Epistemology. Alethiology. Fancy words that don’t mean much in a hospital room when your dad is dying. It’s 2 a.m. and my father will stop breathing in a couple of hours. Am I wondering about the nature of truth and knowledge? Do I find comfort in philosophical jujitsu? Or am I thinking about what happens when the EKG
flatlines?
The good news is that if Jesus is the truth—if truth is a person—then we are capable of knowing the truth in a far more concrete and comprehensive way than could be supported by any epistemological framework.
truth. Truth. TRUTH
!!!
We often hear the distinction between about (little-t) truth and (capital-T) Truth.
BUT JESUS IS CAPS LOCK TRUTH WITH EXTRANEOUS PUNCTUATION !!!!
He said it himself. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). What a statement! It’s one of many you have to ignore to say that Jesus was just a good teacher or moral example. He is claiming not only to have the truth, but to be it.
Offensive Truth
Not only does Jesus claim to be truth incarnate—he claims exclusivity. No one comes to the Father except through him. To modern ears, there is no greater offense.
But the worst thing we can do is to try to soften this blow. The cross is an offense, and therefore the gospel is as well. If we try and present it otherwise, we do great harm.
The problem is not that too many people are offended at Jesus’ claims, but that not enough people are. If he offends you, then you have to deal with him and not just set him aside with all the other (little-t) truths. If you want to be intellectually honest, you can curse Jesus or worship him, but you can’t be neutral.
Truth as a Person
My dad knows the truth. He not only knows truths about Jesus (i.e. information), but he knows the truth in Jesus (i.e. he has relationship with him).
I was eight or nine when my dad first met Jesus. A friend praying over his bed tonight in hospital recounted my father’s words at the time: “I finally know the truth!”
And soon he will know him much better.
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
Dustin’s father went to be with the Lord the morning after he wrote this, April 14. Dustin Kensrue is a worship leader and deacon at Mars Hill Orange County.
