“Truth”

 

BIBLE READING: John 7-8


Many of us who have tried to reach out to our friends and neighbors and even our families, have often faced ridicule and fear, had God’s authority rejected, and moral cowardice by those who are unwilling to believe in God and step out and serve him. John 7 describes the ways in which Jesus handled these problems as he carried out his ministry. Jesus’ own brothers made fun of him, verses 1-13 and “urged him to hurry to Jerusalem since he “wants to become a public figure.”  When he does arrive, the people who do believe in Jesus, verses 14-24, are afraid to speak of Jesus openly. We also find that as Jesus begins to explain that his teachings are backed by God’s law (or word) found in the Old Testament, they want to kill him in violation of God’s law against killing. Their objection to the healing taking place on the Sabbath, is further evidence of how they twist the intention of God’s law. Verses 25-52, illustrate their reluctance to stand up for the truth in front of their friends, neighbors and family.  Many of us have heard many times. ”As long as we don’t discuss religion or politics, we’ll get along just fine.”

Two events stand out in John chapter 8. The first is how Jesus handles the case of the “adulterous woman”, verses 1-11 and the importance of “truth.” The men who bring the woman have no concern about the woman and her relationship to God. They know where to find a woman committing such an act. They bring only the woman and release the man. They only care about using her in a way to entrap Jesus. The character of Jesus is revealed here. When her accusers slink away, Jesus does not condemn her, but releases her to live a new life, freed from her past sins.

The second event is the contrast made between “truth” as man understands it in relation to this world and the reality of “spiritual truth,” as found in God’s word. When Jesus explains to his disciples that they will come to know “truth” and freedom by following him and keeping his word (verses 31,32) the Jewish leaders become bitterly opposed. They claim they are already free because they are related to Abraham and to God. (v33) Jesus makes it clear, however, that their claims do not meet the test of truth! Instead they are enslaved by sin (34-38); they lack a relationship to Abraham because they fail to respond to God (39-41) and lack a relationship to God because they hate Jesus instead of loving him as one coming from the Father (42-47). In reality, they are related to the devil, for they love lies just as he does!  The truth that comes from God is in contrast to the truth of the “world.” Without God, men wonder about truth. They are in a world of illusions, guessing at the nature of the universe and struggling with moral judgments, without knowing which of the many competing philosophies of life is best. In its biblical sense as reality, truth is something which is to be experienced by Jesus’ followers. We are to let his words define issues of life and to act on his word obediently. As we practice Gods’ word, we come to know truth in a personal way—and to gain all its benefits. When Jesus speaks of revealing God’s truth he never speaks of simple possession of information, He speaks of an unveiling of reality, to which we are to commit ourselves by faith. (See Richards, Illustrated Bible Handbook,”(p. 552)

 

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