Saturday, January 15, 2011

What Would Jesus Do? Part 5 [Truth 3]

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)
This is a verse that is very familiar to most Christians.  Although we cannot all recall the actual reference, many of us can quote it right off the top of our heads.  This is a good thing!  It is a foundational truth of the Bible.  But how often do we consider the profundity of this one statement by the Master?

He did not say he was ‘a’ way, ‘a’ truth, or ‘a way of’ life.  He claimed the embodiment of all three.  This is huge.  In a day and age in which truth is relegated to the subjective, we are reminded that in order to find truth, we must seek Him.  In no other way can we experience truth.

We must come to the simple realization that Jesus was not just a great man, a wise prophet, or a sage teacher.  He is truth.  He is life.  He is the way.  These three things summarize all the things that humans seek.  All the yearnings of man can be boiled down to these three basic needs.  And He embodies all.  If we seek Him, we find realization to all that we seek.  How do we know this?  He says so:
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-13 KJV)
Again, if He is to be believed (and He is), then we have this precious promise;  That if we seek Him, we shall surely find Him, and all that He has for us (the Holy Spirit). He further reinforces this concept by giving us a relatable life application.  Anyone who loves their children can easily understand.  We do not teach them by doing evil things to them.  We do good for them.  If they happen to hurt themselves through disobedience, we can impart instruction through such circumstances.  But our intent is always for their good.

Truth is not relative, it is not subjective.  Truth is Jesus Christ.  Everything He did, everything He said, everything He taught.  This is why it is imperative for those of us who call ourselves His disciples to know everything we can possibly know about Him.

Why is truth so important?  Jesus again had something to say in this area:
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free(John 8:31-32 KJV)
Far too long have people looked on the Gospel and the Way of Christianity as bondage and rules.  Jesus was all about freedom.  Here, he provides the simplest, most direct way to true freedom;  To know the truth.  Freedom is a desire that is birthed into all who draw breath, but many never truly find it.  They reject freedom by rejecting truth, by rejecting Jesus Christ.  To be His disciple is to be truly free!

How dos this pertain to the topic of this series?  If we are to do things as He did (or would do), we must embody the truth.  We must resist the temptation to varnish the truth in order to make it more palatable.  In many cases Jesus angered, or otherwise offended those who were to prideful or self-absorbed to be taught.  Although it was never His driving motivation to affect people in this manner, He loved them far to much to mis-represent the truth.

What would Jesus do?  The truth.  Simple as that.  Far more than facts, more transcendent than opinion, and certainly above personal anecdote or experience. Truth is simply truth in any age, and can be found in only One.  As the scripture admonishes: let God be true, but every man a liar; (Rom 3:4a KJV) Let us not be caught up with winds of doctrine, right seeming though they may be, or even our own ideas and experiences.  Let us go to the One who loves us so much, and learn of Him.  Only then can we know truth.

Then as He came, so He sends us:
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21 KJV)

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