The Way

In 1973, at the peak of the Jesus movement of the ‘60’s and 70’s there was a band called “The Way”. I remember riding to work listening to them and Chuck Girard’s “Love Song” as a brand new Christian. Remember those days when our faith was new and exhilarating? As we get older though there are days or periods when faith flags and despondency or fear can overwhelm us. I recently spent a few harrowing days in fear that I

finally traced to an article I had read admonishing me that salvation was ultimately in human hands alone. To those inexperienced and ignorant of their own hearts such news may be welcome, but to those who have been brought kicking and screaming to acknowledge their helplessness it is soul-crushing.

     Scarcely a day ago I felt I was drowning. With fear increasingly overcoming me, I stumbled upon one of my favorite passages. Isaiah chapter 37 promises a sure way home:

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isaiah 35:8)

In the midst of hopeless desolation an escape is provided, a “way” (delightfully understated) is graciously provided by God, who promises to “come and save you” (v. 4). Well, what does it look like when God shows up to save us?

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” (v. 5)

Can you think of a time in all the annals of human history where blind people were given sight and deaf people were made to hear? Mm-hmm. When Jesus showed up. Coincidence? Look at verse 6:

“Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”

     There is only one book that records such events as literal fact:

“The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Mat 11:5)

Jesus is alluding to Isaiah 35:5-6 in Matthew, confirming that Isaiah spoke of Him! But wait, there’s more! If (as we now know) our “The Way” passage is in fact about Jesus, then all the more relevant my pet verse:

“.. and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isaiah 35:8)

When these prophesied, historical miracles recorded only in the Bible appeared (the times of Jesus) there was revealed the way, a path to God called “The way of holiness” or separateness. Google’s AI overview correctly puts it this way:

“Yes, to be holy means to be "set apart", referring to something or someone dedicated to a unique purpose, often to God. This concept of being set apart applies to God himself, signifying His absolute purity and separation from sin, and to people and things that are dedicated to His use. The Hebrew and Greek words for "holy" literally mean "to separate" or "to set apart," highlighting the idea of being distinct and reserved for a special function.”

Christians are set apart from the world simply because they have put their faith in Jesus. The way of holiness is simply trusting Jesus, taking Him at His word.

Peter puts it this way:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” (1Peter 2:9)

“The Way” is simply Jesus. That’s it. Nothing else. In John 14 Jesus tells his Disciples he is leaving to prepare a place for them so they can be with him. We can almost feel Thomas’ frustration as he asks Jesus “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). And the whole world knows Jesus’ reply:

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

     In a mad world where millions of voices argue over the right way to heaven, Jesus meekly and matter-of-factly steps up to say “I am the way”. He is The Way because He is GOD. Look at John 14:9 where Jesus says that “he who has seen me has seen the Father”. Can there be any reasonable doubt that Jesus meant that God Almighty stood before them in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy? Look back at Isaiah 37:4. It was GOD that was coming to save them. How would we know it was God?? By the blind seeing, the lame walking, the lepers being cleansed, and the deaf hearing, the dead being raised up, and the poor having the gospel preached to them.” (Mat 11:5). This is why some in the early church referred to Christianity as “The Way”, a reference not only to Jesus in John 14:6, but to Isaiah 35:8. And lastly my favorite line about The Way:

“and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

The ESV puts it this way:

“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.” (Isaiah 35:8 ESV)

If there was ever a fool, it is me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see. We are on a road! My dad used to call it “the good road“. And we cannot go astray. Even if we are fools. Why? Because GOD is saving US. We are not saving us. We don’t even know HOW to save us. You’ve heard the saying, “once you see it, you can’t unsee it”? Once you understand that only God can save you, and fully intends to do so, there is no turning back.

We’re on the good road!