Back to Previous Page

Back to Previous Page

[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:19) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.

Our topic is: "John 14:6--How is Jesus 'The Truth'?" Here's Rick and Julie.

[Rick] (0:20 - 0:27) Welcome, everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Julie, a long-time contributor.

Julie, what's our theme scripture for this episode?

[Julie] (0:28 - 0:36) John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me."

[Rick] (0:36 - 1:26) It seems odd that in our present day of technology and knowledge, it's very difficult to determine the difference between truth and opinion. You'd think it would be just the opposite, and yet here we are in an environment where we can't even trust news reports to reveal the whole story. Two thousand years ago, Jesus proclaimed that he was "the way, the truth, and the life."

By being "the way," he was telling us that finding a path towards God would come through knowing him. What about Jesus being "the truth?" In a practical sense, how do we begin to understand Jesus as not only teaching us truth, but actually being "the truth?"

Let's preview the end of the story, more towards the end of Jesus' life leading to his crucifixion, and then start back in with the Upper Room and Jesus with his apostles.

[Julie] (1:27 - 2:21) Sure. Just before Jesus' crucifixion, Pilate was questioning him. Pilate wanted to release him because he didn't see him as a threat to Rome. Jesus had just told Pilate what his mission was, and we'll have more on that later.

Let's start with John 18:37-38: "Therefore Pilate said to him, So are you a king? Jesus answered, You say correctly that I am a king.

For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate said to him, What is truth?"

Now that's ironic because here Pilate stands before the very embodiment of truth and couldn't see it, not because it wasn't clear, but because it wasn't politically convenient for him. I don't think he was being sarcastic. He seems conflicted.

He asked the same question that our own society struggles with today: What IS truth?

[Rick] (2:22 - 2:38) That's a big, big question, and what Jesus does in his teaching is he unfolds himself as that. Jesus unequivocally ties himself to truth--not to A truth, not to LEADING to truth, but to truth as one of its indisputable SOURCES.

[Julie] (2:38 - 2:55) When studying for this, I was excited to learn that John 13 explains Jesus as "the way." John 14 explains Jesus as "the truth," and John 15 explains Jesus as "the life." We're going to be working on John 14 today in order to better understand what he meant by him being "the truth."

[Rick] (2:55 - 3:23) In some ways, this is a culminating statement. We know when Jesus said, "Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice"--that phrase to Pilate just before his crucifixion, it's a culminating statement built upon what he had been teaching his disciples in the Upper Room that previous night. That's where we find the foundation of what that statement to Pilate comes from.

Let's go there. Like you said, let's go to John 14:5-6:

[Julie] (3:23 - 3:37) "Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way? (then, of course, our theme text) Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life;

no one comes to the Father but through me."

[Rick] (3:37 - 4:40) We're going to be focusing on Jesus as "the truth," but let's first just a quick review Jesus as "the way." First, he taught us that the Father only draws us to Himself through Jesus.

That's Jesus as "the way." Once drawn to discipleship, Jesus then protects us. That's part of Jesus as "the way."

Jesus is our pattern. That's Jesus as "the way." He walked a difficult road and stood against sin and darkness.

He paved the road. He is "the way." We should expect to do the same and thereby glorify God.

We need Jesus as "the way" described and explained and put in front of us before we can understand Jesus as "the truth." We've got that basis. Jesus now continues to teach his disciples the reality of being "the way, and the truth, and the life."

John 14 continues to show us the basis for Jesus being "the truth." As we read these verses, focus in on how he's describing that to us. Let's go in John 14:7-10:

[Julie] (4:40 - 5:27) "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.

Jesus said to him, Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father abiding in me does His works." This here describes a sense of oneness.

I can say, If you've met me, you've met my sister. It implies that we're similar. We share physical characteristics, the same sense of humor, the way of talking.

There's a unity about us.

[Rick] (5:27 - 6:31) In this case, we take that example and we elevate it to a very, very, very high level. Jesus is very, very specific here. He is "in the Father," and the Father through His spirit is in Jesus, driving Jesus to fulfill and represent His will.

When Jesus was baptized and God's spirit descends upon him, God's spirit dwells within him. He is literally--the Father is within him--and he is in the Father in that he is doing and saying all the things that the Father brings to him. This is a very specific representation.

How is Jesus the truth? What do we know so far? He's "the truth" because he accurately relays the words and will of God.

