Does life have you going in circles? Do you ever find yourself going around and around searching for meaning and fulfillment in different areas, but never seem to arrive at an intended location? 

If this is you, I want to tell you more about the One who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” When you link up with Jesus – He will take you to your purpose. He will guide you to your destiny. 

He has a plan for your life. 

Jesus Christ did not make His debut on that first Christmas morning in Bethlehem. He existed before creation “in the beginning.” In fact, it was “through Him” that “all things were made.” (John 1:3) Even when we look back to the book of Genesis, we read that God said, “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26) 

The Word John speaks of as he opens his Gospel presentation is none other than Jesus Christ. We know this because later, in verse 14, John tells us, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Imagine the depth of that reality. The Word, who is God, came down to dwell among us. 

Jesus walked among us. He was flesh, bones, sinew, and blood, and yet He was also the perfection of the divine. At one moment He was hungry because He was fully human. The next moment, He miraculously fed 5,000 because He was fully God. One moment Jesus agonized on a cross and died because He was fully human. Three days later, He rose from the grave because He was fully God. We read, “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.” (Colossians 1:19) 

Without Jesus, we would have no chance of understanding God. “No one has ever seen God, but the only begotten Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.” (John 1:18) 

How does God make Himself known? Through Jesus. To understand and know Jesus is to understand and know God. 

Philip had been one of Jesus’ disciples for almost three years when he came up with an interesting request. “Show us the Father,” he said, “and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8) Jesus’ answer puts His question in perspective. “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) 

Jesus took everything there is to know about God and put it on a shelf that we could reach. He is the complete revelation of God Himself. That’s why you can’t go around Jesus and get to God. He is the only begotten Son. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius . . . no prophet, teacher or king can make that claim. “I am the way and the truth and the life,” Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) 

Today, when we choose names for our children, we sometimes base our selection on how that name sounds. A first name that rolls off the tongue nicely when combined with the last name is a popular option for many moms and dads. In biblical times, however, parents cared less about the sound of a name as they did about its meaning. A name was more than simply what sounded good. It was, rather, a replica and revelation of the individual or thing itself. 

A name is so important in biblical settings that there are frequent mentions throughout Scripture of God Himself changing someone’s name to reflect a new reality. Abram, which means “exalted father,” was changed to Abraham meaning “exalted father of multitudes.” Jacob, whose original name meant “grabber of the heel” and “deceitful,” had his name changed to Israel after wrestling with God. His new name, Israel, means “one who prevails.” 

 In Scripture, a name often both denoted and connoted purpose, authority, makeup, and ownership. It was frequently seen as an actual equivalency of a person or thing. When Jesus said that He had made God’s “name known to them, and will make it known...,”4 He was referencing more than just sounds put together in a word. Jesus, having come to earth in the flesh, unveiled God’s heart, mind, will, ch