Rev. Brian A. Burrows. 

Title: The Way of Christ! 

Text: John 14:6, “Jesus said to him (i.e.. Thomas), “I am the Way and the truth and the life.” NRSV. 

Intro: - When the writer of Deuteronomy 26:6 looked back, he said, “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor.” Is belief in God a case of wandering about or is it more about treading a distinct path? I believe the words of Jesus direct us not only to a way of believing, but also to a way of life – the Way of Jesus Christ! 

  1. “I am the Way!” 

Believing has its ups and downs, but Christians do not wander aimlessly. We walk the Way of Jesus Christ. Just as the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and the River Jordan to reach the Promised Land, so we who follow Jesus choose Baptism. The waters of which are not just symbolic; they signify a new start – a cleansing from sin. We also adopt a new name – a Christian one to denote that we are followers of the Way  

  1. “I am the Truth!”

Pilate once asked, “What is truth? To this day when the Apostles’ Creed is recited, this obscure Roman governor is remembered. The truth Jesus was speaking about, was the truth about God and his Son. As the Israelites followed a God who spoke to them and gave them commandments to live by, so Jesus gave his followers the Beatitudes. These spiritual instructions talk about compassion, forgiveness, loving one’s enemies as well as one’s neighbor. The truth, Jesus proclaimed is to be seen in the way he healed the sick, encouraged children and raised the dead to life.

  1. “I am the Life!”

Jesus taught the people and gathered together disciples. John 17:21,”As  you Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us.” This insight is true for all Christians. Jesus is saying, “I in you,” meaning the work of Jesus can also be done by us. We are forgiving, compassionate, willing to tend to the sick. feed the poor, welcome children and so on. This is what the life of the Christian and the Church is called to be – being the living risen Christ to our World. 

Conclusion: 

In Jesus’ day, many of the people wandered away from their calling as the chosen people. As believers, we must persist in the Way of Christ. Individually and as a Church, there is a need for constant renewal. Let us not be deterred in our desire to be a follower of the Way – to be a pilgrim. John Bunyan wrote in his famous hymn these words, 

         “Whoso beset him round with dismal stories, 

          Do but themselves confound, 

          His strength the more is.”