It’s important to know how to get where we want to be.
Beginning with the prophet Isaiah (35:8), and continuing in the New Testament book of Acts (9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:13, 22), holy scripture refers to the teaching of Jesus and his apostles and prophets as “the way” (or “The Way” in some translations). Even Jesus’ enemies ignorantly used the term in hypocritical flattery (Matthew 22:16). Peter calls it “the way of truth” (2 Peter 2:2) and “the way of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:21), contrasting it with “the way of [the heathen prophet] Balaam...who loved the wages of wickedness.” (2 Peter 2:15). Finally, Jude refers to those who “have taken the way of Cain” (v.11).
Probably the most familiar use of the term is found in the upper room in Jerusalem where Jesus met to eat his last Passover meal with his apostles. Shortly before his arrest by the Jews, Jesus told his apostles that he was going home to be with his Father. He was going to “prepare a place” for them, and promised to come back to get them and take them to live with him. Then he told them simply, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” The apostle named Thomas was disturbed, because he didn’t think he knew the way. “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus then gave us that wonderful, timeless statement about himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
A favorite song says “The way of the cross leads home.” When Jesus told his disciples he was going away, he revealed that “the way” involved him. They would later learn that his way included the agony of the cross. It is a central truth of the gospel that Jesus died for our sins, was also buried and raised from the dead. “The way of the cross” also involves a cross for his disciples. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24). Following Jesus as “the way” to the Father means that we place our trust in the power of his sacrifice, and allow that faith to lead us in obedience to his will.
Jesus is coming back one day to take his people home. As God’s creatures, made in his image, he wants everyone to come and live with him eternally. The cross, as the focal point of his mission on earth, is truly the way home. There is absolutely NO need for us to be lost, since Jesus came to show us “the way.”
The passages speaking of “the way” refer to the path the Christian walks while still here; and to the means of walking it is found in Jesus himself. When this life is over, for those who have stayed on the path, Paul gives this promise:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Amen and praise the Lord!!
Larry Sheehy is the preaching minister at Statesboro Church of Christ. He can be reached at (912) 764-5269 or sborococ@frontiernet.net
Beginning with the prophet Isaiah (35:8), and continuing in the New Testament book of Acts (9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:13, 22), holy scripture refers to the teaching of Jesus and his apostles and prophets as “the way” (or “The Way” in some translations). Even Jesus’ enemies ignorantly used the term in hypocritical flattery (Matthew 22:16). Peter calls it “the way of truth” (2 Peter 2:2) and “the way of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:21), contrasting it with “the way of [the heathen prophet] Balaam...who loved the wages of wickedness.” (2 Peter 2:15). Finally, Jude refers to those who “have taken the way of Cain” (v.11).
Probably the most familiar use of the term is found in the upper room in Jerusalem where Jesus met to eat his last Passover meal with his apostles. Shortly before his arrest by the Jews, Jesus told his apostles that he was going home to be with his Father. He was going to “prepare a place” for them, and promised to come back to get them and take them to live with him. Then he told them simply, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” The apostle named Thomas was disturbed, because he didn’t think he knew the way. “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus then gave us that wonderful, timeless statement about himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
A favorite song says “The way of the cross leads home.” When Jesus told his disciples he was going away, he revealed that “the way” involved him. They would later learn that his way included the agony of the cross. It is a central truth of the gospel that Jesus died for our sins, was also buried and raised from the dead. “The way of the cross” also involves a cross for his disciples. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24). Following Jesus as “the way” to the Father means that we place our trust in the power of his sacrifice, and allow that faith to lead us in obedience to his will.
Jesus is coming back one day to take his people home. As God’s creatures, made in his image, he wants everyone to come and live with him eternally. The cross, as the focal point of his mission on earth, is truly the way home. There is absolutely NO need for us to be lost, since Jesus came to show us “the way.”
The passages speaking of “the way” refer to the path the Christian walks while still here; and to the means of walking it is found in Jesus himself. When this life is over, for those who have stayed on the path, Paul gives this promise:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Amen and praise the Lord!!
Larry Sheehy is the preaching minister at Statesboro Church of Christ. He can be reached at (912) 764-5269 or sborococ@frontiernet.net