Truly truly I say to you, truth is truly a true theme of John’s gospel. Ian
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. “
John 18:38
Remember Bible Gem 92 “What is truth?” Pontius Pilate never asked a more important question. And though the man of whom he asked it did not utter a single word in reply, no man ever received a more complete and articulate answer. . . . We would have given Pilate a very impressive statement – all quite scriptural and correct. His silence was not born of lack of truths. He possessed truths in abundance. In that moment to utter a single truth would have been to obscure the living truth that He was. If Pilate could not see truth before him, in a light and clarity heightened by the silence in which it stood, then nothing he might have heard could have saved him.
John has a very strong “truth theme” throughout his gospel. In the use of “truly truly” sayings Matthew leads the way with 31 of them. But closely followed by John with 26 and then Mark (14) and Luke (10). But John makes extensive use of the noun “truth” (22x) which the others don’t Matt (0), Mark (2) and Luke (1). And of course one could argue the “believe/trust” theme in John is related to “truth” as well.
Some highlights from the book of John to jog your memory.
- Jesus is the one who is full of grace and truth. We could make much of that, in fact I have in a series of sermons. Only Jesus can embody the extremes of the dichotomy between Grace and Truth. That requires much pondering on your part.
- True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth . . . those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. [See Bible Gem 37]
- Know the truth and the truth will set you free.
- I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE
- I AM THE TRUTH – not I know some truths or I have the truth.
- I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. (Jn 18:37) Not to speak some truths. Not to tell the truth but to be a witness to truth. To testify to truth. To be a testimony to truth. To embody truth. To be the truth lived out. Wow that is heap powerful.
In this day of rampant relativism that is a challenging statement. No wonder Christ gave no answer to Pilate’s question.
“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”
3 John 4
Walking in truth is not something that just happens. Though it expresses itself so naturally and thoughtlessly, it is not attained without thought or by accident. Walking in truth happens just like walking itself, one step at a time. It is possible to know truth yet not walk in it, and the truth is really in us – and we in it – only to the degree that we actually walk in it. By confining truth to a small verbal, doctrinal part of our lives we condemn ourselves to being fragmented and full of internal opposition and contradictions, which is to say we condemn ourselves to being untrue. I can become a hypocrite even while the verbal surface of my life remains true my inner life becomes false. . . . If I am not living truly, my speaking truths makes my condition worse, not better, because it hides the corruption beneath the surface until finally my words and doctrines themselves are corrupted from within and are transfigured into lies.
People in the world have learned to recognize pretence. They are well schooled in the art of bluffing. They know all about convenience, expediency, insincerity and manipulation. They can sense superficial relationships. If they find in church nothing essentially different from what is found outside of it: if they see no real difference in the way money is handled, then no amount of words, no matter how true they may be in themselves is ever going to impress them. We profess our love for each other and sing choruses about it in church but the world outside is waiting to see the reality.
Nathaniel, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile”
John 1:47
But Nathaniel had not yet said a word. Jesus could see the truth in him without him uttering a word. This theme pervades John’s gospel. Clearly he got it from being with The Truth.
Truth divorced from action is the epitome of hypocrisy.
Robb Thompson
Truth divorced from experience will always remain in the realm of doubt.
Robb Thompson
Truth becomes impotent the moment the believer refuses to act upon it.
Robb Thompson
Truth slides into dogma the moment it is not exercised.
Robb Thompson
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Regina Brett