I the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
John 10:9. ESV
I finished this sixth painting of Jesus' I AM statement series in June 2020 in Japan. I never thought I would be painting this artwork in Japan, because it was not by choice that I returned. I had to go back to Japan because my visa to legally remain in the States was not processed fast enough.
Leaving behind five completed painting in the States, I arrived in Japan with two blank canvases (Jesus’ I AM statement consist of seven, so this series consisted of seven paintings). Stared at the blank canvases, I felt they represented the UNKNOWN.
Blank canvases excite me with so many possibilities. Space is limited to size of canvas, but there's so many colors to chose from! But this time, it was bit different with these thoughts:
Will I ever be able to obtain my visa? How long will it take?
Am I wasting my life by waiting for this visa? Should I just chose the seemingly safer path, which is to settle down with a permanent job in Japan?
The disciples also faced uncertainty when Jesus suddenly told them,
Where I am going, you cannot come.
John 13:33b
The more they spent time with Jesus, the more confident they felt. The more they saw the miracles Jesus performed, the more conviction they had. As long as they were with this this great person, I have nothing to fear. Yet that person suddenly said "Where I am going, you cannot come." What!?
To those troubled disciples, He said
Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.....
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
John 14: 1, 6
This is exactly what Jesus is saying even as we are facing the uncertainty in life.
This artwork is abstract depiction of Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
not just a tree
In this artwork, it might seem like there’s only one tree in the middle of the canvas with golden leaves, but there are actually three. It's not just a single tree, but three different trees with slightly different colors and sizes combined as one... three in one? Yes, you guessed it right—I’m trying to portray Trinity: Father, Son, Spirit.
I like abstract painting, because it gives space for imagination without visually depicting something heretical. Of course Jesus came in human form, not as a tree, but my hope is that this artwork can inspire you to a deeper understanding of this famous statement by Jesus: I am the way, the life and the truth. Because this is what He said right after that.
If you know me, you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.
John 14:7CSB
After that, He goes on to say, "The one who has seen me as seen the Father." (John 14:9) I'm sure the disciples were so confused and thought, "I only see JESUS! Where is the Father??"
Just as when we look at the most visible tree in the center (a white tree with golden leaves), we are actually seeing three different trees in one. Perhaps I’m stretching too much, but I hope this can stretch us to think about who this God of Trinity is. As disciples were seeing Jesus, they were also seeing the Father, and the Holy Spirit to come. God is always more than what we see, bigger than what we can perceive with our understanding.
Way, Truth and Life was sent to the World filled with darkness and death
Jesus stood out in the world because His words and actions always declared truth and life. I sought to depict this reality through the bright tree standing in the midst of the darkness. He truly was the light in the darkness, as the white tree stands out in the midst of dark background. He was the only spotless lamb in the midst of sheep who have gone astray from their Shepherd.
He still continues to stand out above all names, because He is the only God that claimed Himself that He is the way the truth the life.
Though nothing maybe certain in our life, but Jesus will always remain the way, truth and life to us.
take root
So guess how long it took me to obtain the visa?
Three years!!!
But it was worth it. Because even as I waited, He used my time in Japan in a way that I never expected. His Way shed a light to my compromise, His Truth shed a light to my hypocrisy, and His Life shed a light to my anxiety and doubt that did not lead me to life (ouch!). Yet in Christ, we can all stand at front of Him not condemned because He died for our sins (what a grace!).
As I read through the Farewell Discourse (John 13:31-16:33), I saw Jesus' kindness in patiently answering all of His disciple's questions. But His answer didn't really seemed like 'an answer'.
“Lord,” Simon Peter said to him, “where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” John 13:36
“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14: 5, 6
“Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip?
John 14: 8, 9
He always pointed to Himself.
Lord, will I get my visa?
..... I am the way and the truth and the life.
Lord would I be okay living in Japan after not living here for more than two decades? ..... I am the way and the truth and the life
Lord, should I just settle in Japan and give up the visa?
..... I am the way and the truth and the life
I felt like God was saying, "You might not have the visa, but you have ME. Continue to cultivate the intimacy of knowing me as the way the truth and the life in you."
I knew John 14:6 by heart for so many years! But was this truth rooted in me? No. At least not deep enough for me to keep my heart from being troubled by one of the greatest uncertainty I faced in my life.
May we know this verse not as a word but as a life and truth that gives us peace in the midst of uncertainty. May we root ourselves deeper into Jesus, who is our way, our truth, and our life.
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