WHERE ARE WE GOING? – (3)

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6

Read the story here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2014:1-9&version=NIV

Listen to story here:  http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/John.14  

“All roads lead to Rome.”  Many Americans today think, “All roads lead to God.”  Jesus’ statement that “no one comes to the Father but by me” is shocking to us.  It is not politically correct, to say the least.  We would rather believe that any religion, any faith, any philosophy will work equally well.  But will it?

Let’s look at the source of that proverb.  It traces to a Latin saying: “Mille viae ducunt homines per saecula Romam,” which translates, “A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome.”  This proverb was based on the ancient Roman road system which radiated out from the capital, like spokes around a wheel.  These Roman roads were designed so that Roman troops and supplies could travel to anywhere Rome ruled.

So “all roads lead to Rome” means that different paths can take one to the same goal.  These Roman roads were singularly designed that way.  But does this proverb apply to all situations?

Clearly, Robert Frost doesn’t think so.  In “The Road Less Traveled,” the traveler

says:

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood…

And his conclusion:

I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

shows that one path led to a very different result than the other.  

Different path; different result.

Logic and observation tell us, that although in some instances different methods can end up with the same result, more often than not opposite methods produce opposite results.

 Even if all Roman roads lead to Rome, all American roads certainly don’t end up at the same destination.  In 1956 the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System was created (commonly called The Interstate).**  In the 50+ years since then, hundreds of roads have crisscrossed the USA.    

Try this experiment.  The next time you get in your car, fill in this sentence:  All roads lead to my destination.  Let us know where you land!

*attributed to Alain de Lille in 1175 AD. 

**Federal Highway Administration – List of Road Songs Celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. (compiled 2006 by Richard F. Weingroff).  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/roadsongs.htm

WHERE ARE WE GOING? – (2)

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6

Read the story here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2014:1-9&version=NIV

Listen to story here:  http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/John.14  

How does a person get to God?  What is the way to take?

Another word for a “way” is a path, a trail, a road.  Jesus was saying he IS the path that

connects us with God the Father. 

A common self-reference among the early Christians was "disciples," meaning "followers of a teaching."  But in Acts these followers were also referred to as "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14; 24:22).*

It’s kind of a strange image, thinking of Jesus (person) as if he were a pathway (object).  But isn’t that the same thing we’re doing to God by thinking of him as some kind of destination or place we need to get to?

Jesus : path :: God : heaven.

We need to rethink the analogy.  God is a person.  A VERY important person.  So how do we get access to an important person?  Through another person!  Have you ever tried to get a job and you knew someone who knew the boss.  Bingo!  The job is yours through personal connection.  Your friend was the WAY to the boss.

you : your friend :: your friend : boss

Jesus is the WAY to the Father.

*Wikipedia