Seeing Jesus as the Way

Welcome to chapter 7 of our study through Roy Hession’s We Would See Jesus. This chapter is truly one of my favorites! (I know I say that almost every chapter, they’re all so good!) “What follows now applies to the Christian life itself after entrance by the door, and is concerned with how to continue in the experience of grace into which we have entered” (Roy Hession). 

“And the Lord Jesus who had said, ‘I am the door,’ now says, ‘I am the way’ (John 14:6) that lies beyond the door. Both door and way are the same blessed Person.” Once we have entered through the door at salvation, God sets us on a path to heaven. Through the ups and downs of our journey, sometimes we trip and stumble off the path. Seeing Jesus as “the Way” is so important because He is not only “the Way” of salvation, but He is “the Way” we live the Christian life! When we trip and stumble, He is “the Way” back on track, and He is the track!

“Now a ‘way’ speaks not of a final settled blessing but rather of a walk, of an experience which is continuous” (Roy Hession). As believers, God has called us to abundant life in Christ. This is living life on the high place. No matter how low our circumstances or struggles may seem to put us, in Christ we can walk on higher ground because of Jesus living His life in and through us. Roy refers to it as the highway of holiness mentioned in Isaiah 35:8-10 which says, “And a highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return, and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (NASB).

Although this passage directly refers to the future time when God redeems Israel to Himself, we can still draw from it principles of grace that apply to our hearts right now. When we are fully yielded to the Spirit, we will find ourselves living on this higher plane. Even in this imperfect world stained with sin, we can find gladness and joy along the journey. Sorrow and sighing will flee as we run to Christ in every moment. The abundant life that Christ offers us here on earth is only a glimpse of the abundance to come when we spend eternity with Him! Are you living life this way? Do you long for the victory that is yours in Christ?

“How can people like us, in circumstances like ours, enjoy a continuous walk like that? With evil propensities within us and sin around us, we are faced with what looks like an impassable swamp! We need a way, and a way of such an order that foolish wayfaring men like ourselves may walk thereon in peace and safety. God has provided us with such a way. He who provided for us the door has not failed to provide the well-marked pathway we so much need after we have entered by the door” (Roy Hession). When we realize we are not experiencing abundant life in Christ, we need to examine where we stumbled off the path. Chances are, we have gotten our focus off of Christ as the way. We start to look for other “ways” to experience the fullness of the Christian life such as prayer, Bible study, witnessing and the like. Although these are all good things, we can never do these things to the measure that “our conscience tells us they ought to be done. And because we fail to do them, they fail to bring us into the peace we need.”  When we come to this realization and run back to Calvary with a repentant heart, “we find Jesus to be the pathway to our devotions, rather than our devotions the pathway to Him” (Roy Hession). 

“1 Corinthians 1:30, He ‘is made unto us sanctification [that is, holiness].’ He becomes to us what we cannot be in ourselves. We find ourselves possessed with a power that is not ours and a holiness that is not ours either – but all His, who lives in us” (Roy Hession).

God spoke to my heart about this years ago when we were praying about God’s calling in our lives to a certain church. My heart was filled with fear, doubt, and so many questions. God brought me to John 14 when Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way? Jesus said to him, ‘I AM the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:5-6 NASB). Then, in John 6 when Jesus came to the disciples in the storm. They were weary from rowing and frightened when they saw a figure coming toward them as the winds and waves kicked up. Recognizing it was Jesus, and upon His reassurance, the disciples were willing to let Him into the boat and immediately the boat was at their destination. The truth of it struck me to the heart as I realized I didn’t need to worry about where my circumstances would take me. All I needed to do was to be willing to let Jesus into my boat and He (who is the way) would make sure I got to the right destination. In fact, He is both the way and the destination!

Chapter 7: Daily Reflections

Day 1: The Good Way of Rest

1. Read Jeremiah 6:16. This passage is specifically dealing with Israel, but what principle of grace can you glean from it regarding “the way?”
2. Now read Isaiah 30:15. What principle of grace do you see here and how does it relate to what you saw in Jeremiah 6:16?
3. Read Hebrews 4:1-12. What do you learn about the “believers’ rest” specifically in verses 9-11? The phrase “let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall” in verse 11 does not mean we fall from salvation if we are not diligent, but rather has the idea of being earnest or eager to continually (every time the opportunity arises) enter the rest God has already provided for us in Christ. Failing to do so will cause us to stumble. As we close today’s homework, think about how this concept of the “believers’ rest” compares with everything we’ve been talking about in We Would See Jesus. It reminds me of Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving, and know that I am God.”

Day 2: A More Excellent Way

1. Read Hebrews 10:19-22. What do you learn about the way Jesus provided for us?
2. What do you learn about the Way in Matthew 7:13-14?
3. Start in 1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV) and continue reading 1 Corinthians 13. What is the more excellent way?

Day 3: The Way of Peace

1. Read Luke 1:78-79. What do you specifically learn about the way that Christ provides for us? How does this compare with Ephesians 2:14?
2. When we take our eyes off Jesus, we lose our sense of His peace. What does Colossians 3:15 tell us about the peace of Christ? Can you give an example of a time recently when you “lost your peace?”
3. If you have lost your peace, what does Philippians 4:6-7 say about how you can get it back?

Day 4: The Way, the Truth & the Life

1. Read John 14:1-6 and write out the promises mentioned here. It is important to note that Jesus spoke these words to His disciples during His last meal with them after washing their feet. He spoke in order to comfort them knowing what He was about to endure for them and the heartbreak they would face. In light of that, how do Jesus’ words encourage you today?
2. What does Jesus promise them in John 14:16-21?

Day 5: The Way-maker

1. Read John 6:15-21. Write out as many details as you can about what was happening with the disciples when they were on their own, and what changed immediately when they were willing to let Jesus into the boat. How does this speak to you about Jesus being the Way?
2. How does this compare to Matthew 8:23-27? These were most likely different occasions, but illustrates Jesus’ divine ability to calm any storm.
3. Read Isaiah 43:15-16 and Isaiah 42:16. How does this ultimately relate to John 14:6? How do these passages encourage your heart today?

As you reflect on God’s Word this week, prayerfully answer the following questions.

• Can you think of times when you have tried to get abundant life in Christ by doing certain things, instead of just running to Jesus with your inability? How did this make you feel?
• Explain the difference between “good works being a pathway to Jesus” or “Jesus being a pathway to good works.” Which philosophy do you think you follow in your life?

“Victory is not me overcoming sin, it’s Jesus overcoming me!”

Roy Hession

All italicized quotes that are not Scripture quotes, or cited by an author, are direct quotes from the book We Would See Jesus by Roy Hession.