⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Philosophers seek the truth. Libraries on university campuses around the nation have written over the front entrance to their sacred halls, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” This quote comes from none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:32). Yet, so often the pursuit of truth has become secularized, where the concept of spiritual truth has been demoted to something less than true truth. In other words, spiritual truth in our secular world has been relegated to a sub-speciality of truth seeking, one that is not necessary, but pays some condescending respect to religious tradition. Once theology was considered the queen of the sciences, and philosophy its handmaiden. Now, the hard sciences seem to be the clamor in education, with the humanities dominated by secularism, and religious thought a distant third, if at all present.

Jesus’ clarion proclamation cannot be written off so easily, the echo of which is still etched in architectural stones, and the Scripture continually being preached. Truth, if anything is true at all, is centered squarely on the author of truth. One can no more pursue truth without Christ, than he can breathe without air. To build life or a world absent Christ is to build a house on the sand, without a solid foundation. Again, this is not new teaching (see. Matt 7:24-27). Jesus is bringing together numerous thoughts in summary, memorable fashion.

So if what Jesus says is true (and we believe it is truth) that He is the truth, everything in life changes. Certainly we can learn about computers, social constructs, history, mathematics and how to get along with our neighbors, but to be truly educated we must learn Christ. If He is the truth, we must study Christ. Paul puts it this way, “I [want to] know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death …” (Phil 3:10). He was all about Christ.

To the Ephesians, the apostle Paul warned against fleshly living, and concluded, “But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus …” (Eph 4:20–21). The greatest endeavor any human can pursue is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. As John puts it, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18). So we study and learn Christ, because it is in Him that we learn about the Father.

Lord, I have come to know You through Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyday I grow in that understanding, so that I will become more like You.