While in Chicago for our 20th anniversary in August, Rachel and I passed a historical marker for Route 66. Traversing a total of 2,448 miles from Chicago through eight states (ending in Santa Monica, CA), Route 66 is one of the oldest (probably the most well known) highways in the U. S. highway system. It was opened in November, 1926, 89 years ago.
Route 66 reminds me of the highway portrayed in the 66 chapters of the gospel of Isaiah. In Isaiah 35, Isaiah portrays the age when the Messiah, the King, comes to bring holiness to His people. In this chapter, as in several places in Isaiah, the path to holiness is pictured as a new highway, open to all people.
This is a highway not to Egypt nor to Assyria (vs 8), but a highway that leads to holiness. The word “holy” is found 60 times in Isaiah, almost once per chapter. “Holiness” is found only here. This highway will stretch through a new land, blessed by the God of heaven, and it will be a highway that leads to holiness.
There are 10 verses in Isaiah that mention a “highway.” The word “way” is used even more frequently – 46 times. Some occasions of “highway” (cf. 7:3) are literal roads, like the one on which Isaiah met King Ahaz. The next reference sees a highway leading from Assyria (11:16) which will be a highway on which Egyptians will join the Assyrians in worship alongside the Jews (19:23). In 49:11-12, as God foresees the gathering of people into His spiritual kingdom (cf. 34:1), He says, “I will make all My mountains a road, and My highways will be raised up. Behold, these will come from afar; and lo, these will come from the north and the west.” This is a prophecy of the gathering of Gentiles.
Finally, in 62:10, Isaiah calls on Israel to engage in a type of evangelism: “Go through, go through the gates, Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples. Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”
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That “standard,” according to Isaiah 11:10, is the root of Jesse for “the peoples,” a “sign” (NASB) to which the “nations” will resort. That standard, the root of Jesse, will bring rest to all people as they receive glory from the God of heaven.
I suggest it is in the light of Isaiah’s imagery of this highway (as well as Malachi’s elaboration in 3:1) that gives us Jesus’ statement that He is the “Way,” the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Consequently, the church of Christ came to be called the “Way” in the book of Acts (9:2; 19:2, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).
The church, then, is the “Highway of Holiness” because it is washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Are you on “Route 66?”
–Paul Holland
