John 16:12-15
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
He Guides You into the Whole Truth
One of the best ways to reflect on our Christian understanding of the truth and how and why to be committed to it, is to take some time, open our Bible, read a few verses and digest them with Jesus.
Psalm 25:5, "Lord, lead me in your truth."
Psalm 86:11, "Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your Name."
Psalm 145:18, "The Lord is near to those who call upon Him in truth."
John 1:14, "The Word was made flesh, full of grace and truth."
John 4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
John 8:31-32, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
John 16:13 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth."
John 17:17, "Sanctify them in your truth; your word is truth."
Ephesians 4:15, "Speak the truth in love."
Following our meditation in the Lord's presence and guidance, we may ask as Pontious Pilate, "What is the truth?" For Pilate, the truth is the might and right of Caesar to be considered and obeyed as the "son of god." No other king or son of god has the right to replace him!
For politicians, the truth could be just a lie they want others to believe and to trust their authority.
For some traders, the truth is business valued upon gain or loss, on how to gain more and save better.
For warmakers, the truth is victory over the enemy regardless of how many victims there are, or how to commit ethnic cleansing and genocide.
But for Jesus and his disciples, the Truth is God's love, mercy, freedom and salvation. It is revealed by the Father to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. Its sanctification is entrusted and management given to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus remains with us as long and as much as we accept to be guided by the Holy Spirit. He reminds us of all that Jesus taught, and he wants us to witness for his loving and saving presence.
When truth and reality embrace, their embodiment generates trust and peaceful confidence. The only way to be trustworthy is to embody the truth into real acts as Jesus did. He still teaches us to do so. "If you don't believe in me, believe in my works" John 10:37-38.
May our lives be guided by the Spirit of truth, bearing fruits of trust, peace, confidence and hardwork to reflect God's face through our acts. May we renew our vows of Baptism, being aware that we are Temples of the Holy Spirit.
