Anciently, in the 1st century AD those who followed Jesus
Christ were known as "Followers of The Way". It wasn't until about
the 2nd Century AD that the world began to call them "Christians".
There is a very strong Egyptian theme here as Osiris/Horus was known as the
"Opener of the Way" so Yeshua (Jesus) was also known as "the
Opener of the Way".
When He tells His disciples in John 14:6
I am the Way ("Hodos" in Greek),
the Truth ("Alethia" in Greek),
and the Life ("Zoe" in Greek)
There is so much more meaning to this cryptic phrase. By
understanding what each of these Greek words mean it sheds a little more light
on His role in your life:
HODOS
The words "the Way" meant something more than we
casually throw it around today. Hodos (the Way) means to have entered into an
fellowship or intimate relationship with Him. It meant that you have a true
connection with the heavens and are on the path of eternal life through the
seven heavens (even though you are stopping through temporarily on this
Telestial world). Not anyone who just wanted to "be good" so they
could get to heaven was admitted into "the Way". There was a specific
standard of action and receiving of certain heavenly ordained ordinances (as
well as exercising faith sufficient to overcome the world) before heaven
acknowledged you were in "the Way".
Nephi is very clear in 2 Nephi 31 and 32 when he talks about
entering the Gate (repentance and baptism by water), the
Path (baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost), then are you in the
Way (the Path which leads to Eternal Life). Some of us have recently
re-entered the Gate, but still have not entered the Path, let alone the Way.
You need to pray and find out if you've entered in the Path (received your
baptism by fire).
ALETHIA
While the word "Alethia" can be translated
"truth" a more appropriate translation is "Discloser" or
"Restorer". One of Christ's role is to restore your memory (or truth)
of who you are to Him. Part of which includes being given your eternal name
(which appears as a New Name to you). In essence, when He says He is the
Discloser/Restorer He actually means it.
ZOE
The word "Zoe" isn't just a cute girls name. It
also doesn't just mean "life". It has such a deep meaning - yes, it
means "life" but there is a difference between CREATED life and CREATIVE
life. What Christ is saying is that He has the eternal spark, the ability to
CREATE LIFE, even Life Eternal (or Zoe Aeonion - "creative life through
the aeons"). He is the only one capable of progressing us through the
aeons (sometimes spelled "eons") to where we can become Zoe
ourselves.
Sometimes when people ask me, "Well what do we call
ourselves now that we're in limbo with our LDS membership, but we definitely believe in the truths
restored through Joseph Smith?" Before, I didn't have a good answer... Now I think
my answer going forward is going to be: I am a Follower of the Way.
