TRUTH HAS NO DENOMINATION

TRUTH HAS NO DENOMINATION!

Matt 22:15-17

15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

John 9:24-27

24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

           The word “truth” can be found in the King James translation 235 times! In the verses selected this morning we see the Pharisees, self-proclaimed guardians of their definition of the truth, confronting Jesus so that they might entangle Him in his talk. Their pursuit was not for the truth but for a remedy. Jesus was most certainly a Jew but not a Pharisee.

           In John 9, we see just how inconvenient truth can be when Jesus heals a blind man. The religious leaders considered Jesus a sinner and now he is reported to have restored sight to the blind! Facts had gotten in the way of belief and so facts had to be discredited. Question upon question is hurled at the formerly blind man and his new sight is now accompanied by insight. He boldly asks “will ye also be his disciples?” Aldus Huxley (1894 – 1963) once said: “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”

           Today’s devotional is being read by Baptists, Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, a Methodist and a Missouri Synod Lutheran. These live in a world that is crumbling all around them. Global politics driven by pride and greed give birth to violence and confusion. Truth is precious because it is rare. Malcolm Muggeridge once said: “A collapsing world is more conducive to understanding the nature of truth than a triumphant world.” So we now live in a world that is ready for truth.

Plato, three hundred years before Christ, predicted that if ever the truly good man were to appear, the man who would tell the truth, he would have his eyes gouged out and in the end be crucified. That risk was once taken, in its fullest measure. The Man appeared. He told the world the truth-about itself-and even made the preposterous claim: "I am the Truth." As Plato foresaw, the Man was crucified. Elizabeth Elliot

Dear Lord, let truth prevail today. Give us both sight and insight. AMEN