The disciples lacked understanding because their picture of God was too small

This passage is connected to the disciples in the upper room with Jesus celebrating the Passover. The significance here is that Jesus is the true Passover who would set his people free from their bondage to sin. This would come about through his death on the cross and resurrection as a substitute.

The disciples didn’t understand because Jesus said to them ‘where I am going you cannot come’. They were in a state of confusion and unrest wondering ‘we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?’ Jesus tries to comfort them by saying ‘do not let your hearts be troubled … believe in God and also in me’.

Jesus further said to the disciples ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. In saying ‘I am the way’ he was referring to his teaching, miracles and sacrificial love. In saying ‘I am the truth’ it means that he reveals to us the right way back to God and in saying ‘I am the life’ he points to himself as the source of life reversing the death which came into the world through Adam and Eve.