"Way"

The text this week was John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life". One of the most mis-used and incorrectly interpreted texts one could probably find. It is clear from it's context that is addressed to a very particular group of people--the closest followers of Jesus who he is trying to console in the wake of his upcoming execution and depart from their midst. To universalize this passage makes it something it is not. Just as the disciples didn't understand what Jesus was trying to say to them--imagine that, he is always having to explain things over and over to them!--if we think this is a statement for all people in all times--we get it wrong. It is Jesus being pastoral and trying to offer them some solace in what will be a bitter time ahead.

Of course, this idea fits into John's theological message which focuses on the 'incarnate' word/Jesus... Jesus and his way is the embodiment of what it means to follow and live in unity with God. It's also hard for us to think about "way" in a broad sense which is what the text points to.
There are textual points that clearly make this point as well as the obvious contextual location of the statements in Chapter 14. The most obvious is that the text uses the word "father" ('no one comes to the father except through me'). "Father" is a Jesus' particular understanding of God--the word used is not the word for God but a relational term that Jesus uses in his community for God. There is also the use of language used here in terms of Aramaic and Greek and the 'definite' and 'indefinite' articles (or lack there of.) And of course, there is John's investment in the telling of this story for his own understanding. (I can direct you to more on all of this if interested.)
Basically, to understand this you have to read ALL of John starting with Chapter 1 and his understanding of the 'logos' but you especially need to read beginning in Chapter 11 to see the background for the pastoral comments he is about to make. The "Farewell Discourses" in Chapter 13-17 must then be taken in context of what is to come.
As always, one cannot take any verse in isolation -- to do so is an injustice to the text and to the message.
There is much more to say about this 'baggage' that this text brings with it. I'd be glad to visit more about all that...

I came across an interesting article on this passage by Brian McLaren. He's not one I would usually think of as dealing with a text in a serious way or in a particularly deep theological manner. However, that just goes to show we all have our prejudices!--because I like his article dealing with this passage. It's a good place to start and covers many good points. Here's the link:
http://www.brianmclaren.net/emc/archives/McLaren%20-%20John%2014.6.pdf