John 14:1-31
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus Embodies the Truth and the Way of the Father, the Only Way
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
I believe that a Divine Truth must completely encompass Truth...The Truth must be universal and the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow...This reflects the Christian understanding that God is the Ultimate Source of all Truth...God is the Creator and Sustainer of all reality, then all Truth, in its ultimate form, must originate with and from Him...Because He is Eternal, then His Truths are also Eternal...And we can believe this when Jesus tells us that God's Word is Truth...Then we see Jesus as the embodiment of God's Word and God's Truth and Eternal Truth...
Jesus Truth Statements are a profound and central Christian belief...Jesus statements in John 14 are Divine...His specific statements from John 14:6 when He makes these two statements about Truth: "I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life...No one comes to the Father except through Me."...This is a Most Exclusive and Unique Statement about Truth, Divine Truth, and Absolute Truth...Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life are the cornerstone of all of John's Gospel, and to me the four Gospels...When and if you believe this, then Jesus is seen as the Source of Truth and of all Eternal Truth...This verse positions Jesus as the Ultimate Standard of Truth...He says that one of the reasons He came to earth was to testify to the Truth...He is not merely a Teacher of Truth, but Truth Incarnate...His words and actions are the embodiment of God's Truth in the world...We can see Jesus as the Truth as Absolute and Universal...
Christian theology generally views Truth as absolute...It doesn't change based on circumstances, cultures, or personal opinions...However, it's important to acknowledge that understanding and applying truth can be nuanced and require careful discernment within different contexts...St. John in his chapter fourteen provides profound insights into the nature of Jesus Christ, His Being Truth and the Only Way to God, His relationship with the Father, and the path to Eternal Life...It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faith, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the transformative power of Jesus' teachings in the lives of believers...
Jesus as and is the Only Way of Truth...When we read this statement it becomes central to Christian faith...Humanity, through its sin and sinful nature, has become apart from God...Sin creates a barrier between us and a Holy and Sacred God...His Truth emphasizes that Jesus is the Unique and Exclusive means of salvation and our One Reconciliator with God...Jesus restores our relationship with God...He is the Only Way to God...Jesus Christ is the Only Way to experience true and lasting life with God...This does not imply that other paths or beliefs are empty of God's Presence or that God is unwilling to work in the lives of individuals who have not yet encountered Jesus...No, God is willing to work in the lives of individuals who have not yet encountered Jesus...This statement does assert that Jesus Christ is the unique and exclusive means of experiencing the fullness of God's His Agape LOVE, forgiveness, and eternal life as revealed in the Christian Scriptures...
Before Jesus came to earth, we read in John's Gospel that He was with God in the beginning...When we put Jesus' Statements about Truth and then His coming to earth and see the importance of this context: While "I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" is a profound and central statement, it's crucial to understand it within the broader context of Jesus' teachings and the Christian faith...This verse should be presented with humility and an openness to respectful dialogue with people of other faiths...While this verse emphasizes the importance of His Truth and the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, it does not negate the importance of love, compassion, and respect for all people, regardless of their religious beliefs...
Seeking the Truth and our pursuit of Truth is an ongoing journey in life...Christians are called to seek to understand God's Truth more deeply and to engage in respectful dialogue with others who hold different beliefs than they have...That is a reason He wants us to seek Him and loving our neighbors...In seeking Him, we are, therefore, seeking the Truth...
When I first read about Jesus saying He is Truth, I wondered How a Man, if it fair to call Jesus a man, that He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life...A Man has stood up and said He is TRUTH...This is maybe the most profoundly important statements that Jesus made, yet it is difficult to definitively claim it as the most prominent Truth quote, because of all the Divine Things He has said...But one can debate how important this statement is for believers...
Jesus made other powerful statements about truth include:
John 8:32, Jesus says in reference to His teachings, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”...
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us...We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son, who came from the Father, full of Grace and Truth. (John 1:14)...
"For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)...
These expanded discussion on some of His Truth statements provides further insights into the profound significance of John 14:6 and its implications for Christian faith and understanding...We better see God as the Source of All Truth...Christian theology posits that God is the Ultimate Source of all reality, including Truth...God is the Author of reason, logic, and the very fabric of the universe...Since human understanding is limited, we can only have a limited view of Absolute and Eternal Truth...Human understanding of Truth is limited due to our finite minds and our fallen nature...We can grasp glimpses of Truth, but our understanding of Truth is always partial and incomplete...
Truth is embodied in Divine Revelation...God reveals Himself and His Truths to humanity through various means, including Scripture, creation, and through Jesus Christ...These revelations provide us with a glimpse of His Divine Truth and help us to navigate the complexities of life...We can see by being finite that the pursuit of Truth is ongoing in one's life...The pursuit of Truth is an ongoing journey in one's life...As we grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with God, our understanding of Truth will continue to evolve and deepen...While man’s understanding of Truth is limited, Christian theology affirms that Divine Truth encompasses all reality...God, is the Source of All Being, and is the Ultimate Source of All Truth...Our task as human beings is to seek to understand and live in accordance with that Truth, recognizing the limitations of our own understanding and relying on God's Grace and His Guidance...
Jesus declares that seeing Him is equivalent to seeing the Father...He is the Perfect Reflection of God's character, revealing the Father's LOVE, mercy, and grace to humanity...Then Jesus gives us His Promise of the Holy Spirit...While Jesus physically ascends to the Father, He promises to send the Holy Spirit to be with His disciples so we will not be orphans on earth...The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live out the teachings of Jesus, to bear witness to His Truths, and to experience the ongoing Presence of God in their lives...Jesus speaks of the importance of faith...These passages emphasize the importance of having faith...Believing in Jesus and His teachings is essential for experiencing the fullness of God's LOVE, His Truth, and entering into a deeper relationship with Him...Then Jesus promises us an Abundant Life...Those who believe in Him will have the power to do even greater works than He did...This highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the potential for believers to live lives of abundant joy, purpose and have a Fatherly Relationship with God as He does...