We’re living in divided times. Why? Because people are becoming very narrow-minded and incapable of understanding and respecting someone else’s point of view. Worse, they seem completely unwilling to even try. It’s their way or the highway. It’s driving us all crazy.
With a big holiday coming up in just a few days, families will be gathering to celebrate. Still, they better be very careful about the opinions and views they express — especially about politics and religion. It could lead to a big blow-up and a bad scene.
I am generally an empathetic person. I’m guessing it’s what makes me somewhat useful as a minister. I’m always curious to know how people have arrived at their conclusions. Listening to their stories gives me a greater understanding of why they think the way they do. When we are willing to listen to each other, we grow in our understanding, become better people, and foster a more civil society.
That being said, I acknowledge that Christians, including me, travel a narrow road on one topic. Our faith informs us that there is only one way to experience reconciliation with God, genuine peace, and the promise of eternal life: these come only through Jesus Christ.
As a guy who loves to build consensus, writing that last paragraph was tough; it offended some of you. I understand, and I wouldn’t blame you one bit if you stopped reading this article right now. That’s what I sometimes do when a writer expresses a very narrow-minded viewpoint. But if you’ve read this far…
Jesus knew His message was narrow and offensive. He warned His disciples that they would be hated and persecuted because of it. To this day, His true followers are still hated and persecuted because of what He called the narrow road.
In fact, it is the offensiveness of this narrow road that caused Jesus to go from being hailed as a hero on Palm Sunday to being crucified as a zero just five days later on Good Friday. In His last week, Jesus offended everyone, even His disciples. If you don’t believe me, then read Matthew chapters 21–25. He was so successful at offending them that Matthew 26 begins with Jesus saying, “As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” It is stunning just how quickly His situation changed. Five days. That’s all it took.
Why? Well, they didn’t want a way to God. That road was too narrow. What they wanted was a messiah to liberate them from Roman occupation and taxation. When it became clear that He wasn’t the miracle-working warrior king they had hoped for, their anger raged to the point where they screamed, “Crucify him!”
Jesus’ narrow road message was hated then for the same reason it is hated today. In Genesis 3:5, the serpent deceived Adam and Eve by suggesting they could become like God. That temptation continues to plague us. We want to believe we don’t need anything from God because we can be like God ourselves—the masters of our own destiny, creating our own morality, peace, security, and self-fulfillment. It doesn’t work. It is a broad road that always leads to destruction. Human history affirms it.
If we’re honest, most of us don’t want the narrow road to God either — we want the broad road, the one that leads to being our own God with more money and power, a bigger house, a nicer car, better vacations, improved health — you know, the long list of things we think will make us happier and more content and peaceful. It is a broad road — and there are a lot of people traveling it.
Jesus is the narrow gate that leads to the narrow road. He said so Himself:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
Traveling the narrow road requires us to forgive our enemies and to pray for the people who are spiteful to us. It asks to be patient, kind, long-suffering, and merciful. It calls on us to wash each other’s feet and to love one another as greatly and freely as Jesus loved us. It’s no wonder so few find it. To travel this road, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him. Yes, Jesus traveled the narrow road ahead of us. He showed us the way of love. It is what Holy Week, His week of passion, is all about.
If that’s not what you’re looking for, then the narrow road of Jesus will be offensive to you. But if you’re seeking the true peace of forgiveness and reconciliation with God, purpose in this life, and eternal life in heaven, then the narrow road is the road for you.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:10-12
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. I Timothy 2:5-6
