The Way

I have heard of Martin Luther, but never knew more details on his life.  He is the author for the day.  I won't get into too many details for the sake of time.  His life spanned from 1483-1546.  He was a German monk, priest, and theologian.  He was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation.  If you remember your history from school you will remember it as being the 16th century split from the Roman Catholic church.  The term comes because a group of people PROTESTED the doctrines and rituals of the Catholic church.  They disagreed with the arrangment of the church.  Martin Luther strongly disagreed with the notion that freedom and the punishment of sins could be purchased with money.  Salvation came free to the recipient as an act of grace by Jesus Christ. Luther also challenged the authority of the pope which was unheard of.  He was responsible for the translation of the Bible out of Latin.  He also was a priest that married which was also rather controversial.  Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic church. As modern people we are not able to grasp the significance of being excommunicated.  It was a really big deal.  We get the denomination called Lutheranism because they originated as followers of Martin Luther.  There has also been great controversy over Martin Luther's anti-semite writings.  Some even argue that his writing contributed to Germany as we knew it in the early 20th centruy. 

John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Before I started this study I always saw the above verse as saying Christianity is the only way to heaven.  While I think that is still true I believe it says so much more.  John 14:6 quickly disproves any notion that salvation can be gained in any other way aside from Jesus Christ.  There are no amount of money, righteous behavior, or rituals that will get us to heaven.  This notion actually takes quite the load off our shoulders when we think about it.

Jesus' words were very comforting to His Twelve.  He was assuring them that even though He would be led to slaughter He was still the WAY to God like they had been taught.  They probably had doubts that He was the bridge they needed.  They probably doubted He was still the key to life as His was about to be taken from Him (albeit temporarily).  He was reassuring them they could still be confident in His message.

Awhile ago I learned that Christianity used to be called The Way so I looked up some Bible verses that referred to it as such.  The first example occurs just before Saul's 'Damascus Road' experience.  The last example is when Paul has gotten himself into some serious trouble!

Acts 9:1-2)  Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Acts 19:9)  But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

Acts 22:4-5)  I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify.

Acts 24:14)  However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets...

I like to think of Jesus Christ as the bridge to God.  He is the go-between.  One can only be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is one clear way to God and not all paths lead to Him.  I also looked up the word 'way' in the dictionary and here are some definations.  Way refers to the transportation from place to place.  That is appropriate here because the blood of Jesus Christ transport believers from death to life.  I also read another definition that said it is an opening for passage which I find an interesting concept when thought of in a spiritual manner.  Jesus Christ opens the path up to God.  Because of Him there are no road blocks to those whose faith falls on Christ.  The last definition I found was a leading in a direction.  Love that!  Jesus leads us in the direction of our Heavenly Father

Jesus is saying in John 14:6 that He is the way to salvation through His obedience and sacrifice.  He is also the way believer's recieve covenant blessings.  Heaven and eternal life are certainly covenant blessings.  He is the direct path to God.

Since this study is one of those that unfolded in a lengthly manner I'll stop for today.  Tomorrow I'll look at how Jesus is the Truth.  We all need some absolutes in this life, don't we?