs in these words: speaking, witnessing, knowing, and seeing. Overall, the Savior wants Nicodemus to understand that His (Jesus’) personal testimony about the nature of salvation was adequate (authoritative; NAC). 

Permit me to carry forward the “many paths” and “one way” point I introduced above. The former view is based upon human reason and a person’s own authority, while the latter belief is grounded upon Jesus’ authority. Follow me carefully at this point because a relationship with God hinges upon our following the right way.

Jesus descends from heaven, which is unlike the many ancient mythological journeys where heroes and heroines encounter mythical characters who “reputedly affect the destinies of humans” (3:13; cf. NAC; cf. Odysseus [Latin, Ulysses] in Homer’s “Odyssey”). John is making a very important Christological point here; namely, that the heavenlies are opened to humanity because the Son of Man descended into history (NAC).

My Greek readers have already noticed John’s use of an aorist tense to articulate a unique event in history. God became flesh (1:14; cf. Isaiah 53; NAC), which was an idea that the later Gnostics were to wrongly reject. Many people make the same mistake today. God’s reach into our human lives is a key doctrine that we must not dismiss! Jesus also took this humanity with Him back to heaven when He ascended at the resurrection. The point is that the Christian gospel is the only way to salvation because Jesus alone descended and ascended into heaven. Follow me a bit longer because this claim is not intended to be a barrier to belief!

The theological heart of John’s Gospel is the suffering death and resurrection of Jesus. Verse 14 includes “three lifted up” sayings that emphasize the importance of the crucifixion in the doctrines of Christ and salvation. The “sign” to which Moses affixed the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8-9) served as a symbol of life to the dying, snake-bitten Israelites (cf. that lifting up with John 3:15; NAC). Therefore, belief leads to eternal life.

John uses this rubric to help us identify that life everlasting is linked to the idea of resurrection (Daniel 12:2; Daniel 12:7; NAC). Humanity’s spiritual odyssey ends at the foot of the cross. There is both a physical element of living endlessly and a qualitative dimension to eternal life. In other words, the Jesus way is worth the journey (NAC). What joy there is in this clear gift from God to us (cf. John 3:16-17)! Jesus came here so that no one need miss the way to heaven. Jesus takes the guesswork out of the journey to eternal life.

Whatever you do, do not burn the roux! All my friends know to what I am referring—gumbo! This word certainly provides us with a pot full of culinary possibilities, doesn’t it? Gumbo, as you will likely know, may contain any and every ingredient that the cook chooses to stir into the mix—shrimp, sausage, possum (it’s true!), chicken, alligator, and you name it! However, the roux makes the stew in my mind. Regardless of the other ingredients, the quality of the oil and flower base provide the foundation for the entire dish.

Here is some spiritual food for thought. Our passage today has reminded us to make sure that our theological gumbo—Non-Denominational, Mainline Protestant, Baptist, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and even Do-My-Own-Thing Religion—has the right theological roux, meaning essential theological basis. Belief in Jesus provides the essential basis (relationship) for receiving and enjoying life eternal. Trust and follow Him because the pathway leads directly to eternal life with God.

1. The “Believe Whatever You Want” road sign that hangs above the life paths of many leads to a dead end. Be singularly discerning in this age of plurality. 

2. Write down in a few brief statements how you would explain the need for a friend or family member to take the path to eternal life that Jesus has blazed. 

3. For Families: This passage, written by John the disciple, shows us all the pathway to eternal life. You and your children can chart a path by using chalk on the sidewalk. Since it is so hot outside, however, stay inside instead, and cut out nine big paper stepping stones and color them like rocks (paper sacks make great stones!).

On each of your nine stones, write one of the underlined bullet points, one per stone, and then use the next phrases to explain the steps to salvation to your children as your work.

When you are finished with your nine stones, place them in order in a path across the living room floor. You kids can jump from stone to stone, explaining what they mean as they move from one to the next. When they get to the last one, they “Look up!” This last stone will invite your children to turn their faces to God, and to say a prayer, like: “I will be yours today, God.”

Let each child experience this learning activity about the path to salvation. We do not want to pressure children before they can understand, but when God draws them to Himself, and the time is right, they can believe and accept Him fully. This pathway can teach them how to do so when that day comes. We are praying for your little ones!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock