People of The Way

I would like to talk about something that most people don't know about Christianity including most Christian.  I know that this is not the case with this audience, but nevertheless here it is.  Did you know that the disciples and followers of Jesus were not called Christians for a long time after Jesus died?  Of course you did.  We are told in the Bible that it was in the city of Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians, which was probably somewhere between 10 and 15 years after his death.  And it took many generations after that for the name "Christian" to become the predominate reference for the believers in Jesus.

So, what were these people called?  Again, the Bible tells us that believers in Jesus were first and for a long time called people of the way.  Make no mistake about this was what they originally named themselves.  It wasn't a reference that was made of them by people who were outside their ranks.  This was their name for who they were!  We would do well to take pause and consider why they called themselves by this name.  It is so important to reflect upon this that I am going to make a connected statement that may be considered very bizarre.  The more I reflect upon why the first believers in Jesus called themselves People of The Way therefore I am convinced that if Jesus were to come to earth today I seriously doubt whether he would be a Christian!  I do know this, he would believe in The Way.

Scripture

 "...Lord we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?  Jesus answers, "I am the way and the truth and the life..."

John 14:3-4