December 6, 2009 am
“The Way”
However, it is
interesting to note that in the first century there was a term used,
often derogatorily, which described followers of Christ and His
teachings. It is the term,
“The Way”. What does that
term mean? IN our lesson
this morning, I want to examine this term as it was used in the Bible
and make some application to our lives as we notice that Jesus truly is
THE WAY!
a.
Used in
the book of Acts.
i.
Saul
persecuted “the way”.
Acts 9:2, says he went to
Damascus.
Acts 22:4 Paul said, “I
persecuted
this Way to the death.”
ii.
Acts 19:9 speaks of those
who spoke evil of “the
Way”.
Vs. 23, “And
about that time there arose a great commotion about
the Way.”
iii.
Acts 16:17, “this
girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the
servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to
us the way of salvation.”
iv.
Acts 22:14, 22, before
Felix Paul said, “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.”
As a result of Paul teaching, vs. 22 says, “But
when Felix heard these things, having a more accurate knowledge of
the Way, he adjourned the
proceedings…”
v.
Acts 18:25-26, speaking of
Apollos, “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. 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.”
vi.
Putting
all these passage together, it seems that the expression, “the Way” was
understood to be things pertaining to the teachings of Christ, both by
followers and foes.
b.
Why was
this expression used?
i.
John 1:23, John the
Baptist who prepared the way for Christ when asked who he was said, “I
am, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight
the way of the Lord.’”
ii.
While we
are not given the specific origin, the PROBABLE origin had to do with
the teachings of Jesus. Specifically
John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the Way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.”
iii.
Throughout
His ministry He taught of two ways.
Matt. 7:13-14 mentions the
way the leads to destruction and the way that leads to life.
iv.
Matthew 21:32, where Jesus
spoke of John, He said, “John came to you in the way of righteousness…”
v.
Matthew 22:16 where some
of His critics try to entrap him they sent one who said, “Teacher,
we know that You are true, and teach
the way of God in truth…”
vi.
Thus it is
obviously that it was something Jesus taught and they understood it.
First century Christians knew when they used that expression they
were following Jesus.
a.
Understanding the use of the term, how is Jesus “the Way”?
The short answer is in every way that shapes our lives as
Christians. He set the
example and He did everything necessary to give us hope and direction to
achieve heaven after this life.
b.
The way
to heaven
–
John 14:1-3. As
Jesus was preparing to die, He instructed His apostles.
He told them he had to leave.
But the reason was to prepare a home in heaven for us.
Friends, that is what all that we do is about.
1 Peter 1:3-5 speaks of
our heavenly inheritance made possible “through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Heb. 12:1-2 after speaking
of that “great cloud of witnesses” in Heb. 11, persons of faith who
looked for and received a heavenly country (11:13-16) we find we press
toward that goal line. And our Lord is there, at the finish (in heaven)
waiting for us.
c.
The way
to God –When we sin, we are
separated from God. Jesus provides the way back to Him.
In fact, we must always remember He is the ONLY way back.
John 14:6, Jesus said, “No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Earlier in His ministry Jesus talked about being the Chief
Shepherd. John 10 records
His description of the sheepfold.
He noted that there is only ONE true way in.
“Most assuredly, I say to
you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some
other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” (John
10:1)
Ephesians 2:18 says, “For
through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
d.
The way
to truth –
John 14:6, Jesus said, “I
am the way, the truth and the life.”
Jesus came to reveal truth, teach the truth and fulfill the
truth. If we want the truth,
we have to turn to Him.
John 8:31-32 says, “The
Jesus said to these Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you
are My disciples indeed. And
you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
Before Pilate, Jesus again stated this when asked if He was a king.
“Jesus answered, ‘ You say
rightly that I am a king.
For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the
world, that I should bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” (John 18:37)
e.
The way
of life
–
John 14:6 again. He came that we might have life.
“I am the resurrection and
the life. He who believes in
Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25)
It is interesting to note that Jesus is life not only in offering
eternal life, but also the way to LIVE during this life.
John
10:10 says, “The thief
does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it
more abundantly.”
f.
The way
of peace
– Peace is continually sought in the world.
Between nations, among our friends and acquaintances AND within
ourselves. Jesus offers a
peace that is unlike anything this world offers.
John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John
16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world.”
g.
The way
of unity
– Unity is so desperately needed.
Where there is no unity, there is no peace.
Where there is no unity, SOMEONE is not following the way of
Jesus.
Jesus died to bring to an end division –
Ephesians 2:13-17 teaches
this as Christ put to death the enmity of the law and reconciled all to
God.
John 17:20-21 – again we
are reminded of the prayer of Jesus.
He taught unity and He demonstrated unity.
It comes through believing in Him and by understanding the unity
that exists between the Father and the Son.
h.
The way
of prayer
– never forget the power or importance of prayer.
Jesus prayed and He taught about prayer often.
We learn from Him HOW to pray (Matt.
6:5:15, Luke 11:1-13, etc.)
But even more than that prayer is only made possible THROUGH Him.
Heb. 4:14-16 – He is our
High Priest interceding for us.
1 John 2:1 – My little
children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous.
i.
The way
of bearing fruit
– yet another lesson He
taught His disciples. We
need to bear fruit, but it MUST be in Him.
John
15:1-2, 5-6 notes that we must bear fruit by abiding in Him.
These are some of the ways; Jesus is “the Way”.
Others could be added, but these are sufficient to remind us of
where our hope ought to lie – in Him!
Let us never cease to think of Jesus as the way and let us never
cease to think of THE WAY!
Should we use that term today?
It is certainly scriptural, but regardless of what we call
ourselves (according to scriptures) let us constantly look to Him as the
Way. He is the only hope we have
of salvation. But more than
that, as we live our lives let us continually look to Him to guide us in
the way we should go as well.
(Based on an outline by Mark Copeland, http://executableoutlines.com/way/way_01.htm )