Truth

John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

Jesus said this to His disciples as they celebrated the Passover together on the night before the crucifixion. Later that same evening, He prayed for Himself and for His disciples. This is recorded in John 17. In the midst of this prayer, He said:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” (John 17:17-19)

In John 1 we see that Jesus is the Word.

John 1:1-18
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, “He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.”’

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

Incredible, amazing. It is only in Jesus that we may come to the Father. It is only in Christ that we are sanctified. We are sanctified by truth, and God’s word is truth. That truth is found only in Christ. Our works won’t get us there, only faith in Christ Jesus alone.

Therefore, what we believe about Jesus is extremely important. When someone claims to follow Christ, it is so important that we continually grow in understanding of the full counsel of God’s word – Old and New Testaments, so that we may truly know what He has said about Himself that we may know Him. This is why doctrine is important. Many people claim to know Jesus, but what they say or teach about Him will reveal whether the Christ they preach is the Christ who is the Word, the Son of God.

Amazingly, only hours after that upper room Last Supper gathering, Jesus stood before Pilate, and this exchange took place:

“Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’

Jesus answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?’

Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?’

Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’

Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ (John 18:33-38a)

At that precise moment, the way, the truth and the life stood before Pilate, and he did not recognize the eternal significance of his question. How often do we ourselves fail to really recognize, to really reverence Jesus with the honor He is due? May we have ears to hear and eyes to see His glory. He is the way, the truth and the life. May we never be flippant with the great truth that has been entrusted to us with the gospel. For those whose eyes have been opened to His truth, His majesty, His glory, may we live lives completely dedicated to Him.

Everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. Look unto Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. Thank You, Lord God, for giving me the ears to hear the Truth, that precious Truth that is life to those who believe on Your Name. May I live a life surrendered to Your lordship, because You are my salvation and my hope. May my one desire be to know You more, to love You more. More love to Thee, Oh Christ! There is no other name given among men by which we may be saved. Praise the Name of Jesus, and let me continue to grow in the knowledge of Your will in truth and to live by that truth a life worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit for Your glory.