Christ the King – “I have come to testify to the Truth.” “What is Truth?”

There IS absolute Truth. And, there are many and varied interpretations of Truth. Witness the 24,000+ Christian churches (not denominations) in the U.S. which claim absolute truth. However, Truth, in John’s gospel, is NOT propositional.

In John’s gospel, Truth is a person. Truth is the Word who is Jesus Christ. Truth is on the Cross and reigns from the Cross. We put him there. Truth is relational.

Those who seek Truth step into the Light. Many who do not wish their deeds to be seen in the Light remain cloaked in the night. In this way, each of us reveals who we step toward or step away from the “sunny side of the street.”

“For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

John 1:14            And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 

John 1:17             The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

John 3:19–21               And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

John 8:31–33               Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”

John 8:40f               but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 

John 8:44–46               You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

John 14:5–8               Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 

John 14:16–18 (NRSV) — 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 

John 15:26f               “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 

John 16:7f               Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 

John 16:13f               When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 

John 17:16–19               They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Video reflections to follow…