Don't underestimate the power of those few words. He accurately relays the words and will of God. When we say accurately, we mean precisely, we mean concisely, we mean irrefutably relays those things.

That is how he is "the truth," because whatever he says, it is God's truth. We want to be clear on that.

[Julie] (6:31 - 6:43) It makes me think of an ambassador who directly represents their government. They will speak only authorized words and they act in an authorized way. That was Jesus.

We saw the Father through him completely.

[Rick] (6:43 - 7:00) So send I you to do and say the things that I want you to do and say. Great, Jesus accurately relays the words and will of God. What does this mean for Jesus' disciples?

What does this mean for us? How does this bring us in line with Jesus as "the truth?"

[Julie] (7:00 - 7:38) Look at John 14:15-17, and before I read this, remember last week when we talked about how Jesus is "the way," he commanded his disciples to love one another like he loved them as the starting point to discipleship. Here he adds, starting with John 14:15-17: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." We have love again.

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper that He (God) may be with you forever; that is the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see it (the spirit) or know it, but you know it because it abides with you and will be in you." Ah, the spirit of truth.

[Rick] (7:39 - 8:10) Now you have--when we're talking about Jesus saying "I am the way, and the truth, and the life"--now the introduction to God's spirit being labeled as the spirit of truth. You really get this very cohesive sense of what this scripture is putting in place for us. Jesus is providing for his followers in a way that is beyond earthly connection.

It's beyond earthly recognition by arranging for God's spirit to come to his followers.

[Julie] (8:10 - 8:33) If you read a little further, John 17:17, he prays for his disciples saying: "Sanctify them in truth (that means to set them apart); Your word is truth."

God's word is both the written word, the scriptures, and the living word--Jesus himself. Just as Jesus embodies truth, he now prays that his followers will be shaped and set apart by that same truth.

[Rick] (8:34 - 9:22) You can see that Jesus being "the truth" by speaking the words of God and doing the works of God is a foundation. This shows us how it actually can work in the lives of his followers. When you now ask that same question--how is Jesus the truth--

he's responsible for having the holy spirit of truth come to his disciples after his departure. Here's the beauty of it; they would never be without "the truth."

They had "the truth" when he was there, and after he's gone at Pentecost, they still have "the truth" through God's spirit. He is "the truth" because he keeps his disciples IN the truth through God's spirit.

He is "the truth" because he is the embodiment of the word and will of God. God's spirit brings them the embodiment of the will and word of God.

[Julie] (9:23 - 9:44) In Acts 2, we saw how they got that holy spirit after his death. Just like you said, their belief in Jesus through this gift of the holy spirit gave them insight into the truth of God's plan that they didn't have even just a short time earlier. We learn that Jesus is necessary to understanding the truth of God's plan.

[Rick] (9:45 - 10:10) What's going to happen is Jesus is going to go even further as he describes the pieces of John 14 and how they relay to him as "the truth." A few more verses go and Jesus reassures his disciples that they won't be abandoned when he leaves them. He also assures them that they will know of his presence and influence in their lives.

These next few verses in John 14 are really, really comforting. John 14:22-24:

[Julie] (10:11 - 11:20) "Judas (not Iscariot) said to him (and that "not Iscariot" is actually in the scripture so we don't mix up our Judases), Lord, what then has happened that you are going to disclose yourself to us and not to the world?" I'm going to pause there because that's a great question.

He's really asking, Why doesn't everybody get to see you the way we do? He was probably wondering, did Jesus alter his plan? You had just recently this very public triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Now he's just privately revealing himself to just a few disciples. He was likely thinking that Jesus was going to bring about an earthly political kingdom and release them from Rome's rule. Continuing with John 14:22-24: "Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him,

and we will come to him and make our abode with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me."

To answer Judas' question, this wasn't about a public display. It was about having a relationship with Jesus, and through him and only him, a relationship with the Father--from love, obedience, and faith.

[Rick] (11:20 - 12:39) As Jesus has just told them, I'm going to give you comfort. They're stuck on, why is it just to us? Why is it so narrow? He goes back to that theme of love, first of all, and he talks about he and his Father working in one hundred percent unity.

We will come and make our abode with those who love me and love the Father. He's giving us a sense of the security of what having truth can bring us in a very insecure world. That's what is beginning to unfold here.

We ask again the question: "How is Jesus 'the truth'?" His promises to his disciples of their future care weren't his promises; they were God's promises coming through him.

