Jesus Is Truth
Jesus is Truth: Understanding the Embodiment of God's Character
In our journey to understand who Jesus is, we often focus on His roles and titles. Last week, we explored Jesus as "the way." Today, we'll dive into what it means that Jesus is "the truth" - a concept far deeper than we might initially realize.
What Does Jesus Mean When He Says "I Am the Truth"?
In John 14:6, Jesus makes a profound statement: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
But what does it mean that Jesus is "the truth"? The typical dictionary definition of truth as "the quality or state of being true" doesn't help us much. However, when we look at the Old Testament understanding, we discover something remarkable.
In Jewish tradition, truth (emit) is understood as "the unshakable character and self-revelation of God." Truth isn't just about factual accuracy—it's about God revealing Himself to us. God's truth is described as being coupled with loving kindness, and most importantly, it is "embodied" in the Torah (the law).
This concept of embodiment is crucial. The Jewish understanding of truth extends beyond mere words to encompass "a righteous way of being" and "a commitment to God's will."
Why Did Jesus Need to Embody Truth?
For centuries, people had been reading God's written word, but they struggled to fully understand and live it. The law's purpose was to point people to God, but they needed more than words on a page.
Jesus came to embody—to physically demonstrate—what God's truth looks like in human form. When Jesus said, "You have heard it said... but I tell you," He was fleshing out the deeper meaning of the law:
"You say it is written, 'Thou shalt not kill.' I say if you've hated your brother without cause in your heart, you've already committed murder."
"You say 'Do not commit adultery.' I say if you lust after that woman in your heart, you've already committed adultery."
Jesus didn't come just to tell us the truth—He came to show us how to live the truth. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
How Does Truth Separate Us from the World?
One primary purpose of God's truth is to separate His people from the world. "Be ye separate, saith the Lord." Yet today, many Christians want to look just like the world to avoid persecution or ridicule.
The truth should make us different. We shouldn't:
Look like the world
Talk like the world
Act like the world
When we blend in with the culture around us, we compromise our witness. How can we tell others they need to change when we look exactly like them?
The superintendent of the Assemblies of God recently reminded ministers: "Our stability matures as we develop a non-compromising mindset. Crucify the flesh is still in style." Some Christians today are "more committed to excellence than ethics, but God wants both."
Is Truth a Mirror That Exposes Our Lives?
God's truth acts as a mirror that reflects His holiness and exposes our sin. When we look into this mirror honestly, we often don't like what we see.
Sometimes the best mirror is our children. We claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit, yet we allow worldly influences and behaviors in our homes. We need to be willing to look at our lives truthfully and make changes where needed.
The law was given as a guardian to keep Israel separate from the surrounding nations. Similarly, truth should guard us from worldly influences that can harm us spiritually. When we fill our minds with worldly entertainment and values, we shouldn't be surprised when we struggle spiritually.
How Do We Live in Truth Daily?
Living in truth is a lifestyle characterized by:
Faithfulness
Consistency
Truthfulness in all circumstances
Truth is a choice we make daily. We often justify "little white lies" to protect relationships or avoid consequences, but true protection only comes through honesty.
Being truthful like Jesus isn't always popular. When Jesus performed miracles and fed the crowds, everyone wanted to be near Him. But when He called out sin, people turned away. Even Peter denied knowing Jesus when facing potential consequences.
The world needs to hear truth spoken in love. Without love, our truth-telling becomes just "a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13). However, we should also recognize that people may consider us judgmental regardless of how lovingly we speak truth.
Can We Change God's Truth to Fit Our Lives?
One of the greatest dangers in our relationship with truth is what happens when we try to "rationalize" God's Word. When we rationalize, we're essentially taking God's truth and blending it up to make it fit what we want it to say.
For example, we might take Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope") and twist it to mean God will bless us regardless of how we're living.
Many churches today pick and choose the parts of Scripture they want to emphasize while ignoring others. But God's truth is God's truth—we cannot change it to fit our preferences.
The Bible clearly states that salvation comes through confessing with our mouth and believing in our heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. No amount of good works or church attendance can replace this fundamental truth.
Life Application
God's truth will change you if you let it. While the Christian life isn't always easy (Jesus Himself said we would have troubles), His truth remains constant. The only way to truly live is by submitting to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and choosing to follow Him daily.
This week, I challenge you to examine your life in light of God's truth:
In what areas of your life have you been trying to blend in with the world rather than standing out as different?
Are there places where you've been "rationalizing" God's Word to make it fit what you want to hear?
How can you better embody God's truth in your daily interactions with others?
Is there someone in your life who needs to hear God's truth spoken in love?
Remember, Jesus didn't just speak truth—He embodied it. As His followers, we're called to do the same. Let's commit to living as people of truth in a world that desperately needs to see what God's truth looks like when it takes on flesh and walks among them.
