The Way!

For Friday, March 6, 2026:

John 14:6 NLT: Jesus told Thomas and the others, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Since Thomas is known as “Doubting Thomas,” he needs to hear everything twice. He seems to not “get it” the first time and needs further explanation. Jesus is preparing the disciples for why he’s leaving and what will happen following that. Jesus has already spoken of a life after this life, and Thomas, as you’d expect, asks for further clarification. Jesus is quite direct, leaving no room for any doubt in his answer.

How can we get to see heaven from the inside? Jesus lays out the plan: “I am the way.” I am the way to the hereafter, to eternal life in God’s heavenly Kingdom. I am the only one who can open heaven’s door for someone. There is no other way. Trust me. Count on me. I’ll get it done for you. God loves you!

Remember, “I am truth.” You don’t need to cross-check the accuracy of what I am telling you. In the few years we’ve been together, you’ve never heard anything but truth come from my mouth. What I’m telling you now is 100% accurate. Being the Son of God, I’m incapable of lying. Telling lies isn’t in my job description. Accept that what I’m telling you is authentic.

"I am the life,” the life after this life. I hold the keys to the next reality. There are only two choices – heaven or hell. Hell is awful, painful, and ends with you going down for the third time in a lake of fire. Heaven, on the other hand, is paradise. It’s eternal life in the presence of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I’m letting each person decide for themselves. We all get to choose, so choose wisely!

Friends, if you don’t remember any other scriptures, highlight this passage in your mind. This isn’t just miscellaneous scripture in the Bible. These statements of truth are directly from the mouth of Jesus. If “Jesus said...”, there’s absolutely no need to check the veracity of his statements. If “Jesus said...”, we should do as he taught ASAP!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Way, Truth, Life!

For Friday, September 26, 2025:

John 14:6 NLT: Jesus told Thomas and the others, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Everything Jesus ever said was true. Everything he prophesied came to be. Why would this statement be any different? Jesus is a walking example of truth!

I’ve had people tell me that choice of religion doesn’t matter. They’re wrong! Many religions seem similar, encouraging their congregants to lead good lives, be helpful and kind, to be the ‘right’ kind of people. They think that most everybody will wind up in heaven, but that’s not what Jesus said.

Good behavior alone won’t get people into heaven. The hereafter isn’t something that people can earn or buy. Life-after-this-life is grace, a free gift, given to those who call Jesus “Lord.” Think of it as the inclusion of family members. Jesus is God’s Son, and believers are his disciples. Christians show love and kindness out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us, not to earn heaven-points! You can’t work your way into heaven!

This fact differentiates Christianity from all the false religions of the world. Many hate us because of our preaching that Jesus is the only way. Jesus also prophesied that the world would hate us because of this, and again, he’s right!

Jesus is the only ‘way’ to afterlife in God’s Kingdom. ‘Truth’ is his middle name. And ‘life’ refers to eternal life, only possible with the Son. “No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Baa - Baa!

For Thursday, June 19, 2025:

John 10:9 AMP, Jesus speaking: “I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security).”

Since we all live on planet Earth, we’re pretty familiar with the earthly realm. But the Kingdom of God extends into a spiritual realm, about which we know little. Jesus has already been there, and now he’s getting believers up to speed on what it takes to see heaven from the inside.

Notice that Jesus begins many of his testimonies with, “Verily, verily I say unto you,” which is translated, “I assure you,” or, “Very truly I tell you,” or, “I tell you the truth.” Pharisees were present, so I assume they also presented their incorrect version of the hereafter. Jesus is setting the record straight. “Listen up; what I’m telling you is truth!”

Jesus’ entire address uses an agricultural analogy. 2K years ago, it could be assumed that most young people had at one time or another tended a few sheep. That example doesn’t work quite as well in 2025!

Jesus taking away our sin problem opened the door to heaven for mankind. Those walking with Jesus will not only be saved, but will experience eternal life. Believers will have spiritual security, assurance of salvation. That’s what Jesus said, and his words are always true!

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

I Am the Way!

For Thursday, March 27, 2025:

John 14:6 NLT, Jesus speaking: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

In our Bibles, we can read the complete account of Jesus rescuing mankind by sacrificing himself for our sins. But the followers of Jesus were living inside that story, hearing everything for the first time. Theology that we take for granted was new to them. Consequently, there was some doubt and a lot of questions!

The biggest question concerned their spiritual mentor dying and going somewhere else. Heaven? Q: Jesus had raised others from the dead, so why wouldn’t he rescue himself? A: What was happening was all part of God’s vast eternal plan to rescue mankind. Jesus would take the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Mankind would therefore be left without sin, eligible to spend the hereafter in the Lord’s presence. You see, God loves us and God is good. His desire is that everyone would repent and return.

Doubting Thomas asked, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

To which Jesus answered, “I am the way,” the way to the Father, the way to heaven and to life after this life. Just stick with Jesus. “I am the truth.” Every word Jesus ever spoke was true, so we have every expectation that this also is true. “I am the life.” Most people look upon death as a sad thing, as the end of our time on earth. But Christians, those who trust Jesus, see death as a transition to eternity in God’s presence, and that’s a good thing!

I’m looking forward to the place Jesus is preparing for me. What about you?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth or Else!

For Wednesday, November 6, 2024:

2 John 10 MSG: “If anyone shows up who doesn’t hold to Jesus’ teaching, don’t invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.”

False teachers are everywhere. Satan never takes a day off! To claim to be a religious teacher and not stick with the doctrine of the Son is a sin, an egregious sin. That person not only has the facts wrong, but is trying to lead others down the wrong path. Bad choice for a career!

God doesn’t seem to seek revenge so much as his grace falls only on believers. Those without God’s grace will never see heaven from the inside. There’s God’s way and the wrong way – pick one!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” His way is the only way to heaven. What he taught is 100% truth. And the life he offers is eternity in the presence of our Father!

Jesus – accept no substitutes!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Father, Son, Holy Spirit!

For Wednesday, November 9, 2022:

 John 14:6-7 NLT: “Jesus told Thomas, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!’”

Jesus is the way, the only way to eternal salvation. Every word he spoke was true, intended to teach those around him about sin, repentance, the Kingdom and salvation through him. Jesus is life. He bought us eternal life in the presence of the Father.

Some translations read, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” In practice of Christianity, there is really only one God, who is known to us in three different forms. But it’s still just one God. We pray to our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus who walked on earth alongside us. The Holy Spirit is moving among us now, until Jesus returns. The Bible says that Jesus was present at creation, and the Spirit moved over the waters of creation, but in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. I get the three mixed up all the time, but I believe that God’s smart enough to sort it out.

Praying is always better than not praying.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406