"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."—John 14:6
Truth next invites attention. The very term commands
respect. At once it calls for reverence. It is a noble plant; but it is not
indigenous to earth. Here ignorance and fallacies, and falsehoods are the
wide-spreading weeds. Truth lived at first, but it was soon slain by sin.
Then untruthfulness came in—"You shall not surely die." (Gen. 3:4)
Multitudinous has been its progeny.
The history of this earth presents a frightful picture of
the miseries which follow in the rear of falsehood. It extinguished light,
and darkness cast its wretched pall around. It banished peace. It raised a
barrier between God and man. It barred the gates of heaven. It constructed
the prison-walls of hell, and kindled its unextinguishable flames.
But Christ came, the remedy of all evil. As such, He
re-established the reign of Truth, and shines as its perfect embodiment. Let
us bow before His proclamation, "I am the Truth." This subject is most
large. It presents expansive views, and extends through Creation's wonders
and Revelation's glory. Let thought glean profit in each field.
I. When Creation's beauties were arranged,
it seems that Christ was the deep signification of the work. Statements are
distinctly made, as hints to be expanded into fuller intelligence. Thus
those who read Nature's book, looking for Christ, perpetually find feasts of
joy. At every turn they see objects which reveal the Lord. Here indeed
erratic fancies must be checked, and due bounds must restrain imagination's
flights. But it is both duty and delight to follow where the Spirit leads,
and He plainly tells that Christ is the true end of our earth's fabric. Let
a few instances guide to this improvement of things visible.
Light shines the earliest wonder of the world. Who
can depict its beauties and its properties! But it is more than nature's
charm and earth's benefit. It is a treasure of Gospel-truth. Its lovely rays
show the more lovely image of the Lord. It is written, "That was the true
light which enlightens every man who comes into the world." (John 1:9)
Jesus, also, selecting it as a typical mirror, cries, "I am the light of the
world: he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life." (John 8:12) The prophet, anticipating the rising of the true
"Dayspring from on high," sweetly sings, "The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light." (Isa. 9:2) Thus from early morn to evening's close
we are encompassed by an atmosphere, the Truth of which is Christ.
Again—our meals require the staff of life. Costly viands
may abound. Luxuries may be multiplied by culinary art. But if bread
be absent, the food is incomplete. Thus bread is an essential article at our
tables. But it affords much more than nourishment. While we eat we gain
instruction. It is an emblem of our Lord. His own lips declare, "My Father
gives you the true bread from heaven." (John 6:32) Thus whenever we
receive this necessary nutriment, our souls should see and feast on Jesus.
He adds, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven." (John 6:51)
And again, "I am the bread of life." (John 6:35) Thus the lifeless material
proclaims the Savior, who is alive forevermore. (Rev. 1:18) Material bread
not only sustains life—it sets Him forth who quickens the soul with
never-ending life. Our tables would be sanctifying schools, if in the main
nutriment Christ was discovered. Animal life indeed would thrive, and
spiritual vigor be replenished.
Again—in rural scenes the vine is often present to
our view. It is not limited to the glassy shelter of the rich man's home. It
spreads its far extending tendrils and its luxuriant clusters around the
humblest dwellings. Its stem indeed is lowly, and shows no form, nor
strength, nor beauty. But it abounds in branches of extensive growth. Each
branch is laden with rich clusters, and each cluster swells with grapes, and
each grape is bursting with delicious juice. What plant then can compete in
value! As Jesus walks attended by his chosen band, this plant attracts His
notice. Quickly He deduces a spiritual lesson. He exclaims, "I am the
true Vine." (John 15:1) The plant was an emblem of the blessings which
He came to give. Whenever the vine is viewed, let pious thought ascend to
Christ.
