Did you know that the first believers were called followers of the Way? Before Paul became an apostle, he persecuted those that belonged to the Way. Why do you think they were referred to this way?

After John the Baptist was born, his father prophesied over him, saying that John would be a prophet of the Most High because he will go before the Lord to prepare His ways. Even John the Baptist himself said that he was the voice shouting in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.

John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by preaching that people should be baptized to show that they repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. He prepared them for Jesus who was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and the Chosen One of God.

Jesus actually told His disciples that He was the way. He was the way to get to know God, our heavenly Father. He showed us the way to live life. He was our example of what to do. He even got baptized even though He never sinned.

The first believers were followers of the Way. They followed Jesus and His example. They lived following Jesus’ teachings. So they were different from others. They behaved so differently that they were later called Christians, which means belonging to or identified with Christ.

As believers, would you rather be referred to as followers of the Way or belonging to Christ? Why?

Prayer

Almighty God in heaven,

Thank You for sending us Jesus to show us the way to know You. Help us to follow Him and be more like Him. May our lives glorify You and bring others to want to know You more.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Verses

Acts 9:2 Saul wanted to arrest any followers of the Way

Acts 22:4 Paul persecuted the followers of the Way, bounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison

John 14:6 Jesus replied, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”

Luke 1:76 Zechariah said, “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most high because you will prepare the way of the Lord” 

John 1:23 John said in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”

Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

John 1:29 John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:34 John testified, “I saw and testify that He is the Chosen One of God.”

Matthew 3:14-15 John tried to prevent Jesus saying, “I need to be baptized by you, so why come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be for now to fulfill all righteousness”

Hebrews 10:20 By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way

Acts 11:26 It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians

 Song

“The Jesus Way” by Phil Wickham reminds me a lot of Jesus’ teachings. Do the lyrics sound like verses in the Bible to you, too?

Call To Action

If you have already prayed, looked up the verses in your Bible, and listened to the suggested song, then share your answer about why you prefer ‘follower of the Way’ or ‘belonging to Christ’.