Truth is not just a what but a who. Paul wrote, “I know in whom I have believed and He is able.” In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am . . . the truth.” Jesus did not say, “I know the truth.” Nor did He say, “I speak about or of the truth.” It is a struggle to grasp the sheer enormity of this. He also said, “I have meat to eat that you know not of.” John 4:32. In John 14:10 Jesus said, “The Father dwells in me.” Truth in Jesus is not some abstract philosophical idea for super intellects. It is personal. Where did the galaxies come from? Hebrews 1 says, “. . . by whom He made all things.” How is it that we are so beautifully complex? Genesis 2 says, “. . . let us make man in our image.” This is personal. This is about a being and not something out of nothing.
When Jesus was with Pilate that terrible night, Pilate asked, “What is truth?” He was looking at Him. The things I think are true are so often different from the things you think are true. Note I used the word “things.” Jesus isn’t a thing. He is personal. Peter says in his second letter, “We didn’t follow cunningly devised fables. We saw with our eyes.” John wrote, “We touched Him with our hands. We touched Glory.” It doesn’t get much more personal than that.
Some of the best New Testament scholars in the world treat the story as if it were a historic tale. They talk about Jesus. When you listen you soon realize they know about Jesus. But, they don’t know Jesus. For them it isn’t personal. For them it is not a “how grand.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on June 25, 2012
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org