Jesus the Only (Part 2) Jesus the Only Truth

In last week’s article we began a three part series with the theme “Jesus the Only.” This theme is based on John 14:6. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (NASB). Last week we discussed the title “Jesus the Only Way.” This week we will discuss the title “Jesus the Only Truth.” Next week we will conclude with the title “Jesus the Only Life.” Our goal is to give clarity to Jesus’ response to Thomas. What was Jesus saying to His disciples and by extension to all people who learn of this statement? We believe that Jesus was making a statement that say that He is the only way to God, the truth that can get us to God, and the life that comes from God. Before we continue with this week’s title let us review the context of the book of John generally and the context of Jesus’ statement specifically. The book of John was written around A.D. 80-100. It was a time when the first century Christians were having their beliefs challenged by Greek philosophies and traditional Jewish religious understanding of God. John wrote to his audience to affirm their belief that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God. He came into the world to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sin and mankind’s reconciliation with God. In opposition to Roman and Greek practice of worshiping many gods, Christians worshiped God alone. Greek philosophy believed that the world was not created by the supreme god. Rather, emanations from the supreme god created the world. Gods have no direct interactions with human beings. Thus, Jesus could not be both human and God as claimed by Christians. The Jews believed that God is one based on the “Shema” found in Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB). “‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is One!’” The Jews believed that this statement proved that Jesus was not God, because if Jesus is God it means that there are two Gods. Space will not permit a thorough discussion on how the Jews misunderstood the statement and their lack of understanding of Moses and the Prophets, and all the Scriptures (see Luke 24:25-27). John writes to his audience telling them about events in the life of Jesus in which He found Himself in conflict with the Jewish leaders of His day. John writes in hope that those who hear the “Good News” about Jesus will believe and be saved. In the immediate context, Jesus and His disciples are celebrating the Passover. While at the table Jesus takes a basin and water and begins to wash their feet. He does this to demonstrate to them that they must be willing to take care of each other. He commands them to love one another in the same way that He has loved them (John 13:34-35). Just as He has taken care of them especially, they will have to take care of each other. He gives this new commandment because Jesus is about to make final preparations for His death and return to the Father. Jesus is about to give them final instruction to tell the world about Him and His passion so that all people will have an opportunity to be saved from their sins. In chapters 14-17 Jesus teaches His disciples that the world will be against them. They will be persecuted so they will have to depend on each other and the Holy Spirit to carry out their mission. In John 14:1-3 Jesus tells His disciples that He is returning to the Father to prepare a place for them in the Father’s kingdom. He promises them that He will return and take them unto Himself and they will be together eternally. It is in the context of these events that Jesus states that He is the way, the truth, and the life. We discussed in last week’s article that Jesus’ statement is made in reference to our access to God for the purpose of reconciliation with God and eternal life in God’s presence. There are several ways that we can know about God, but only Jesus’ death on the cross makes it possible for reconciliation with God; and this is offered to those who believe in Jesus only. This week we want to establish that Jesus is not saying that the only way we can know any truth is by having a relationship with Jesus. First, let us differentiate between facts and truth. Facts are things held to be true by people based on human knowledge and understanding. Today, we believe in scientific knowledge that has been proven by accepted scientific processes. Yet, things that are held to be true today may be proven not to be true tomorrow. The shape of the earth has been changed a few times based on scientific knowledge. Medical knowledge and practices are changing every day. Thus, we can say that facts are temporary. On the other hand, truth derives from God who has no beginning and no end. God does not change, so the truth that comes from God does not change because the truth of God is based on His eternal attributes. Thus, truth is permanent and eternal. Jesus is saying that since He is God, He alone knows God completely. He alone came from God with the truth from God. He alone knows the way to God. He alone because of God’s demand for a substitute sacrifice for sin is the means of salvation accepted by God. This is the truth that Jesus instructs His disciples to tell the world. Thus, in relation to our salvation all knowledge and wisdom that opposes Jesus and His teachings are false and offers no hope of eternal life with the Father. The truth that Jesus tells His disciples is that He alone knows the will of the Father completely. The disciples are to tell this truth. They are not commissioned to discover facts about the world. Their truth is that Jesus is the Son of God both today and forevermore. God does not change and His plan of salvation will never change. The truth that Jesus proclaims is that he died on the cross, but God raised Him from the dead. He is alive today and for eternity. We can say that Jesus is the truth of God. Religions can give us some knowledge about God. We get a glimpse of God through conscience, nature, the Scriptures, and God’s mighty acts in history. The people of Jesus’ day saw the miracles that He performed, and they recognized Him as a man from God. Yet, their understanding of Jesus and His works did not give them forgiveness of sin and a reconciled relationship to God. The Scriptures tell us that Satan, the devil, is the god of this world. The devil has the power to grant us many things in the world, but these are temporary because the devil and his kingdom are going to be destroyed when Jesus returns and establishes a new heaven and a new earth (see Rev. 21:1). Jesus has direct access to the Father. He and the Father are one having the same substance, the same essence, the same attributes; agreeing in purpose and plans for the kingdom of God. This is the truth of God which gives hope to every believer in Jesus Christ. Because of what Jesus has done for us we are no longer estranged from God. The Scripture says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1, NASB).