Jesus: Truth Personified

Have you ever been in the situation of having to describe someone you know and had trouble finding the right words? Sometimes we find it difficult to precisely express the characteristics of friends or acquaintances. In contrast, Jesus had no difficulty in clearly describing himself. Shortly before his death, Jesus speaks to Thomas: «I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14,6).
Jesus says unequivocally: «I am the truth». Truth is not an abstract idea or principle. Truth is a person and that person is me. Such a weighty assertion challenges us to make a decision. If we believe Jesus, then we must believe all of his words. However, if we do not believe him, then everything is worthless and we cannot believe his other statements either. There is no weighing. Either Jesus is truth personified and speaks truth, or both are false. Now let's look at three aspects of the Bible that will help us better understand this statement.

The truth frees

Jesus said, "...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8,32). The truth that Jesus embodies has the power to set us free from sin, guilt and failure. The Apostle Paul reminds us: "Christ has set us free for freedom!" (Galatians 5,1). It enables us to live a life of freedom and love.

The truth leads us to God

Jesus emphasized that he is the only way to the Father: «I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn. 14,6). In a world of diverse beliefs and ideologies, it is important to remember this central truth. Jesus is the way that leads us to God.

The truth fills us with life

Jesus offers a life of abundance, a full life of joy, peace and love. Jesus speaks to Martha: «I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11,25-26). This passage shows that Jesus is life in the sense of eternal redemption and eternal life. By believing in Jesus, believers gain the promise of eternal life. This affects us because there is hope and comfort in times of grief and death. Eternal life is given only through Jesus Christ: «This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (John 5,11-12).

Eternal life is given only through Jesus Christ: when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we receive this eternal life. This affects our attitude towards death and life after death: it gives us the certainty of life after death and motivates us to live our present life in the light of this eternal perspective.

May you always remember that Jesus is the truth and that through him you have access to a life of freedom and love. May you resolve to open yourself to this truth, to grow in it, and to express the liberating truth of Jesus Christ in your daily life and in the dealings with those around you.

by Joseph Tkach

More articles about the truth:

The spirit of truth 

Jesus said, I am the truth