No Matter Your Title Or Clothes

Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” 

And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 

They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. 

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:25-32 

I was in a discussion with a group of people that included a Jesuit priest.  The priest made a statement about being a Christian.  He said, “There’s no need to tell everyone how Christian you are.  Just act like one: love, forgive, be merciful, help the poor.  They’ll get it.”  Someone replied, “I agree with you father.  But it’s kind of funny that you said that with your collar and credentials.”  Having gone to Catholic school but not being a Catholic, I knew where the gentleman was going with his response.  “It’s easy to say that as a priest.  As for the rest of us, we will just go on with our lives, thank you very much.”  I just could not let that go.  So I chimed in saying, “Truth is truth no matter your title or clothes.”  When the multitudes chimed in agreement, I knew I hit the right cord, and the discussion had ended because even the gentleman opposing could not argue the point further. 

Following Christ's truth is an act.  Not a statement.  In today’s verses, Jesus tells a crowd who He is, and there is clearly a decent among the group if Jesus is or is not the Messiah.  Like in the aforementioned discussion with the priest, Jesus spoke truth of being the Messiah, and many believed.  However, many does not constitute as ‘most’ or ‘all,’ and thus, there were those who had other thoughts.  “It’s easy to say that, Jesus, but anyone can say they are the Messiah,” had to be the thoughts of the dissenting portion of the crowd.  Notice Jesus did not focus on the ones who had already dismissed Him.  He focused on the ones that understood the truth.  He thus solidified the relationship with them saying to abide in His word to become disciples and know He has liberated those who believe in Him from sin.  When you hear Jesus’ truth, one cannot respond just in word.  It is selfless acts of commitment to Him, and this is the truth that both Jesus and the Jesuit are making.  As a line from one of my favorite movies said, “These are the facts of the case, and they are indisputable.” 

Embracing Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior is an act of love, and it is that love that defines who we are as Disciples of Christ.  Whether we forgive, show mercy, or help others, it is for love that all these things connect.  In the closing of Ephesians, Paul, talking about wearing the armor of God, said, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.” (Ephesians 6:14a)  Let us stand boldly in the truth that Jesus is indeed our savior, who frees us from sin and died so we may have eternal life.  How can Jesus Christ’s truth inspire you today?  What falsehood must you replace with God’s truth?  My prayer is that we acknowledge truth is truth no matter our title or clothes.  Amen.