He didn't make up the promise. He repeated the promise from the Father. That's how we see Jesus as "the truth."

Jesus' words echoed God's direct care for them. It was God's care for them that came through Jesus. When God cares, Jesus cares! That's the beauty of these pieces fitting together.

Let's go a little further. Jesus finishes this part of his teaching with even more assurances for his disciples to cling to. Let's look at John 14.

Let's go to John 14:27-29:

[Julie] (12:40 - 13:02) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

You heard that I said to you, I go away, and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe."

[Rick] (13:02 - 14:35) Now he's talking about this being pulled apart, not having Jesus with them, and he's leaving them his peace. It's very, very profound. "Peace I leave with you.

My peace I give to you." He was proclaiming that right then. This is the night before his crucifixion.

The next day he's crucified. What happened to that peace that he had given them? They lost it.

Three days later, Jesus is resurrected. When he appears to the disciples in that closed, locked room, his first words are, "Peace be unto you." He is repeating the peace that he gave them that they lost.

That's what truth does. That's what truth is. Truth is consistent.

It doesn't go away. It doesn't minimize. He's saying, Where am I going?

I'm going to the Father. Why am I going to the Father? Because it's from Him and through Him all things happen,

because He is greater than I am. He is my Father and I do His will. This peace that Jesus is leaving us is coming from the Father through Jesus to sustain us.

That's part of Jesus being "the truth." "How is Jesus 'the truth'?" His words of comfort were also prophetic here, describing what was about to happen, even though what was about to happen looked like, nope, that can't possibly happen.

We can't have gone from all the good things that you've done, to this. He was explaining it to them. Jesus' words echoed the Father's wisdom and foresight.

This is important as we develop Jesus as "the truth."

[Julie] (14:36 - 15:10) Let's reset and recap. So far we've gone over four slightly different ways of looking at the relationship Jesus had with his Father: He accurately relays the words and will of God.

He keeps his disciples in the truth through God's spirit. His words echoed God's direct care for his disciples and his words echoed the Father's wisdom and foresight. We learned that everything he says and does is to bring himself and us closer to God and, therefore, closer to absolute and unchanging truth.

[Rick] (15:11 - 16:14) The other part of those four points is that he could just say, Well look, I'm "the truth," just believe what I say. You could just run with that and say, okay, but that's what Jesus said, that's good enough. But you see how Jesus breaks it down into all of these different--subtly different--pieces to assure them that no matter how you look at this, no matter how you turn the puzzle, it is going to always reflect the same thing.

I am "the truth." Let's shift gears a little bit. Let's move on to another teaching of Jesus that revealed him as truth.

In this context--and this is from John 8--Jesus is speaking to a mixed crowd, but he's really primarily speaking to the Pharisees and the scribes who are, as usual, giving him trouble. Let's drop in on John 8. We're going to start with verses 12-16, but before we start, we're going to hear the reactions of them in terms of not understanding Jesus, and we're going to see how Jesus puts it all in order and it fits exactly with the things that we've been talking about.

John 8:12-16:

[Julie] (16:15 - 17:43) "Then Jesus again spoke to them saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." I'm going to stop there.

Light exposes what's hidden and it reveals what's true. We can walk in light without tripping over things. The Greek word for truth, "aletheia," means "unconcealed or revealed reality."

It makes perfect sense that Jesus is going to talk about himself as both "light" and "truth" because both expose, they guide, and they give life. Jesus just doesn't speak truth. He is the full unveiling, the full revealment, the full light of God's character and plan.

John 8:13: "So the Pharisees said to him, You are testifying about yourself; your testimony is not true." They were correct if he was in regular human legal standards, because according to Jewish Law, a claim needed two or more witnesses to be credible.

Jesus continues in John 8:14-16: "Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.

But even if I do judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent me." He contrasts his coming down from heaven with their earthly limited perspective. His testimony is true because it's not just him.

He stands with his Father as his witness. He's speaking his Father's words.

[Rick] (17:44 - 18:53) In these verses in John 8, he proclaims, "I am the light of the world." He talks about the necessity for having light to understand the realities that surround us. They, the Pharisees, are just on a completely different level than him at this point.

They're not understanding. What he's basically saying to them is, look, you don't understand the depth and the breadth of "the truth" that I am here to bring to light. I am that truth, but you're not willing to look at it.

You're not willing to see it. Here, when we ask the question: "How is Jesus 'the truth'?" It is more along the lines of dealing with things that are opposed to the truth.

