by Whitney V. Myers

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).

This article is the fifth and final article in the series on the topic, “About the Way.”

     Consider.  The eternal Jesus Christ is the road, the path, the journey to the Father, and to the Father's dwelling place, heaven.  

Immediately before Jesus said "I am the way" (John 14:6), Jesus told his disciples, "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

     Jesus is eternal.  Jesus Christ is the same "I AM" that appeared to Moses in the burning bush (John 8:58; Exodus 3:6; Exodus 3:14). 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

     Jesus is the way.  Jesus invites us to follow him to the destination.  Jesus is the road, and the journey to the destination. 

The Greek word for "follow" is akoloutheó.  Akoloutheó means to be in the same way with, that is, to accompany as a disciple (Ref. 1).

The rich young ruler asked Jesus what he could do to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17).  Mark 10:21 describes Jesus' invitation to the young man to follow Jesus.  "Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, 'One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.' "  The young man refused Jesus' invitation to accompany Jesus as a disciple.  Mark tells us the young man "was saddened, and he went away grieving" (Mark 10:22).

     Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, to the Father's dwelling place, heaven.  Jesus is the only way to the Father because only Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin. 

"Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, ... let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-20, 22).

"But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

"Unless you believe that I AM, you’ll die in your sins” (John 8:24).

Our Response to Jesus

What is your response to Jesus?  Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).  Are you ready to believe in him?  Are you willing to follow Jesus to our heavenly destination?

If you do not already trust in Jesus, then I encourage you to pray through these steps in your own words.

     Believe in Jesus.  

• Confess your sins to Jesus.  Thank Jesus for forgiving your sins (1 John 1:9). 
  
• Put your trust in Jesus.  Believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:16).  Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). 
  
  

     Follow Jesus.

• Ask Jesus to teach you, to lead you, and to help you follow him faithfully each day.
  
  

     "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29).

     "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).

     "Teach me your ways, O Lord; make them known to me.  Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me.  I always trust in you" (Psalm 25:4-5).

Now that you have put your trust in Jesus, I encourage you to:

• Read your Bible daily to learn more about God.  You may want to start by reading one of the gospel accounts such as Mark or John.  The Holy Spirit will teach you as you read the Scriptures (John 16:13).
  
  
• Seek out a local body of believers where you can worship, fellowship, and learn by receiving good teaching about God's inspired word, the Bible.  Some churches may offer a special teaching class for new believers.
  
  

Reference
1.  http://biblehub.com/greek/190.htm

To learn more about the following topics, please visit the About the Way page or the previous posts with dates noted:

• The Remedy for a Troubled Heart (April 22, 2018)
• Who is Jesus?  (May 6, 2018)
  
• The Way of the Lord (Old Testament)  (May 20, 2018)
• What Does “The Way" Mean in the New Testament?  (June 3, 2018)
• Why is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?
• Are You Ready to Believe in Jesus?
  

By Whitney V. Myers

This article is the fourth in a series on the topic, “About the Way.”

     Consider.  In the Old Testament, the scriptures describe God’s way as keeping God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 5:33; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Deuteronomy 8:6;  Psalm 119:1-3.

The New Testament builds upon the description of God’s Way in the Old Testament.  In the New Testament, the main Greek word for "way" is hodos (Ref. 1).  The following paragraphs describe the meaning of "way" (hodos) in the New Testament.

    A “way” is a traveled road.  Matthew 2:12; Acts 8:26; Acts 26:13.  In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus taught a challenging truth.  The way (road) that leads to life is narrow, and there are few who find it.  The Greek word for life in this verse is zoe, which means the blessing of real life after the resurrection (John 11:25, Ref. 2). 

     A “way” is a journey.  In Acts 8:39, the Ethiopian eunuch went on his way rejoicing after Philip led him to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:30-37).

     A "way" is a manner of thinking, feeling, or deciding.  Acts 18:24-25 describe the teaching and speaking ministry of Apollos, who was instructed in the way of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.  Acts 18:26 tells us, "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." (italics added)

In Acts 16:16-18, Paul and Silas were near Philippi when they encountered a slave girl who had a spirit of divination.  Acts 16:17 tells us the slave girl's remarkable statement.  "She followed Paul and us, crying out, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.' ” (italics added) 

     The name for Christianity in the early church.  Many believers today may not know that in the Book of Acts "The Way" was the most widely known name for the early Christian church.  The first use in Acts of the name, "The Way," occurs in Acts 9:1-2.  "Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem."

Acts 19:8-9 describe how the Apostle Paul in Ephesus moved the disciples to another location when "hardened and disobedient" people spoke evil about the Way.  Acts 19:23 says "About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way."  The disturbance about the Way led to the near-riot in Ephesus described in Acts 19:23-41. 

Later, when Paul was brought under Roman custody to Caesarea, he testified before Felix, the governor.  When Paul was given the opportunity to speak at the hearing, he said, "This I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets" (Acts 24:14).

In comparison to "The Way," which is mentioned several times in Acts, the term, "Christian" is mentioned only three times in the entire New Testament (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).

     Apply.  Are you living on the narrow path that leads to real life beyond the resurrection?  Do you trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

References
1.  http://biblehub.com/greek/3598.htm
2.  http://biblehub.com/greek/2222.htm

by Whitney V. Myers

"You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess" (Deuteronomy 5:33).

