"I (Jesus) have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world." (John 17:14, NRSV)
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17, NRSV)
"“I (Jesus) ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word," (John 17:20, NRSV)
Truth can be a slippery thing in today’s world. People don’t like it when we assert something is absolute or certain or as truth. Ironically, have you ever listen to how many people use the word, “absolutely.” Even people that are relativism use the word, “absolutely” in their conversations. I challenge you to listen for that word. It is astonishing how much you will hear it in everyday conversations.
I think most people use that word because they feel they need to overemphasize their position, or they really don’t have a good defense. There seems to be an insecurity with people in regards to the commonness of the usage of “absolutely.” I have tried to limit my use of the word. Not that I don’t believe in absolutes or truth, but when I use the word, I want people to take notice and realize that I really believe what I am saying and I don’t take casually the absoluteness of the Truth.
In Jesus’ pray for this disciples and the church just before his arrest, he talks again about the given of the word. Jesus has given us the good word—the word that is Truth. The word is not casual or common, the word is from God and this word is like no other word—it is life-changing. In the beginning of his gospel, John points out that Jesus is the Word, and the Word is God. Here, John continues along this theme but also develops they idea, the Jesus has given us himself and his message—his word, so we may proclaim Him, the Word to the world.
Jesus declares the Word as Truth—previously John identifies Jesus as the Word, and Jesus identifies himself as the Truth. Beyond just the obvious declaration that the absolute Truth is personified, Jesus states that it is the message that he is given the Apostles to proclaim is the Truth.
The scriptures (the Bible) that we have today are the Truth, not because we declare them, but because they are the testimony and word that Jesus handed down to the Apostles. The scriptures get their authority not from the church, but from Jesus—the Truth, who hands the responsibility and word (message) to his Apostles.
Simply put Jesus is the Truth. Jesus is the Word. Jesus passes the Word which is truth to his Apostles. His Apostles proclaim the Word is Truth to the World. Eventually they write down the Word (the message) which was given to them by Jesus in the Scriptures. Therefore the Scripture that we have being inspired by the Holy Spirit—is the Word and the Truth. I that I declare to you is Absolute.
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