Jesus knew God's plan was for him to be God's light for all of humanity. In spite of serious opposition, Jesus would boldly shine as the light of salvation that God had sent him to be. Jesus is "the truth" because he boldly shines where others are saying, you better not do that.

It's going to cost you. You're going to create all kinds of trouble. He shines because that's what truth does.

[Julie] (18:53 - 19:06) As usual, he brings us along too, because in Matthew 5:14, he assures his followers that, "You are the light of the world." It shows this connected unity between God, Jesus, and all of us.

[Rick] (19:06 - 19:29) When he brought them the spirit so they could be in the truth, with bringing them the spirit, they are now given the capacity to be the light as well, because they're Jesus' disciples. That's how it all fits together. Let's continue.

Jesus continued speaking to these Pharisees and continues to confuse them. John 8:25-29:

[Julie] (19:29 - 20:18) "So they were saying to him, Who are you? Jesus said to them, What have I been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent me is true;

and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world." Again, Jesus is the faithful messenger of the Father. That's how we know his words are true.

Continuing with verse John 8:27-29: "They did not realize that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, When you lift up the Son of Man (that means on the cross -- he predicted they would crucify him), then you will know that I am he,

and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught me. And He who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

[Rick] (20:19 - 20:54) Now this is in John 8. This is long before the crucifixion preparation, and yet you see the consistency in Jesus' ministry that says, Look, I'm not alone. The things that I do, the things that I say come from the Father, because He's always with me.

That's how he's "the truth," because it's the Father's will and way shining through him. Julie, you brought up the text about we are supposed to be the light of the world. That becomes our responsibility.

Now it's very different than on the level that Jesus was, but that's a serious responsibility to be "the truth" for others.

[Julie] (20:54 - 21:02) Yeah, because that's not our light. It's not our truth. In turn, that was what Jesus taught us, which is what God taught us, and that's how we know it's truth and light.

[Rick] (21:02 - 22:03) When we want to go around saying "here's MY truth," we're not being in THE truth. We are not showing THE truth. That's what we need to be focusing on.

"How is Jesus 'the truth'?" Jesus boldly spoke to those who would later put him to death. I mean, he told them that he was God's son, and he told them that what they would do out of the darkness of their own hearts.

He said, here's what you're going to do. Jesus is "the truth," because he did all that his Father required him to do, and he feared no one in the process. It's one thing to do something because you're compelled to do it, because you have to.

It's another thing to do something because you know that's what I'm going to do, because it is the will of God, and it was his heart's desire to fulfill it. That's how Jesus is "the truth." Let's continue.

The very next verse shows us a marvelous conclusion from all of the confusion that the Pharisees were having, and all of the teaching that Jesus was giving them. John 8:30-32:

[Julie] (22:03 - 22:36) "As he spoke these things, many came to believe in him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him, If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

I'm going to paraphrase their response in the next verses that we won't read. They said, we've never been anybody's slave (even though, ironically, they were under Roman rule at the time), what do you mean? We're already free!

Jesus then goes on to explain how we're all slaves to sin. Spiritually, you're either a slave or you're a son living in the household.

[Rick] (22:37 - 24:00) Remember how Jesus says in John 14, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." Previously in John 8, he's telling--and people are now starting to believe in him--you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Jesus is "the way."

You will know me, and I will make you free. What he's telling them is, follow me. I'm going to show you the way, and that brings you to the truth, which brings you to freedom, which inevitably brings us to life.

We'll get to that in our next podcast. "How is Jesus 'the truth'?" Continuing in Jesus' words reveals true discipleship, and reveals God's truth which would set them free.

It was not Jesus' own words. It was the words that the Lord God told him to speak. Jesus is "the truth" because following him brings true and lasting freedom.

Following him: • Jesus lived the truth- we also ought to follow in that.

• Jesus sacrificed himself as he was living "the truth"- we also ought to follow in that. • Jesus died for the cause, willingly-

we also need to be willing to follow him in that. Jesus made us free because of all those things. That is part of what the true followers of Christ will be blessed with later on.

The truth makes us free. Jesus makes us free because he is "the truth."

[Julie] (24:00 - 24:18) In that scripture, John 4:6 that we're talking about, just on the way, the truth, and the life, he ends it with, "No one comes to the Father except through me." Only through his words, his instructions, and his guidance can there be any hope of coming into harmony with the spirit of God, the spirit of truth, in order to truly be free.

