Introduction:

We live in a time which is information-rich but truth-poor. Every five years the combined scientific knowledge of humankind is doubling. Everything scientific which people have learned over thousands of years, is now doubling every five years! That means we now know four times what we knew ten years ago, and eight times what we knew fifteen years ago, when I began here!

Yet, we live at a time when the Enrons, WorldComs, politicians and governmental agencies bend the truth daily; or cover it up, or say they are unable to find it. We know so much, but we can believe so little.

I) Getting Into the Text

In the midst of all this, we come to a Gospel text that shows us this is nothing new! The text, which directly follows our text from last week, says: Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. [15] The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"

This is a valid question. We know from other stories that Jesus could read; that was a rare accomplishment in that age. His teaching shows no relationship to the rabbinical schools of his day, the schools that trained those who would become religious teachers. He just knew it! Even as a child he had amazed the teachers in the Temple with his understanding.

But that amazing teaching sets us up for a much more important teaching, one which appears about 40 times in the Gospel of John. It's at the end of the next section:

[16] Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. [17] If anyone wants to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. [18] He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

II) Jesus is The Truth

Here's the key to this passage: here, for the 15^th time in John's gospel, Jesus uses the word "Truth." And every time the word "Truth" is mentioned in John's Gospel it somehow refers to Jesus. They're wondering here where Jesus got this teaching. Jesus says it comes directly from God, and because it only serves to glorify the Father, it's Truth. Because Jesus is Truth.

Over and over again in John's Gospel, Jesus shows himself to be, in bodily form, Truth himself. "Mr. Truth!"

John 1:9 The true light ("the light of truth"), which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So, here we have Truth itself, Truth himself, Truth incarnate, and they're asking where he got his teaching! He is "The Man of Truth."

John's Gospel is built on a few "key words," we've gone over and over on the five that give the Gospel its structure- the "Circle of Believing: " Word-Hear-Trust-Know-Bear Witness. After those "big five" come several other words. I've printed copies this morning of a self-study guide on some of these other major words- copies are available in the Narthex. Each of these key words carry a central part of the theological message of John's Gospel. It's so very, very simple, with a tiny vocabulary. At the same time, it is so dense, so intertwined and profound.

So, in our text today, Jesus is telling us again that he is Truth- he's the man of Truth- he'll come back to this over and over again. And they just don't get it. They won't hear him. They won't trust in him. They can't know him- and finally, they look right at Truth itself, and commit the greatest lie of all- and they tell him he's demon-possessed! All of the Goodness and Truth in the universe is standing bodily in front of their eyes, and they're so blind they call him demonic.

III) The Truth Confronts us

As we hear this text today, how can we relate to it? Where do we fit in?

About 50 years ago my dad and several friends were deer hunting in a huge roadless area south of Duluth. One of the fellows in the party was standing in the woods when suddenly a very disturbed man came running up to him. He said, "I'm lost! I can't find my way out! I keep running in circles!" The member of Dad's party pulled out his compass and tried to show the guy the direction to the road, which was only a short distance away. "NO, the compasses don't work right up here. I threw mine away. It was wrong. I've been that direction. You're lost too. I'm not going to die with you. I've got to find my way out..." and the man hurried away before the fellow in Dad's group could catch him. They found the man's body the next spring.

The compass was right. The road was very close. But the man wouldn't listen. He had decided that truth was a lie, and he couldn't be helped. Sometimes Truth is right in front of us, but in our panic we think we know better. That's what was happening in our Gospel story this morning. They called Truth a lie.

As we hear this tragic story this morning, we are confronted by loving Truth himself. Truth isn't a theological principle. Truth isn't up to what the majority think. Truth isn't determined by the spirit of the times, nor the passion of the crowd. Truth isn't theoretical. Truth isn't relative. There aren't multiple truths.

Truth is a person. Truth is one person. Truth is Jesus Christ. That's a central theme of John's Gospel. If you see the word "truth" in John's Gospel, somehow it always refers to Jesus. He's the Truth.

In a world filled with Enrons, politicians and falsehood, one thing is true. One person is True. Christianity isn't a religion; it's a living relationship with a living Lord. He is Truth, he won't treat you falsely. He keeps his promises. He is faithful. In the heartbreak and illnesses of the last month, again and again words of testimony keep breaking through of God's faithfulness. In the midst of horrible illness, we've seen so many answered prayers. Terry Biehn, who has been fighting end stage cancer for four years has undergone profound suffering in the past six weeks. One setback after another. But like Job, he continues to praise God for his faithfulness. He continues to cling to God's promises.

In the past few weeks I've heard some of the most profound words of testimony I've heard in my life from Lois. In the midst of fear and horrible dread, in the midst of life-and-death struggle, she's been teaching us deep, deep teachings about hope. She's learned again and again that Jesus is Truth. In the last week or so Jim has almost died from five separate crises. God has intervened repeatedly, and the Doctor is amazed. Let me read a short email Lois sent out yesterday:

Thank you for all your prayers for us and especially for Jim. He is really the miracle man. He's come so far, but he has so far to go yet -and we still hope for complete recovery! What God will grant we don't know, but we do know of His power to do abundantly beyond what we can ask or think. So why limit God? Learning to trust Him in new ways, finding the ability to give up and still hope in God, realizing the incredible support of the family and church and friends in tough times, discovering small but amazing "graces" that let me know God really cares even in the depths of the darkest valleys. We'd never want to go through these difficulties, but somehow we find ourselves thanking God in the midst of the suffering.

Thank you for praying. As you and so many others pray, God opens doors. God is not only healing Jim, He's healing relationships, teaching us to love each other, teaching us to trust Him, and giving us real opportunities to share His love and power with people around us. Jim's doctor is positively thrilled about his progress. She is simply amazed that he's still alive! So what is God doing in her heart as she watches this miracle unfold? What about the others who take care of Jim? Pray for them, too, that they will see God in action and seek Him. God bless you!-- Lois

Whatever you face, the Lord who is Truth calls you to know him, to love him, to be in a relationship day by day with him. He's not going to let you down; he's not going to give up on you; he's not going to leave you. He is Truth. That's enough.

Invitation, Amen

"Truth" in John - 38 times: 1:9, 14, 17; 3:21, 33, 4:18, 23-24, 37, 42; 5:31-33; 6:55; 7:18, 28; 8:26, 31-32, 40, 44-46; 10:41; 14:6, 17; 15:1, 26; 16:7, 13; 17:3, 8, 17, 19; 18:37-38; 19:35; 21:24