So oddly enough, while hope has been my word of the year, the word truth has become something that has heavily laid on my heart for the past few months. When I think about truth, the first thing that comes to mind is Scripture. It is truth, the truth, everything we need to know, right in front of us. It tells us who we are, who we're becoming, it tells us all about who God is, what he's like, what he has done and will do, it gives guidance, correction, encouragement, assurance. It is truth.
Side note: if you don't believe the Bible is all these things, you probably won't agree with or understand all of this post. I do have some evidence about the Bible's validity if you're interested, but that is a completely different conversation. For now, I appreciate you being here and your patient ear.
Anyway, truth. The Bible tells us that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). A well-known verse and I've heard many sermons about "the way" and "the life," but I feel like we skip over truth. Why is that?
Jesus is the Word, logos-- he was in the beginning with God, and he was God (John 1:1). So if Jesus is truth, and he is the Word, then the Bible must be truth. There are many instances in the Bible when Jesus reveals who he is in I Am statements:
just to name a few.
He feeds the 5,000--providing for their physical need (they were hungry)-- and then fills them even further with this truth that He will sustain them eternally.
He speaks of a shepherd that cares for his sheep and would go so far as to be slaughtered by wolves to save his flock-- he knows his sheep and loves them, and they know his voice. He is the Good Shepherd (and he also states here that he is the Door-- the only way to eternity with the Father), a truth that brings salvation.
He explains to his disciples that the man born blind was not blind as a punishment for his sins or his parents' sins, but so that "the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3). Jesus then explains how he is the light of the world. This light that he speaks of means that the night is coming when there won't be time to share the Good News anymore because God will come and judge the world. But he also literally gave his light to this man who could not see that he might meet Jesus face to face.
All of these stories uncover a bit more about who Jesus is. He shares himself with his people, and in their need, he provides for them physically, but he knows they need so much more-- they need truth. Truth brings justice. Truth brings salvation. Christ is truth, and this is what we need. So I'm on a journey of truth. Truth about many things, but church specifically right now. But again, that's a conversation for another day.
Side note: if you don't believe the Bible is all these things, you probably won't agree with or understand all of this post. I do have some evidence about the Bible's validity if you're interested, but that is a completely different conversation. For now, I appreciate you being here and your patient ear.
Anyway, truth. The Bible tells us that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). A well-known verse and I've heard many sermons about "the way" and "the life," but I feel like we skip over truth. Why is that?
Jesus is the Word, logos-- he was in the beginning with God, and he was God (John 1:1). So if Jesus is truth, and he is the Word, then the Bible must be truth. There are many instances in the Bible when Jesus reveals who he is in I Am statements:
I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35),
I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11),
I am the light of the world (John 9:5),
just to name a few.
He feeds the 5,000--providing for their physical need (they were hungry)-- and then fills them even further with this truth that He will sustain them eternally.
He speaks of a shepherd that cares for his sheep and would go so far as to be slaughtered by wolves to save his flock-- he knows his sheep and loves them, and they know his voice. He is the Good Shepherd (and he also states here that he is the Door-- the only way to eternity with the Father), a truth that brings salvation.
He explains to his disciples that the man born blind was not blind as a punishment for his sins or his parents' sins, but so that "the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3). Jesus then explains how he is the light of the world. This light that he speaks of means that the night is coming when there won't be time to share the Good News anymore because God will come and judge the world. But he also literally gave his light to this man who could not see that he might meet Jesus face to face.
All of these stories uncover a bit more about who Jesus is. He shares himself with his people, and in their need, he provides for them physically, but he knows they need so much more-- they need truth. Truth brings justice. Truth brings salvation. Christ is truth, and this is what we need. So I'm on a journey of truth. Truth about many things, but church specifically right now. But again, that's a conversation for another day.
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