A Much Needed Verse



by Tom Wacaster

In John 14:6 our Lord made an astonishing statement; one that could only be made by a divine being. Here is what Jesus said to His disciples: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The construction shows that the three nouns, “way, truth, and life” are co-ordinate. Jesus was saying, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life” (the emphasis is mine, TW). He is the “way” for those who are lost, the “truth” for those in ignorance, and the “life” for those who are spiritually dead. If the first part of the verse is true (and it is), then the second part is a demanded conclusion. Bruce quotes Thomas Kempis:

Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth which thou must believe; the life for which thou must hope. I am the inviolable way; the infallible truth; the never-ending life. I am the straightest way; the sovereign truth; life true, life blessed, life uncreated. If thou remain in my way thou shalt known the truth, and the truth shall make thee free, and thou shalt lay hold on eternal life (Bruce, 299).

Each of the three nouns is exclusive. There is only one way, one truth, and one ultimate life at the end of that way. Truth is the essential element in this, for without an absolute standard of truth one could never know whether or not he were walking in the right path. Pick up an outdated road map and attempt to make a journey that requires precise directions and you will quickly learn what I’m talking about. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Perhaps some of our Senate investigations of the past have been tempted to ask the same question. Now we are told that the CEO’s of corporate America are being called into question for their business ethics, and it seems as if they have been infected with a case of “I-do-not-recall-itis” [if I may be allowed to coin a new term]. Much of the dishonesty, lying and cover-up that has plagued our nation, especially in politics but not limited thereto, has put a damper on the desire on the part of some to search for the truth and/or the ability of some to tell the truth. It is a fact, however, that truth is truth, and all the lying and cover-up will not change a lie into truth. Political correctness, coupled with a “relativistic” approach to life’s moral, ethical, and spiritual issues may be popular in this 21st century, but it has an eroding effect upon the love for truth and the pursuit of the same in the lives of the average man. Are we really surprised to find corporate CEO’s who “cook the books” to make the company look good? During the Clinton Presidency we were told that moral integrity has nothing to do with job performance, and the Chief CEO in the political halls of America manifested a complete lack of respect for others while seeking his own self-gratification at the expense of the people whom he had been elected to serve. When called into question for ethical misconduct, he who occupied the White House in Washington D.C. lied under oath, and although reprimanded for perjury, was never punished. The American people, fueled by the liberal media and political spin masters, were convinced that morals have no bearing upon job performance. So why should we be shocked when corporate America simply follows his example? Unfortunately this disrespect for truth has been around since the creation of man. But by the same token, when disrespect for truth infiltrates the very fabric and foundation of a society, self-destruction is not far away. It was noted by one historian that America’s greatness was to be found in her churches. While we in no way condone religious division, we recognize that the spiritual make up of our founding fathers played a large part in God’s providential blessings in the establishment of this nation and its preservation through the years. I wish I could say that only the political and business circles were infected with a large disregard for the truth, but such is not the case. The religious scandals that have rocked “Christendom” in the last twenty five years have opened the door of secrecy so that we are now getting a glimpse into the religious corruption that comes as a result of a lack of love for the truth. From Protestantism to Catholicism, the Roberts, Bakkers, ‘Reverends,’ and polluted priesthood of America’s religious leaders, make it quite evident that truth has fallen on hard times. Lies are told in the name of religion, the “people” are duped into believing a falsehood, and the truth, once again, suffers. Is it any wonder that some prominent theologians are declaring that truth is unattainable, and that even if attained, it is constantly changing? The American people, due in part to gullibility and in part to ignorance, have bought this notion that truth is some mystic, far away, unreachable ideology, and have long since ceased the search for truth. We have left it up to the “preachers” to do the searching for us, and we act shocked when these “religious racketeers” take us to the cleaners. Dear reader, only the truth will make you free. Forget the dishonest political leaders, the hypocritical religious leaders, the unethical corporate leaders, and the failure of so many to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and get on with searching out the truth for yourself. Therein is freedom. Therein is life. Tenney expressed these same sentiments well:

Truth is the scarcest commodity in the world. All the philosophers had sought for it; none had attained it. No one mind was great enough to grasp it; no one personality was pure enough to achieve it by conduct. Truth is neither an abstract system of integrated propositions, nor is it an impersonal ethic contained in many rules. It is both the reality and the ethic expressed in a person who is more flexible than legal rigidity and incomprehensible abstraction, and who is, notwithstanding, unchanging and consistent (Tenny, 215).

Returning to the text, pay close attention to the pronoun “I.” It is emphatic and has the meaning of, “I (and no other) am the way, the truth, and the life.” Only a divine being could have spoken words like these and not be guilty of blasphemy. Being the “way,” He - and He alone - can show the true path to heaven. Being the truth, He - and He alone - presents the embodiment of what is necessary to impart immortality. This is why He declared, “No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” These words stress the exclusive path that leads to salvation. There is no other way to go unto the Father but through Jesus Christ, as set forth by His delegated ambassadors, and proclaimed in every generation by faithful members of His body, the church. If the Lord’s statement seems somewhat exclusive (and to some, even offensive), the student must keep in mind that it is the incarnate Word Who thus speaks. I’ll close this week’s article with a quote that hit the proverbial nail on the head. Bruce wrote:

If God has no avenue of communication with mankind apart from his Word (incarnate or otherwise), mankind has no avenue of approach to God apart from that same Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us in order to supply such an avenue of approach. Jesus’ claim, understood in the light of the prologue to the Gospel is inclusive, not exclusive. All truth is God’s truth, as all life is God’s life; but God’s truth and God’s life are incarnate in Jesus (Bruce, 298-299).