There are some questions that matter more than others. Asking what, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life” means is a big one.
Who am I? What should I believe? Where am I going? How do I know what is right?
Preteens begin asking these questions as they grow and become more independent. Friends, teachers, social media, books, videos, and the world around them all offer different answers.
In John 14, Jesus gives His followers an answer that is both simple and incredibly important.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6 (NIV)
But what did Jesus actually mean?
What Does “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life” Mean?
Jesus wasn’t simply saying that He knows the way, tells the truth, and gives good advice.
He was saying something much bigger.
Jesus Himself is the Way.
Jesus Himself is the Truth.
Jesus Himself is the Life.
Each part tells us something important about who Jesus is and what He offers us.
For a preteen, it can be helpful to think about these three words one at a time.
Jesus Is the Way
Imagine that you’re trying to get somewhere you’ve never been before.
You could guess which road to take. You could follow someone who doesn’t know where they’re going. Or you could follow someone who knows the destination.
Jesus says, “I am the way.”
He doesn’t simply give us directions to God.
He brings us into a relationship with God.
Jesus shows us what God is like and invites us to follow Him. When we don’t know what decision to make or which direction our life should take, Jesus gives us someone we can trust.
Following Jesus doesn’t mean knowing exactly what will happen next.
It means trusting the One who does.
Jesus Is the Truth
We live in a world filled with information.
Some of it is true.
Some of it is false.
Some of it is someone’s opinion presented as if it were a fact.
Preteens encounter this constantly through social media, videos, conversations, and the internet.
Jesus says, “I am the truth.”
That means Jesus is completely trustworthy.
His words aren’t based on whatever happens to be popular today. He doesn’t change because people change their opinions.
Jesus shows us the truth about God, ourselves, and the way we were created to live.
When everything around us seems confusing, we can come back to Jesus and His Word.
Jesus Is the Life
Jesus also says, “I am the life.”
This means more than simply being alive physically.
Jesus offers a relationship with God that begins now and continues forever.
He gives us a new kind of life—a life with purpose, hope, forgiveness, and a relationship with God.
This doesn’t mean Christians never have difficult days.
They do.
Following Jesus doesn’t make every problem disappear.
But it means we don’t face life alone.
Jesus is with us through the good days, difficult days, confusing days, and everything in between.
Why Did Jesus Say This to His Disciples?
Jesus said these words when His disciples were worried and confused.
He was preparing them for what was about to happen. He knew He would soon leave them, and they didn’t understand what was coming.
Thomas asked Jesus how they could know the way.
Jesus didn’t give him a map.
He gave him Himself.
This is an important part of the message for preteens.
When life becomes confusing, Christianity isn’t about having every answer.
It is about knowing Who to trust.
Does Following Jesus Mean Giving Up Your Own Choices?
Following Jesus doesn’t mean turning off your brain or never asking questions.
In fact, Jesus welcomed people’s questions.
Following Him means choosing to trust His direction even when it is different from what we might choose ourselves.
Sometimes that means forgiving someone when we’d rather stay angry.
Sometimes it means telling the truth when lying would be easier.
Sometimes it means refusing to join in when friends are doing something wrong.
Sometimes it means showing kindness to someone who isn’t popular.
Following Jesus means allowing His way to shape our choices.
What Does “The Way” Look Like in Everyday Life?
For a preteen, following Jesus can happen in very ordinary situations.
At school:
“How would Jesus want me to treat this person?”
With friends:
“Am I being the kind of friend Jesus calls me to be?”
Online:
“Is what I’m watching, sharing, or saying consistent with Jesus’ way?”
When someone hurts us:
“What would forgiveness look like?”
When we’re afraid:
“Can I trust Jesus with this?”
Faith isn’t just something that happens at church on Sunday.
Jesus wants to be part of everyday life.
What If I Don’t Understand Everything About Jesus?
You don’t have to understand everything before you can begin following Jesus.
The disciples didn’t.
They had questions. They misunderstood things. They sometimes got things wrong.
Yet Jesus continued teaching them and walking with them.
Faith isn’t about having every question answered before you take the first step.
It’s about being willing to learn, trust, and follow.
That’s why the words “Come and follow Me” appear so often in Jesus’ story.
He invites us into a relationship, not simply a set of rules.
Why Does This Matter for Preteens?
Preteen years can be full of decisions.
You are discovering what you believe, who your friends are, what matters to you, and the kind of person you want to become.
There will be plenty of voices telling you which direction to go.
Jesus offers something different.
Follow Me.
When Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, He is reminding us that we don’t have to figure everything out by ourselves.
We can know Him.
We can trust Him.
We can follow Him.
And we can build our lives around what He says is true.
Three Questions to Remember
When you think about John 14:6, remember these three questions:
1. Is Jesus my Way?
Am I allowing Jesus to guide the choices I make?
2. Is Jesus my Truth?
Am I trusting what Jesus says rather than simply believing everything I hear?
3. Is Jesus my Life?
Am I looking to Jesus for purpose, hope, and a relationship with God?
These aren’t questions that need to be answered perfectly in one day.
They are questions we can keep asking as we grow.
Jesus Is the Way, the Truth and the Life
Jesus didn’t say He would merely show us a way.
He said, “I am the way.”
He didn’t simply say He would tell us the truth.
He said, “I am the truth.”
And He didn’t merely promise to improve our lives.
He said, “I am the life.”
That makes John 14:6 one of the most powerful statements Jesus made about Himself.
For preteens learning what it means to follow Jesus, the message is beautifully simple:
You don’t have to find your own way. You can follow Jesus.
You don’t have to figure out what is true by yourself. You can trust Jesus.
You don’t have to search for meaning alone. You can find life in Jesus.
Jesus invites us to come to Him, know Him, and follow Him—one step at a time.
Ready to Help Preteens Discover Jesus?
30 Days Through John takes preteens through the Gospel of John one day at a time, helping them meet Jesus, understand His story, ask meaningful questions, and discover what following Him looks like in everyday life.
Ready-to-Teach Bible Devotional Resource: 30 Days Through John — a low-prep devotional journal created specifically for preteens.
Check out the devotional in more detail here OR
The devotional is available in our Etsy shop (30 days through John)