John 1:1-3, 14
If there is any book in the Bible dedicated to the “truth”, it is the Gospel of John. The word “truth” is used 25 times throughout the whole book, while 7 times in all three synoptic Gospels combined. John from chapter 1 tells us that Jesus came to reveal the truth, the true reality of God, humanity, and the world. He himself is the walking truth in flesh. His life and words speak about the Father who is unseen. And we are recipients of this truth in Jesus. Christians are therefore, people who are staunchly committed to the truth of God and who navigate the world by the compass of Christ’s word.
Why is it so important to know that Jesus is the truth?
Truth is a loose word these days. Philosophers through the ages have asked, “What is truth?” and “How can we know the truth?” However, in our current culture, we believe that the only objective truth is scientific information obtained through empirical observation. Outside of scientific truth, everything else is just subjective truth created by the individual. There is no higher (metaphysical, spiritual) reality, no objective moral standard that stands outside of time, people, cultures, and the self. Truth is something I create. This comes from the worldview called “naturalism”. Naturalism is the belief that our world was not created by a personal, intelligent “Creator” but came about on its own, and the Universe as we know it has been developing only through natural physical processes. There is nothing more beyond the natural physical reality.
However, this causes great problems. If there is no higher reality or truth beyond the physical reality, then there can be no higher purpose or meaning and no higher ethical, moral ideals. Truth is what you make it; what is moral (right or wrong) is just what your culture or your feeling determines. If this is true, then we cannot make moral or value claims as if they are inherent truths. We have no basis to say that racism is wrong, sexism must not be permitted, and stealing is evil. These would only be socially constructed ideas that have no basis on higher reality or truth.
But John writes, “In the beginning was the Word…” Before the world existed, there was the Word–the thought, idea, wisdom, and plan of God. God is the Architect of the world and thus God’s truth, wisdom, and ideas are intertwined into the fabric of his architectural creation, the world. The Word is the higher reality and truth that stand outside of time, cultures, and “me”, and we are all held accountable to this unchanging, inherent truth. Because there is the Word, now we have every reason to make moral and value claims such as “Black Lives Matter”, “Me Too”, “Help the poor and the refugees”. All lives are made in the “Image of God” and Jesus came to forgive our sin and restore our humanity in him. Thus, every life matters.
How do we abide in the Truth?
John 8:31-32, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” To abide in his word is not the same as just knowing his word. The demons know God’s truth, yet they hate God. To abide means to love and to desire Jesus’s word, to live in his grace, and to follow after his word with all my life.
The beauty of God’s truth is that it is not merely some idea or information on a piece of paper. God’s truth is a person. Jesus is the very walking truth of God. John 1:14 “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This truth is not just known but beheld, seen, touched, marveled at, and experienced in the person of Jesus. How amazing is it that to know the truth is to know Jesus himself! How relational and personal is this truth! Therefore, to abide in the truth is to behold and follow Jesus. In him, we will find all that we need to know to navigate our world. He is our compass. He is my truth.
