 Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada - with John 14: 6 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). "Truth is not defined by our own subjective standards; it is determined by the Source of truth Himself" (R.C. Sproul - Ref. 1). This is the second lesson in the series, "About the Truth." The first lesson described God's Truth in the Old Testament. Today we begin to examine what the New Testament says about God's truth. Definition. The Greek word for truth in the New Testament is alétheia, pronounced phonetically as "al-ay'-thi-a." In ancient Greek culture, alétheia was synonymous for "reality" as the opposite of illusion, i.e. fact (Ref. 2). Alétheia occurs 109 times in the New Testament (Ref. 2). John's gospel and John's letters (1 John, 2 John, 3 John) mention truth the most often, where alétheia is mentioned 47 times. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (Ref. 3 below), Jesus verbally mentioned truth (alétheia) 26 times. The first reference is Luke 4:25-26. The last reference is John 18:37, which we will examine later in this lesson series. Consider. Let's consider what Jesus' critics said about Jesus and what Jesus said about himself in regard to the truth. Jesus' critics recognized that Jesus taught the truth. In Matthew 22:15-22, the Pharisees went to Jesus with a question intended to trap him. Verse 16 tells us, "And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any." Perhaps the Pharisees were being falsely complimentary of Jesus because they did not believe in him (Barnes in Ref. 4). However, this was "an admission from the lips of adversaries of the supreme truthfulness and fearlessness of our Lord’s teaching" (Ellicott in Ref. 4). In either case, the words of Jesus' critics recognized that Jesus was truthful (aléthés, unconcealed) and that he taught the truth (alétheia, reality) (Ref. 2, Ref. 5). Jesus is the Truth. On the evening before his death, Jesus told his disciples that he was about to leave them (John 13:33). Thomas asked Jesus, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" (John 14:5). Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). When Jesus said that he is the truth, he was saying that he is the embodiment and fulfillment of the Word of God, and that he is alétheia, reality, the opposite of what is false or illusion. In the previous post (July 15, 2018), we read Psalm 119:160, "The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever." In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). John begins his gospel with, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). When Jesus prayed with the Father on the evening before his death, Jesus said, "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). Jesus not only taught the truth, but also embodied the truth perfectly because he (and only he) was sinless and because Jesus is God (Luke 23:39-41, Hebrews 4:15, John 8:58, Exodus 3:6). Apply. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). Do you agree that Jesus rather than man is the Source of truth? References 1. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/god-truth/References 2. http://biblehub.com/greek/225.htm 3. James Strong, "The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible," Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995 - note, based on the King James Version of the Bible 4. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/22-16.htm 5. http://biblehub.com/greek/227.htm
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 Crater Lake National Park, Oregon - with Psalm 119:160 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers "The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever" (Psalm 119:160). This article is the first in the series, "About the Truth." This article focuses on what the Old Testament says about God's truth. The Truth of God in the Old Testament Definition. The main Hebrew word for "truth" in the Old Testament is emeth. Emeth means "firmness, faithfulness, truth" (Ref. 1). The word emeth first occurs in Genesis 24:27, when Abraham's servant completes his journey to find a bride for Abraham's son, Isaac. “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” Consider. Let's look together at several verses which describe the attributes, or characteristics, of God's truth. God's commandments are truth itself. "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth" (Psalm 119:142). "You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth" (Psalm 119:151). "The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever" (Psalm 119:160). Think ahead to Pilate's question to Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). The writer of Psalm 119 answers Pilate's question. God's word is truth.  Zion National Park, Utah with Psalm 25:5 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers God's truth leads us and guides us. David prayed, "Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long" (Psalm 25:5). John the disciple confirmed this principle when he quoted Jesus. "But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13). God's truth protects us. In Psalm 91, the psalmist writes, "He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness (emeth, truth) is a shield and bulwark" (Psalm 91:4, italics added). Merriam-Webster defines a bulwark as a solid wall-like structure raised for defense (Ref. 2). David expressed his confidence in God's truth to protect him. "Lord, do not withhold Your compassion from me; Your constant love and truth will always guard me" (Psalm 40:11). Recall how Jesus used God's truth (from the Old Testament) to defend himself from Satan's temptations and to end Satan's attack (Matthew 4:1-11). God's truth is everlasting. "For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 117:2) Martin Luther confirmed this principle in "A Mighty Fortress is our God" when he wrote, "God's truth abideth still" (Ref. 3). As believers in Christ, God's truth is our standard. God's truth endures forever and does not change. Apply. Let's review the four principles in this lesson:
1. God's commandments are truth itself (Psalm 119:160) 2. God's truth leads us and guides us (Psalm 25:5) 3. God's truth protects us (Psalm 91:4) 4. God's truth is everlasting (Psalm 117:2) How can you apply these principles to your life today?
 Jeremiah 8:22 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?" (Jeremiah 8:22) Consider. Would you like to receive the balm that heals us unlike any other? Jesus Christ is the only balm that can heal our sin sickness. Only Jesus can make us whole. "There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul" (African-American spiritual). Biblical Background. Gilead was a mountainous part of ancient Palestine, east of the Jordan River now corresponding to northwest Jordan (Ref. 1, Ref. 2). Gilead was known for its healing balm (Jeremiah 46:11). We first see balm (mastic) mentioned in scripture as precious merchandise coming from Gilead (Genesis 37:25). Joseph's father, Israel (Jacob), sent balm as a present to Joseph as lord of the land of Egypt (Genesis 43:11).  Mastic Tree (Ref. 3) The prophet Jeremiah asked these questions, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? (Jeremiah 8:22). Judah had turned away from the Lord and had completely ignored repeated warnings of judgment (for example, Jeremiah 5:20-31). Spiritual balm, God's salvation and healing, was available; however, the people were not seeking God. Spiritual balm through the priests and prophets was ineffective because "the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority" (Jeremiah 5:31). About the Spiritual, "There is a Balm in Gilead." "There is a Balm in Gilead" and other African-American spirituals came out of the period of slavery in America (1619-1865; Ref. 4). This spiritual is evidence that African-American Christians knew and trusted Jesus for salvation and healing despite their condition on earth. African-American Christians answered Jeremiah's question with a resounding "Yes, there is a balm in Gilead" (Ref. 5). The message of "There is a Balm in Gilead" still applies today. Despite whatever condition we are in, or whatever misery or difficulty we are going through, Jesus can heal our wounds and make us whole. Apply. In what area of your life do you need the healing balm of Jesus Christ today? Listen. I encourage you to listen and enjoy these two beautiful and moving presentations of "There is a Balm in Gilead." "There is a Balm in Gilead" - Adventist Vocal Ensemble (well known on BBC). "There is a Balm in Gilead" - East Carolina University Chamber Singers. References 1. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/8-22.htm 2. https://www.britannica.com/place/Gilead-ancient-region-Palestine#ref130865 3. https://www.britannica.com/plant/mastic-tree 4. https://www.infoplease.com/timelines/history-slavery-america 5. https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/black-history-month-there-is-a-balm-in-gilead To see a hymn music video about inner healing, click on "Good News of the Kingdom" by Whitney V. Myers.
For articles about Scripture Allusions (Bible References) in other hymns, refer to "Scripture Allusions in Hymns" by Whitney V. Myers. |
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"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." -- Jesus speaking in John 14:6 |
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