It belongs not to this design to trace at length the full
similitude. Let it suffice to note most briefly that the lowly stem
prefigures the lowly birth, the lowly life, the lowly walk of Jesus. No
pomp, no show, dazzled the eyes of men. He grew up "before Him as a tender
plant, and as a root out of a dry ground." (Isa. 53:2) He did not "cry, nor
lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street." (Isa. 42:2) But His
preciousness surpasses thought. All eloquence is dumb before such theme. His
fruit exceeds all praises. Well might the Church exclaim, "I sat down under
His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste." (Song
2:3)
Behold His death! It is the atonement of all the sins of
all who trust in Him; it pours forth the richest exuberance of peace. What
multitudes extract from it transporting sense of pardon for each offence,
expiation of all iniquity, reconciliation with God, cleansing from all vile
stains, adoption into the heavenly household, all peace, joy unspeakable and
full of glory, and hope of the inheritance of the saints in light! Survey
the countless multitudes of the redeemed. Mark their rapture, listen to
their endless hymns. All their ecstacy is derived from the fruit of Christ
the true Vine.
Mark, also, its expanding boughs. Verily they traverse
the universe. Where man lives, the vine presents its reviving clusters.
Wherever the vine claims notice, or the mantling goblet invites taste, let
thought ascend to Christ, and feast on the delights of all His benefits.
Thus significantly the blessed Jesus points to objects in
creation's field, as showing some especial picture of Himself. He intimates
that they unfold the volumes of His worth. Behold the light, the bread, the
vine—they are but shadows: the substance is in Him. He is the true light,
the true bread, the true vine. Their Truth is Christ.
These instances supply a clue for wide investigation.
They lead to a fertile field, and unlock the gate. They place the foundation
for much superstructure. They teach that Christ is the Truth of
Creation's book. Thus, in rambles through the verdant fields, by the
flowing stream, beside the babbling brook, in uplands, in the valley—thus,
when summer glows, when wintry frosts invest the scene with snow—we are
encouraged to search for exhibitions of Gospel-truth. There is much
spiritual delight in this constant looking for Him who is "chief among ten
thousand and altogether lovely One!" (Song 5:10-16) There is sweet rapture
in these discoveries of His image! Thus things terrestrial help the believer
to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, whom to see is heaven begun.
II. But it is in Scripture's page that Christ
shines forth in glorious brightness as "the Truth." He guides to this
conclusion. "Search the Scriptures, for in them you do you think have
eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39) To the
disciples journeying to Emmaus, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He
expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
(Luke 24:27) Hence we know that all the Scriptures abound in disclosures of
Him as "the Truth." It pleased God that through the Church's infancy
teaching should be much in partial show. Pictures, signs, and shadows,
passed in long train before the early fathers. But in them the substance was
not fully unveiled. The Truth of each was Christ; but He was seen through
long vista.
Among the types the foremost place is justly given to
sacrifice. It is the first-born of this school. Its birth was concurrent
with sin's entrance. In Eden's garden the first victim bled. The coats of
skins which clothed our parents when they were cast out into a dreary world,
is clear proof. These victims died prefiguring the Woman's Seed who would
bruise the serpent's head. From that time until the Cross of Calvary, how
many altars were upraised! What streams of blood flowed in unceasing
current! How often did the priest lift up the sacrificing knife! No morning
dawned, no evening closed, unmarked by sacrificial type. But from every
victim a distinct voice was heard. It cried, "Behold the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world!" Every death on every altar pointed to Him
who in the fullness of time should die to atone for sin. Of every
sacrificial victim Christ was the Truth. Needless would have been the
expenditure of life, except each death had been herald of the coming Savior.
But the bleeding victim was only one in a vast volume of instruction, one
link in a long chain, one tree in a forest of spiritual lessons.
Let the wanderings in the wilderness be surveyed.
In long array Christ was proclaimed by some types. With morning light in the
dew the manna fell. It gave supplies of food; the tribes had only to
gather and to eat. But its main value was its spiritual import. In diverse
ways it showed forth Christ. He was its Truth. It fell to image "the true
bread."
