Bulletin Articles
What is Truth?
When Jesus stood before the Roman governor, Pilate on the night he was betrayed, Pilate asked Him, "What is Truth" (John 13:38).
Interestingly, that question is still being asked today, 2,000 years later. To many, truth is subjective in nature. The statement "Your truth is not my truth" reflects that belief. But, in reality, truth is an objective term, that is, something that is the same no matter what century it is, what nationality one is, what sexual make up one is or the color of a person's skin. Truth should be universal and timeless.
Viewed in that manner, there are very few things that qualify as "truth". Certainly not scientific knowledge. At one time scientists taught that the earth is flat and also the center of the cosmos. Certainly not medical knowledge. Less than 250 years ago, doctors would routinely drain a person's blood as a cure to illness. Certainly not our legal system. In 1857, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a black man was not a human being and therefore not entitled to basic human rights.
Yet, Jesus said to his disciples, "The truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). What did Jesus mean by that?
He was referring to the word of God. "Sanctify them by you truth. Your word is truth". This was part of Jesus prayer to God in John 17. Some Jesus affirms that the word of God is objective, absolute truth. No matter what age, no matter what language, no matter what race or sex or economic circumstances, God's word in truth.
That word was manifested in Christ Jesus. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2). Who is that word? "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Jesus confirmed that he was the word in John 14:6, " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except thorough me,"
The use of the article "the" in Jesus statement excludes any other avenue. Not the preacher, not the elders, not Muhammad, not the Pope, no church councils or any other human institution or device. It also excludes any other so-called "truth". As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all..." (Eph 4:5).
So, if your desire is for the "truth" look for the proper source, the Word of God. Thanks be to God that we have "all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us be glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3)