[Rick] (24:18 - 24:26) We have a real clarity on Jesus as "the truth" in a variety of different ways up to this point.

[Julie] (24:27 - 24:58) Yeah. Remember Pilate's famous "what is truth" question? Right before that, Pilate had asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews.

It was in John 18:34-36: "Jesus answered, Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?" You can almost hear Pilate impatiently answer, all right, who's asking the questions here?

I'm not the one on trial. He's not used to this talk back. In John 18:35 Pilate says: "Pilate answered, I am not a Jew, am I?

Your own nation and your chief priests delivered you to me; what have you done?"

[Rick] (24:59 - 25:17) Pilate's putting him on the spot. "What have you done?" Why are you on trial for your very life?

Now, Jesus' answer isn't going to defend himself. His answer is going to reveal his mission, because that's what truth is. Truth is the revealment of what there is from God to man.

Let's continue.

[Julie] (25:18 - 25:33) John 18:36: "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world (in other words, I'm no threat to Rome). If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews;

but as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm."

[Rick] (25:34 - 27:03) Jesus is saying, essentially, I'm not here to be a threat to you. I am here to eventually overtake all of the world because my kingdom is from God. How could he say that?

Because he is "the truth." He is the method through which God's plan is able to unfold. That's what truth is.

It puts things in a perspective. His mission is the kingdom. That's it.

That's what it's about. That's what he came for. It's the will of God that he is accomplishing.

How is Jesus "the truth" in relation to this conversation with Pilate? Jesus' mission was and is all about God's promised kingdom. His mission hasn't changed, even though he is a heavenly being now.

It's the same mission. It's all about God's promised kingdom. It was, is, and will always be all about establishing world order and world peace.

Jesus is "the truth" of that kingdom's reality. When we look at that, that's how we see what Jesus is describing by saying, I am "the truth." I almost hate to do this, just to quote just one prophecy, because there's so many of them.

But let's just look at one short little prophecy that verifies Jesus' role as God's son in this kingdom's establishment. Let's look at Jeremiah 23:5:

[Julie] (27:03 - 27:16) "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch (Jesus), and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land."

[Rick] (27:16 - 27:49) "...I will raise up for David a righteous branch." Thus says the Lord God, I will bring him, Jesus, who will reign as king and act wisely. As king, acting wisely, Jesus, even though he is all powerful, is still doing precisely what the will of God is.

What's the will of God in this prophecy? To do justice and righteousness in the land, to right all of the wrongs. That's why we pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth..."

It is Jesus as "the truth" doing the will of God.

[Julie] (27:50 - 28:29) Pilate's question was timeless. "What IS truth?" In our world, that becomes harder and harder to answer, because these lines are not only blurred by leaping advances in AI (Artificial Intelligence), but by relativism, where "my truth" of right and wrong can differ from "your truth."

Just to quickly recap the last four items that we talked about: Jesus would boldly shine as the light of salvation that God had sent him to be. Jesus did all his Father required him to do and feared no one in the process. Following Jesus brings true and lasting freedom. Jesus is the truth of the coming kingdom's reality.

[Rick] (28:30 - 30:06) When you look at all of these things--we're just looking at two sections of scripture, let's understand that; we're looking at John 14 and John 8--and out of those two sections of scripture, you see this tapestry of beauty of who Jesus is, what he does, and the most important thing is why he does what he does. The bottom line is, it's because he will only do the will of God.

Jesus IS "the truth," the embodiment of God's plan. He displayed God's plan of salvation through his words and his actions. He made God's plan a reality by faithfully sacrificing himself, so all of humanity could be raised.

Nobody's left out of that! That's the truth, because that was God's plan. He passed the hope and responsibility of God's plan onto those who were called to discipleship, because they would play a role in it.

That's why they're given God's spirit the way he was given God's spirit, just we don't have it to the level he did. He does that so that we can accomplish God's plan through him, just like he does. He will be the great ruler and the great mediator of God's plan as God's kingdom unfolds.

Why? Because Jesus is "the truth," "the truth" of the heavenly Father, the Creator of all things. Boy, is that a relief, because there's so many versions of truth in the world.

We don't have to worry about that. Jesus is "the truth!" Think about it.

We love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at Christian Questions.com. Coming up in our next episode: "John 14:6 - How is Jesus 'The Life'?"

Final Notes: copyright @2025 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.