Truth comes into the light
by Neil Bergmann
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But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God (John 3:21).
Read John 3:17–21
Tomorrow’s devotion will discuss in detail the theme of Jesus as the light of the world and believers as children of the light. So, in today’s devotion, I’ll look at another description that John uses about Jesus: ‘the truth.’ The word ‘truth’ appears once in Matthew, once in Luke, twice in Mark and 27 times in John, so it was obviously an important concept to John. The clearest use is John 14:6: ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”’
Philosophers have debated the meaning of truth for millennia. At Jesus’ trial, he told Pilate, ‘The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth’ (John 18:37), to which Pilate replied, ‘What is truth?’
Truth is not just an abstract philosophical concept; truth is a person. When our reading today calls us to live by the truth, it means that we are to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Another way of expressing this is that we are incomplete human beings without faith in Jesus. To be truly and fully human, we need the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and guide our thoughts and actions.
Christian truth is not a set of logical statements that prove doctrines and beliefs. Christian truth is a personal encounter with the living Christ that fundamentally changes us into a new creation. Best of all, this renewal of our being isn’t something that we are responsible for or work towards. It is a gift, bought by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Father, guide us as we study your truth revealed in Scripture. Sanctify us by the truth; your word is truth. Amen.
Neil Bergmann worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale, Queensland. He enjoys cooking, reading and doing cryptic crosswords.
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