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Jesus (The Way)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’

At this time I want to share with you about Jesus and ‘the Way’.

It may surprise some of you but before followers of Jesus were called ‘Christians’ they were called people of ‘The Way’!

There is no record that followers of Jesus called themselves Christians. The word came to be used by some people about them.

The scripture in 1 Peter is presented from the point of view of the persecutor. See the note below.

CHRISTIAN
christianos 5546, “Christian,” a word formed after the Roman style, signifying an adherent of Jesus, was first applied to such by the Gentiles and is found in Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16.

Though the word rendered “were called” in Acts 11:26 might be used of a name adopted by oneself or given by others, the “Christians” do not seem to have adopted it for themselves in the times of the apostles. In 1 Pet. 4:16, the apostle is speaking from the point of view of the persecutor, cf. “as a thief,” “as a murderer.” Nor is it likely that the appellation was given by Jews. As applied by Gentiles there was no doubt an implication of scorn, as in Agrippa’s statement in Acts 26:28. Tacitus, writing near the end of the first century, says, “The vulgar call them Christians. The author or origin of this denomination, Christus, had, in the reign of Tiberius, been executed by the procurator, Pontius Pilate” (Annals xv. 44). From the second century onward the term was accepted by believers as a title of honor.

(From Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

The term Christian means “follower of Jesus’.

What I want you to see is that the Word that Jesus spoke “ I am the Way’ was so profound and important that the early followers referred to themselves as people of ‘the way’.

Acts 9:2 And asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way , whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Acts 18:25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Acts 18:26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Acts 19:22-23 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way .

Acts 24:14 “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect , so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

Acts 24:22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.”

The message of Jesus was so alive and fresh in these early believers and follows of Jesus that they spoke of being in His Way.

What did Jesus mean by being ‘the Way’?

John the Baptist spoke of Jesus as being ‘the Way’ as he quoted the prophet Isaiah.

Matthew 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’ ”

So from the first of the public ministry of Jesus He was spoke of a being the Way.

Then Jesus Himself spoke of Himself as the Way.

John 14:4-9 “And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Here Jesus clearly states that He is The Way! Those who follow Him and believe in Him are in His Way! You enter the Way only with Jesus and the Way leads to the Father. The message is clear as you read all the passages of scripture and the entire teachings of Jesus. Jesus is not just a way, or a good way, or one of many ways’¦ Jesus is the Way ! Now don’t get angry with me. These are not my words they are the Words of Jesus. You may debate about the Bible but I accept it as the total Truth. Here Jesus tells us more about the Way.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction , and there are many who go in by it.
“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to lif e, and there are few who find it.

Jesus said that those in ‘the Way’ are few. The Way is not the way of the majority and the world. The Way is not the popular way, it is the Way of the few who are true followers of Jesus.

We don’t like to use ‘the Way’ because it sounds very exclusive. Well it is! Only followers of Jesus are in the Way.

I just try to read the Words of Jesus and not place an interpretation on them. Let His Words stand for themselves. Believe them and live and follow in His Way.

There are many ways in life and many things in this world to believe in and ways to live. We face many choices. Every choice has a consequence.

Morality is not the Way,

Church is not the Way,

Baptism is not the Way,

Good works is not the Way,

But

Jesus IS the way!

You and only you will make the most important choice of all.

Will you be in the Way of Jesus?

Will you open your heart and let Jesus live in you?

Will you let Jesus wash your sins away in His Blood that He shed on the cross at Calvary?

Oh say ‘Yes’ to Jesus now.

Repent and invite Jesus into your heart and life and commit to follow Him.

I have lived in ‘the Way’ since 1947 and recommend it for all.

I have never met a person who truly entered into the Way of Jesus and came to know Jesus personally that ever wanted to leave following Him.

Welcome to the Way! Jesus is waiting for you, the Holy Spirit is at work in your heart and the Father wants you in His Family.

Ask Jesus now to come into your heart and take away your sins and put your name in His Book of Life.

I am praying for you.

God bless you.

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt

Luke 18:1