1. Unique
Here’s the history of Vernors:
In 1862, James Vernor was called off to the American Civil War. According to legend, he left a mixture of ginger, vanilla and spices sitting in an oak cask in a pharmacy he had been working in. After returning from battle three years later, he opened the keg and found the drink inside had been changed by the aging process in the wood. It was like nothing else he had ever tasted, and he purportedly declared it "Deliciously different," which remains the drink’s motto to this day. Its current slogan is "Barrel Aged, Bold Taste!".
Vernors is a golden ginger ale with a pungent flavor. While Michiganders who grew up with it tend to like it, many other Americans are suspicious of it, as it doesn’t taste like a "typical" ginger ale.
Vernors has a reputation of being highly carbonated and drinking Vernors from a glass can sometimes make one sneeze or cough from the bubbles it gives off. Some people consume Vernors hot as a remedy for stomachache, with ginger being the active ingredient.
Although both Hires Root Beer and Vernors claim the title of first American soft drink, some argue that while Hires Root Beer was just another root beer, Vernors was not just another ginger ale, due to its unique aging process and unusual sweetener. For many, Vernor’s Ginger Ale is, in fact, the first true American-born soft drink.
Vernors was not mass distributed nationally until the late 1980s. Previously the drink was primarily distributed only within a few hundred miles of Detroit, with particular popularity in Michigan, Western New York, Ohio, Chicago, and Southern Ontario, It is also popular in Florida, which has large numbers of retired Metro Detroiters.
It is a UNIQUE product – KFC and Coke have their unique formulas.
2. John 14.1-6
a. Preparing a place
b. The only way to the Father is by his Son
c. The literal definition of “way” is a path, a road, or even a journey. It is a means of getting from one place to another. It is a progression from something, to something else. It is the method we need to travel to get from one point in our lives to another.
d. The Way Will be Confusing If we walk on our own
3. Add Matthew 11.28-30
4. Jesus claims to be God in the way which provides rest for the souls
I. God’s Way is the HIGH Way – Isaiah 35.8; 40.3 cf. Mark 1.3)
Director’s Gimmick: Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado, An effort to raise money for the planetarium was done, the director produced brochures and flyers about the sale of 1,000 acre lots for a mere $20, the lots were on the planet Mars. The brochures told of all the benefits of living on Mars - lots of open space and quiet atmosphere, great deal of places for large rock gardens, pink skies make the area ideal for romantic getaways, gravity allows for better golf game, Mars has it all
Gimmick worked: Hundreds of people sent in their $20 for 1,000 acres of prime Martian land. The people received a deed to their property, space flight insurance and a simulated sample of Martian soil, Why was this fantasy real estate so popular?, Why did so many people make these false purchases? The gimmick hits at the very basis of human need, the three key needs that every person has: security, acceptance and direction
What was not provided was a WAY to get there – Jesus provides the way to the Father;
And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. Isaiah 35.8
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40.8 Cf. Mark 1.3
A. God Is the Source of the Way – Psalm 25.8-10
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
1. A Welcoming God– Micah 4.2 and Isaiah 2.2
and many nations shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
2. A Righteous God
a. The Saving Acts of God – Micah 6.3-5
3 “O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts [saving actions] of the LORD.”
b. Covenantal Salvation from God
1) Israel was not “good” enough
2) Israel did not DO enough (earning salvation)
3) God Rescued them by GRACE and because of his covenant with Abraham
4) God brought them to himself so he could send them out, not just up
B. God Is the Shepherd of the Way – Psalm 23.1-3; Then he led out his people like sheep
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 78.52; 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8.2
1. Not “wanderings” – that is our perspective
2. LEADING – God took them where he wanted
a. Egypt to Wilderness to Promised Land
b. Created Dependence on HIM – Deuteronomy 8.1-8
c. Averting the problem with prosperity – 8.11-20
3. Led with a pillar of cloud and fire; ark of the covenant
II. God’s Way is the Holy Way (Isaiah 6 – Holy, Holy, Holy)
A. It Brings Reconciliation for a Sacred Purpose– 2 Corinthians 5.17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1. Renewal of Broken Relationship – initiated by God – Romans 5.8
2. It Produces:
a. Agreement – Amos 3.3
b. Action – 1 John 2.4-6
4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
c. Attention – John the Baptist saw Yeshua (Jesus) walking and declared that he was the lamb of God – something in his walk (manner of life) declared that Yeshua (Jesus) was the Messiah
B. It Brings Rest – Matthew 11.28-30;
Thus says the LORD:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6.16
Torah-Truth-Incarnation
1. Rest is not inactivity – Provision of Sabbath
2. It involves Security
A man was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes. Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight. He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, "Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?" The blind lady replied, "No thanks, but maybe my Ruff would like to stretch his legs.
Picture this: All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!
People want a guide they can trust!!!!!
C. It Brings Renewal – Jeremiah 31.31-34
1. It Involves Faith – 2 Corinthians 5.7
2. It Involves Humility – Micah 6.8
3. It Involves Love – And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5.2
1. The Way to/of God is open to all – 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10.9-13
2. Yet, it is a singular way – John 14.6
The story is told of a missionary who was traveling to a remote village to train leaders of the local church. A guide was selected to take him to the village but that only way to reach the remote place was to travel through the jungle. The journey started out without much of a problem because the path was good but soon into the trip the path literally disappeared.
The missionary grew concerned and asked, “Where is the path?” The guide smiled and drew a machete from his belt. He began to slice and chop his way into the brush and thickets. The guide looked back and told the missionary, “I am the path.”
a. Goal of Truth – Matthew 7.15-20
15 “Beware of the false prophets! They come to you wearing sheep’s clothing, but underneath they are hungry wolves! 16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a poor tree produces bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree good fruit. 19 Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire! 20 So you will recognize them by their fruit.
b. Goal of Life – Matthew 7.21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
3. Not an Easy Way – Psalm 81.17
They would be fed with the finest wheat,
and I would satisfy you with honey from the rocks.