Again, the smitten rock sent forth a stream always
flowing in their rear. The tribes had not to toil in digging wells, or in
long search for springs. "They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed
them, and that Rock was Christ." (1 Cor. 10:4) He was the Truth of this
unfailing water.
Amid all the wilderness-types the brazen serpent
claims prominence. Israel's sons were in deep misery. As a punishment for
their grievous sins, fiery serpents darted through the camp inflicting
deadly stings. God removed not the plague, but He commanded Moses to raise a
brazen serpent on a pole. To 'calculating reason' this would seem to be a
mockery of their woe. What healing virtue could issue from this figure! But
God ordained that whenever a bitten Israelite fixed his eye upon this form,
the poison would cease to act, the sting would abate, and health return. But
more than bodily recovery was here. Jesus Himself declares that of this type
He is the Truth. Marvelous are His words, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:14, 15)
What hearty thanksgivings should this type call forth! What multitudes in
every age have been led by its teaching to turn the eye of faith to Christ
its Truth, and thus to win eternal life!
How prominent in Israel's story was the High Priest!
View his splendid robes. Examine each part of his significant apparel. See
on his heart and on his shoulders the names of the twelve tribes. Mark his
passing the veil, and entering into the Holy of Holies, not without blood,
and burning incense in the sacred place, and sprinkling the mercy-seat, and
returning to give blessings to the people. The Truth of every part of this
dazzling appearance is Christ. He came, "a High Priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but
by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us." (Heb. 9:11, 12) How precious, how enlightening,
how cheering, is the Old Testament record, when in every sign, and
semblance, and type, we see the glorious Person, and the gracious acts of
Christ, the Truth!
But Jesus is pre-eminently the Truth, as the grand
revelation of the Father. Apart from Jesus, God's face is hidden; more
than Egyptian darkness conceals Him. Mists and impenetrable gloom envelop
His character, His purposes, and will. The sages of old, boasted much mental
culture. Vast were the resources of their intellect. They probed science to
its core. But the world by wisdom knew not the true God. (1 Cor. 1:21) When
Jesus came, the darkness passed, and "the true light" shone brightly. Hence
the Spirit gives Him the designation, "the faithful and true Witness." Hence
the Apostle was guided to pen, "God, who commanded the light to shine out of
darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6) So that He truly
says, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:9)
How precious is this Savior! With what intense desire
should we study Him! He is the true mirror which reflects the Father's
glory. He is the true volume, in which we read, as in the light of heaven,
the Father's attributes, and see as in a collected focus, His righteousness,
His justice, His holiness, His love. Thanks be to God for this manifested
Truth!
Has Truth thus come down from heaven to earth, and shall
not men most diligently, most earnestly search for it! Shall they not employ
their time in seeking to be possessors of this treasure! It enriches for
time and for eternity. It is useful for every moment, and in every state. It
makes free from every bondage, and from all debasing ignorance.
It is sown in the field of Scripture. Let no day pass
without deep digging in this mine. Dig, also, with wrestling prayer for the
Spirit's aid. "O Lord, send out Your light and Your Truth; let them lead
me." (Psa. 43:3) Let the love of the Truth reign in our hearts. Sweet is the
exhortation of the prophet, "Love the Truth and peace." (Zech. 8:19) Fearful
is the doom against those who "received not the love of the Truth, that they
might be saved." (2 Thess. 2:10)
Who can resist the charms of Truth! It contains every
attraction to awaken and to rivet affection. Especially let us walk in
Truth. It is a solemn injunction, "As you have therefore received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." (Col. 2:6) The Apostle had no greater joy
than to hear that his children walked in Truth. Christ should be the Truth
on which the eye should ever gaze, the way by which our feet should move,
the arm on which we should lean coming up out of the wilderness. Thus earth
will be an infallible passage to the bright world, in which unclouded Truth
forever shines.