This article is the third in a series on the topic, “About the Way.”

     Consider.  Jesus said “I am the way” (John 14:6).  The "way of the Lord" was a concept familiar to Jesus' Jewish listeners.  Consider these principles from the Old Testament. 

What was the way that God had commanded?  Please read through the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:1-21).  

Consider the three-fold blessing God promises for the nations and people who keep his commandments – “that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:33).

     God went before the Israelites to show them the way.  Exodus 13:21  

     Knowing God and God's ways are key to experiencing God's favor.  Exodus 33:13

    
     David asked God to "Teach me Thy way, O Lord."  “Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11).  “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths” (Psalm 25:4).

David’s request to God, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord,” is an excellent example for us to follow.

     Listen.   I suggest that you listen to Don Moen's music video, "Trust and Obey."  You will be blessed.

     Apply.  Are you walking in the way of the Lord?  Are you obeying God's commandments?  Deuteronomy 5:1-21

by Whitney V. Myers

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15).

"Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am”  (John 8:58).

     Consider.  On the evening before his death, Jesus spoke with his disciples.  Jesus told his disciples that he was about to leave them (John 13:33). 

Who was this Jesus that was speaking to his disciples?  Was he just a great teacher or a prophet?  Or, was he God as he claimed? 

Let's explore several scriptures that tell us who Jesus is.
 

     Jesus is the begotten and only Son of God.  When the time came for the second person of the Trinity (Ref. 1) to become flesh, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin named Mary (Luke 1:26-27).  Gabriel informed Mary, "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).

Mary replied, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34)  Literally, Mary asked Gabriel, "How can this be since I do not know (sexual intimacy) a man?"  (Ref. 2)

Gabriel answered Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). 

John describes Jesus as the only begotten Son of God in John 3:16.  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  The Greek word for "only begotten" is monogenés, which means "one (monos) of a class, genos (the only of its kind)."  Therefore, Jesus is unique (Ref. 3).

The above scriptures establish Jesus' title as the begotten, unique, and only Son of God.    

     Jesus is fully God and fully human.  John begins his gospel by describing the Deity of Jesus Christ.  "In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself" (John 1:1). 

John also describes the Word made flesh.  "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). 

The Apostle Paul states, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9).

These scriptures tell us that Jesus is fully God and fully human.

     Jesus is the visible image of God.   Throughout Scripture, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is the visible image and visible expression of God.  "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15).  Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

The New Living Translation of Hebrews 1:3  explains that Jesus expresses the character of God.  "The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God."  The Greek word is "charaktér," which means an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character.

The Preincarnate Son of God was "exceedingly active in the Old Testament" (Ref. 4).  Consider these examples where Christ appeared in visible form:

• The Lord appeared to Abraham (Genesis 18:1)
• The angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-13)
• The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses (Exodus 3:1-6)
• The Lord spoke face to face with Moses (Exodus 33:9-11)
• The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon (Judges 6:11-23)

In Exodus 3:13, Moses asked God to tell him God's name.  God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Exodus 3:14).

Jesus confirmed that he is the same God who appeared to Moses and said, "I AM WHO IAM." "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am' " (John 8:58).

We began this post with a question.  Who was this Jesus that was speaking to his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion? (John 13:33)

The Jesus who said to his disciples, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6) is the same God who appeared to Moses and said, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14).  

     Apply.  If someone asked you to explain who Jesus is, how would you answer?

To learn more about these topics, please visit the About the Way page:

• The Remedy for a Troubled Heart (also see the post for April 22, 2018)
• Who is Jesus?
• Walking in God's Way (Old Testament Perspective)
• "The Way" - The Name of the Early Christian Church
• Why is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?
• Are You Ready to Believe in Jesus?
  
  

References
1.  http://biblehub.com/topical/w/word.htm
2.  http://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm
3.  http://biblehub.com/greek/3439.htm
4.  https://bible.org/seriespage/a4-preincarnate-son-god

by Whitney V. Myers

     Consider.  On the evening before his death, Jesus spoke with his disciples.  Jesus told his disciples that he was about to leave them (John 13:33).  Naturally, their hearts filled with sorrow (John 16:5-6).

Jesus had already told his listeners who he is.  "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).  “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58, Exodus 3:6, Exodus 3:14).

As the remedy for their troubled hearts, Jesus asked his disciples to believe in him.  The Greek word for "believe" is pisteuo, which means have faith in, trust in (Ref. 1).
 
As the remedy for our troubled hearts, Jesus asks us to believe in him.  Jesus asks us to trust him and to have faith in him.

     The remedy for a troubled heart is to believe in Jesus.

To the father of the boy who was deaf, mute, and had seizures, Jesus said, "All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!" (verse 23 in Mark 9:14-29)

To the woman who touched Jesus' cloak and was healed, Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in Me] has restored you to health; go in peace and be [permanently] healed from your suffering” (Mark 5:34).

To his disciples, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]" (John 14:27). 
 

     Listen.  I encourage you to listen to Louis Armstrong's recording of the African-American spiritual song, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen."

      Apply.  Is something troubling your heart today?  Will you choose to believe in Jesus?

Reference
1.  http://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm