Why did early Christians call themselves "the Way"?

Preamble

Why did the early Christians call themselves "the Way"?  I think an answer to that question will tell us a lot about early Christianity and will provide us Christians today with a challenge as to how we ought to define ourselves.

Thesis

My thesis is this:  early Christians called themselves "the Way" because salvation for early Christians is a journey the goal of which is to be with God.  This way was exemplified by Jesus, which played out in his obedience (unto death) and resurrection--a course that is to be followed by his disciples. 

Proof

Luke is clear in the book of Acts that the early Christians called themselves "the Way" (see 9:1; 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).  There are clues that this was a self-designation.  The term probably comes from Isaiah 40:3, a verse quoted elsewhere in the New Testament (Mt. 3:3; Mk. 1:3; Lk 3:4; Jn 1:23).  There is also evidence that the Jews at Qumran used Isa, 40:3 in a similar manner, but for them "the way" was a strict obedience to the law.  Even so, the evidence of Qumran will bolster my argument later.

Jesus Followed the Way

Another point to establish is that Jesus followed the way.  This is brought out in the reference to Isaiah 40:3 since this has to do with the way of the Lord (Jesus, for Christians), but it is also brought out in Acts (see 18:25-26).  Of course the clearest example of this is John 14:6 where Jesus says he is the Way (more on this below).

The Way Followed by Jesus is to be the Way Followed by his Disciples

The gospel of Mark is especially telling that the way of Jesus is the way of the disciples.  It is interesting that in all three major predictions of his death and resurrection, which just is "the way", we are told that Jesus said these things on the way! (see Mk. 8:27; 9:33-34; and 10:32).  These predictions of Jesus' fate are all tied to the fate of his disciples.  The way of Jesus is the way of the disciples.  Even outsiders knew that Jesus taught the way of God (Mk. 12:14).

More Evidence that the Way is about a Course in Life

The use of the word "way" in the New Testament refers to concrete actions (works if you will).  In Matthew 21:32 we are told about the way of righteousness (see also 2 Peter 2:21) and in 2 Peter 2:2 we are told about the way of truth.  A very nice segue to my discussion of the Gospel of John is Hebrews 10:20, where Jesus has opened a new and living way.

John

In John 14:6 we are told that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  He is the way to the Father because he obeyed and was resurrected to be with God (a prominent theme in the gospel--13:1, 3, 33, 36; 14:12, 28; 16:5-7, 16-22, 28; 17:11, 13).  It's probable that in John 14:3, the way governs both the truth and life.  Jesus is the way to truth and the way to life.  He is the way to truth because he obeyed God.  In John 3:21, we are told to "do the truth"--a very odd way of talking to us evangelicals!  The way of truth as a course of action is also found in Psalms 119:30 and 86:11.  Truth even leads to life (see Prov. 15:24; Jer, 21:8; Psalms 16:11).  Jesus leads to life because he conquered death.  Jesus leads the way to the Father and his example is to be followed (see the conversation with Peter in Jn. 13:36-38).

Theological Upshot

It is a very significant fact that Christians called themselves "the Way".  The way is not just about beliefs and though it is true Christians were called believers, they were and we are to be much more than that!