Jesus – Day 20

Throughout this month we have been looking at who Jesus is and the significance of His life, death and resurrection on our lives. Today we look at the significance of who He is in the world.

When Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5) he actually asked a very leading question which was pertinent to all mankind. Jesus stated quite clearly that He was the way, the truth and the life and that He was the only way to God; He is not one of a choice of many ways, but the only way. The early church clearly grasped this concept, as we see in Acts 9:2 when Paul is asking for letters to the synagogues “so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem”.

In respect of the truth, we have already reflected on the wonderful reality that Jesus had come into the world “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) It is not difficult to understand that this is something central to the essence of who Jesus is. Truth is something that stands up to examination in the light and is never found in darkness. Jesus as the Light of the World epitomizes truth; those who deceive others have to keep out of the light because they, and their deeds, will not stand up to scrutiny. We only have to look at the manner in which scandals emerge to verify that.

Truth also affects how we assess those things that influence us. We need to actively reject lying, corruption, cheating and fraud and forbid these any place in our lives. Paul says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11) These will never stand the test of truth so we must not be misled. We may be deceived in certain situations sometimes, but if we hold fast to the truth, it will always win in the end. When on trial before Pilate, Jesus said to him, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:38) and Jesus promised the Jews “who had believed him, …‘If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32) The world needs to be set free by the truth

Jesus embodies and epitomizes, indeed He is the source of, everything that is loving, good, rich and noble in this world, and He is the key to eternal life for all who believe in Him. Besides Him there is no other way to God. Let us remind ourselves always “to fix our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and in so doing focus on the One who “… is true … noble … right … pure … lovely … admirable … excellent (and) praiseworthy.” (Philippians 4:8)

God bless you.