“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” John 14:6.
Way is a common word or phrase, taken for the chief means and medium for the attainment or accomplishment of a thing, and so is very comprehensive. As for example: the way to gain honour, is to do some worthy and honourable action; honour is the end, the person that seeks it is the subject, the doing the worthy action is the way to attain it. Again, if a man would go to such or such a city, he must travel that road that leads thither; here also you have an end, the subject, and the means or way of obtaining the end. So in like manner, if a man would come to God, which is happiness, his chief end, the Way if Jesus Christ: “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Here man is the subject, God or happiness the end, Christ the Way.
| METAPHOR |
PARALLEL |
|---|---|
| A Way to attain to any thing or place that we greatly desire, and long after, is necessary, without which our end and desire can never be accomplished. | There is an absolute necessity of a Christ, for without him, favour and reconciliation with the Father cannot be obtained, Acts 4:12. “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone,” Romans 9:31-32. |
| A Way must be assigned by the public legislators of a kingdom, when it is wanting, and appears absolutely necessary. | Jesus Christ is assigned or appointed by the great Law-giver of Heaven and earth, to be the Way to happiness, who saw a Savior was wanting, and such an one was necessary to bring man to glory. |
| A Way that is assigned must be also made known, or else how should men do to find it, and walk in it? | Jesus Christ is made known by the Gospel, in which are plain directions how to find the Way. God saw it necessary to send his servants, to proclaim and make known salvation: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14. |
| A Way is useful upon divers accounts, indeed to all enterprises, whether it be for the obtaining of honour, riches, peace, health, or length of days. | Jesus Christ is useful and necessary to all enterprises. 1. To honour: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” John 1:12. 2. To riches: “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness,” Proverbs 8:18. 3. To peace: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one,” Ephesians 2:14. 4. He is health, strength, and length of days: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die,” John 11:26. |
| Ways lead from one place or city to another. | Christ, the spiritual Way, leads from sin to grace; out of Satan’s kingdom to his own kingdom, from Egypt to Canaan. |
| Ways are free for all; none are forbid to travel in such and such common Ways and roads. | Christ is a Way free for all sinners, Matthew 11:28-29. The partition-wall is now broken down, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, young and old, male and female, may freely walk in this Way, Ephesians 2:14. None are forbid to come to Christ, to believe in him, and to lead a holy life. |
| In a Way there ought to be suitable and necessary accommodations for travelers. | In Christ, the spiritual Way, are all things necessary provided: there is bread and water of life, sweet repose, and precious grace ready to defray all expenses, for every willing and faithful traveler. |
| There is no coming to such or such a city, unless we go the Way which leads thither. | There is no coming to God but by Christ; “for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4:12. Whoever refuse Christ, and life through him, let their confidence be never so great, it will deceive them, and their hope will prove like the spider’s web. |
| Men are glad when they come to the end of a long journey. | Poor sinners greatly rejoice, when through Christ they are brought home to the Father; but what joy will it be to them, when they come to the end of their journey, the salvation of their souls. |
Question
In what respect is Christ called the Way, or said to be the Way to the Father?
Answer
As he is Mediator between God and man.
- As a Priest, he atoned and made peace by his own blood, and thereby he is a blessed Way for us to the Father, and as he is a Priest to intercede for us in Heaven.
- He is the Way, as a King, to appoint laws for us, and to subdue sin, and other enemies, in us, and for us.
- He is the Way, as a Prophet to teach and instruct us by his word and Spirit, how to receive that glorious atonement he hath made, and to walk in those ordinances he hath appointed.
- He is the Way by that holy example he hath left for us.
Question
What kind of Way is Christ?
Answer
- He is the only Way to the Father, and eternal life. (1.) The patriarchs of old knew no other Way: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, John 8:56. (2.) The prophets knew no other Way. (3.) The apostles knew no other Way. (4.) There is no other Way revealed to mankind. (5.) There is a curse denounced to such as shall preach any other Way.
- Christ is a new Way: The old Way of access was barred and chained up by the fall; is blood is called the blood of the new covenant. By a new and living way, Hebrews 10:20.
- Christ is a sure and certain Way; no man ever missed heaven that rightly sought it in this Way.
- Christ is a safe Way; there is protection, guidance, and safe direction in him.
- Christ is an easy Way; his yoke is easy, his commands are easy, Matthew 11:30. There is strength, and supplies of all things necessary, afforded to all that walk in him.
- Christ is a comfortable Way. There is sweet company, all friends and brethren, and no enemy walks in this Way; besides, there are excellent accommodations.
- Christ is a plain Way, a Way prepared, cast up, and all stumbling-blocks removed.
- He is a holy Way, all other Ways are unclean and filthy; none but holy persons can walk in this Way.
- It is a Way of Gods devising and finding out.
- It is a costly Way: it is a cheap Way to us, but dear to God; it cost him the parting with his own beloved Son, and Christ the price of his precious blood.
| METAPHOR |
DISPARITY |
|---|---|
| Other Ways lead only to external places and privileges. | Christ leads to the blessed, immortal. And eternal God, heaven, and lasting happiness. |
| Other Ways lead to a place, but they are not that place to which they lead. | Christ and the Father are one; he is the end of a saint’s journey, as well as the Father, John 14:11, 1 John 5:7. |
| Other Ways are sometimes out of repair, and unfit for travelers. | But Christ is a Way never out of repair, nor unfit for sinners to walk in. |
| Other Ways have no life in them, nor cannot preserve the traveler from death and danger. | Christ is a living Way; he is a speaking, directing, animating, and quickening Way, he preserves from death and danger, Hebrews 10:14. |
INFERENCES
- Bless God for this Way. O what infinite grace is here, that the Almighty should be so kind and merciful to us poor sinners, as when we had barred up our Way to him, he should find out another for us, and be at such great charge as to send his own son to be the Way himself.
- We may infer from hence, that the salvation is one and the same, hence called common salvation, Jude 3.
- It shows us, that there is no salvation but by Christ.
- It holds forth the great necessity of the Gospel, and the ministry thereof.
- What a miserable condition are all those in that reject Christ!
- It reproves those who think to find other Ways to Heaven.
- Labour to see a necessity of Christ.
- Prize Christ, O! value Christ, he is all in all, he is everything to believers; you can never overvalue precious Jesus.
