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I Am The Truth
June 01, 2008
Jesus declared that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that the only path to eternal life with God was through Him. This is the second of three sermons based upon His statement. In this one, I look at Jesus as the truth, the living Word of God. We must listen to Jesus, because He brought us words of life, the word of God, His Father.
Bernie Parsons
I Am The Truth
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Globe Church of Christ 06-01-2008, Load, 06-08-2008
John 14:1: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4: And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5: Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
In the previous lesson, we looked at Jesus as the only Way to eternal life. This time we want to look at Jesus as the Truth. When he was brought before Pilate under false accusation by His Jewish brethren, we encounter the following exchange:
John 18:37: “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38: Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”
The Romans conquered the Greeks, and adopted many of their ways and kept much of their culture intact. The Greeks loved to debate issues and philosophize about truth. Therefore, Pilate glibly tossed off the claim by Jesus regarding truth.
John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2: The same was in the beginning with God.
3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4: In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7: The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9: That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14: And the Word was made 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 gives account that Jesus was the word of God in the flesh, and as such, was full of grace and truth. We know this to be true, for God Himself witnessed this.
Matthew 17:5: “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
First, on this occasion, God declares Jesus to be His son, and not merely a son, but His beloved son. Second, God declares that He is well pleased with Jesus. Finally, God commands those hearing His voice to hear the words of Jesus. With this statement, we know that Jesus is telling the truth when He claims to be God’s son, and we know that He is the word of God in the flesh, and therefore He speaks the truth.
Ephesians 4:21: “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24: And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Paul, when writing to the Ephesians, also witnessed that the truth is in Jesus. If we desire to know the truth, we must study the life and the teachings of Jesus and His apostles and disciples. That means that those who seek God must give up what we once thought of as truth and seek the actual truth. When we walk after the ways that seem right to us, as men, we fall prey to the deceit of the lusts in this life. To serve God requires an abandonment of old ways, a renewal of mind and spirit. Each must become a new person, one who seeks the righteousness and holiness found only in God and His holy son, Jesus.
John 4:21: “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22: Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Man often seeks to serve God through concocting elaborate rituals, binding old traditions, or creating new doctrines—all of which is useless! To worship God means to hold Him in high regard, or esteem. What He says should matter to us; nay, it must matter to us! If we hold Him in high esteem—regard—we will hear His message. Worship is not a set of hollow rituals, old traditions, or exciting new theories. Worship is a state of mind and a humility of spirit. If we do not bow our will to the Mighty and Unbendable will of God, we will we broken by it. Jesus said:
John 5:30: “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31: If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32: There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33: Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34: But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35: He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36: But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37: And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38: And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39: Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
Many self-styled prophets today claim that God speaks to them, whispering truth into their ears.
Romans 3:4: “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”
Jesus did not bear witness of Himself. He did not rely on the witness of another human, even one such as John the Baptizer. No, Jesus allowed His works, the works which God sent Him here to accomplish, to be His witness. We have the ancient scriptures bearing witness that He is the savior of the world. We have the many miracles recorded to prove that He was no mere man. Ultimately, we have His resurrection from death and the grave to prove that He is the son of God Almighty.
John 7:14: “Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15: And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18: He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”
Jesus was so knowledgeable on the law of God that the Jews of His day marveled at it. The explanation was easy: Jesus did not have to twist the scriptures, as so many do today, to arrive at His teachings. All He had to do was pass on the truth that God had given Him!
John 8:12: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13: The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14: Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16: And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17: It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18: I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19: Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20: These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21: Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22: Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23: And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25: Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26: I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27: They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28: Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29: And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30: As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
If you want to be free, believe that Jesus is the son of God; repent of your sinful past, turning your heart to God; willingly confess Jesus; and be buried in baptism with Him, to arise from that watery grave a new creature, born again in Christ Jesus. Learn of Him.
