Truth and Reality
Truth and Reality
John 21:24-25
At first glance, the two verses that conclude the gospel of John seem to be merely an afterthought. Words that are not deep in significance and service to bring a rather mundane conclusion to an incredible book. However, when we read closer, we discover two essential truths that guide our understanding of the Bible and God.
First, we see an affirmation that John recognized that he was writing more than the memoirs of his time with Jesus. He was writing more than just an accurate account of Jesus' life and teaching. John was writing under the Holy Spirit's inspiration to record God's truth. "Truth" is a central theme in the book of John. The word appears more frequently in the gospel of John than in any other book in the New Testament. For John, the truth was more than just an affirmation of what is true versus what is false. Truth is grounded in the person of Christ who came to bring us the truth of God in the fullest sense (1:14). Jesus both spoke the truth as well as was the embodiment of truth ( 14:6). It is this truth that becomes the basis of genuine freedom and hope (8:32). Furthermore, when Christ leaves, he promises to send his Holy Spirit to guide and teach the disciples in the truth (14:17). For John, his record was the fulfillment of that promise. The message he conveys contains truth in the absolute sense since it is the message of Christ. John knew his testimony was accurate, for it was the message grounded in the person of Christ, and his gospel was the message the Holy Spirit guided him to record. Consequently, we can believe his message. The gospel of John, and the whole of the New Testament, is accurate and valid, for it was inspired by the Holy Spirit so that we might know the truth and experience the freedom it brings. In an age of confusion and distortion, we find clarity and certainty in the writings of the New Testament.
Second, we see insight into the infinite nature of God and our struggle as finite individuals to grasp the totality of Who Christ is. While the gospels convey the foundation of knowing Christ, there is much more that could be written. However, this does not mean we have an incomplete understanding of Christ. The reason John did not write more is that nothing more was needed. All we need for faith and all we need for a sufficient understanding of Christ and his teaching has been given to us. We do not know all truth (that would imply omniscience), but we do not know enough truth. Consequently, there is no longer any need for further revelation. After the New Testament was written, there was nothing more that needed to be added to the story. As John points out at the end of the book of Revelation; we are not to take away or reject anything written in the Bible, nor are we to add anything more (Rev 22:19). Today, people either want to add to the Bible by claiming new insight or they want to subtract from the Bible because they disagree with its teaching about God and morality. But God's word is sufficient and complete (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we are confused in life or need answers regarding the hotly debated topics of modern morality, we can turn to the pages of Scripture, for it provides the solution. It is truth, and it is complete, and in the end, that is all we need to know.
John 21:24-25
At first glance, the two verses that conclude the gospel of John seem to be merely an afterthought. Words that are not deep in significance and service to bring a rather mundane conclusion to an incredible book. However, when we read closer, we discover two essential truths that guide our understanding of the Bible and God.
First, we see an affirmation that John recognized that he was writing more than the memoirs of his time with Jesus. He was writing more than just an accurate account of Jesus' life and teaching. John was writing under the Holy Spirit's inspiration to record God's truth. "Truth" is a central theme in the book of John. The word appears more frequently in the gospel of John than in any other book in the New Testament. For John, the truth was more than just an affirmation of what is true versus what is false. Truth is grounded in the person of Christ who came to bring us the truth of God in the fullest sense (1:14). Jesus both spoke the truth as well as was the embodiment of truth ( 14:6). It is this truth that becomes the basis of genuine freedom and hope (8:32). Furthermore, when Christ leaves, he promises to send his Holy Spirit to guide and teach the disciples in the truth (14:17). For John, his record was the fulfillment of that promise. The message he conveys contains truth in the absolute sense since it is the message of Christ. John knew his testimony was accurate, for it was the message grounded in the person of Christ, and his gospel was the message the Holy Spirit guided him to record. Consequently, we can believe his message. The gospel of John, and the whole of the New Testament, is accurate and valid, for it was inspired by the Holy Spirit so that we might know the truth and experience the freedom it brings. In an age of confusion and distortion, we find clarity and certainty in the writings of the New Testament.
Second, we see insight into the infinite nature of God and our struggle as finite individuals to grasp the totality of Who Christ is. While the gospels convey the foundation of knowing Christ, there is much more that could be written. However, this does not mean we have an incomplete understanding of Christ. The reason John did not write more is that nothing more was needed. All we need for faith and all we need for a sufficient understanding of Christ and his teaching has been given to us. We do not know all truth (that would imply omniscience), but we do not know enough truth. Consequently, there is no longer any need for further revelation. After the New Testament was written, there was nothing more that needed to be added to the story. As John points out at the end of the book of Revelation; we are not to take away or reject anything written in the Bible, nor are we to add anything more (Rev 22:19). Today, people either want to add to the Bible by claiming new insight or they want to subtract from the Bible because they disagree with its teaching about God and morality. But God's word is sufficient and complete (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we are confused in life or need answers regarding the hotly debated topics of modern morality, we can turn to the pages of Scripture, for it provides the solution. It is truth, and it is complete, and in the end, that is all we need to know.
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