“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘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 8:31-32, NIV)
About 37 years ago, while I was attending seminary, I was preparing to plant a church in San Francisco. Driven by a burning passion to preach the Gospel wherever Korean people could be found, I headed to City College after hearing that there were quite a few Korean students there. Before entering the main building, I looked up and saw these words engraved: “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” I remember thinking that for the students passing by, those words might simply mean that if they studied hard, they would eventually enjoy more rights and opportunities in life. I am aware that these same words are also engraved at Yonsei University, which was founded by a Christian organization.
What did Jesus, the original author of these words, truly mean? This promise comes with a prerequisite: “If you hold to my teaching” (or “If you abide in my word”). When this condition is met, the result is that we truly become His disciples and come to know the truth. The final conclusion is that this very truth sets us free. We must then ask, what does it mean to “abide” in Jesus’ word? In verse 37, Jesus says to the Jews who were seeking to kill Him, “...you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word” (John 8:37, NIV). Ultimately, for us to abide in His word means for His word to have a place within us. Taking it a step further, having His word in us is equivalent to Jesus Himself dwelling within us. True freedom flows from Jesus—the Truth—who resides in our hearts.
Perhaps the most common misunderstanding of “truth” is viewing it only through the lens of ‘true’ versus ‘false.’ From the moment Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6, NIV), truth ceased to be a mere matter of factual correctness and became Jesus Himself. In other words, even if something is a factually verified “truth,” it cannot be the ultimate Truth if it does not contain the heart and character of Jesus. However, if Jesus is alive in my heart and His character rules over me, I am in the Truth and I am truly free.
About a year passed during which I met Korean students at City College, played tennis with them, shared meals, and studied the Bible in empty classrooms. One day, after a Bible study with about fifteen students, I invited them to confess their faith in Jesus as the Truth and accept Him as their Savior. Five of them made that commitment. On my way home that day, as I was passing through Golden Gate Park, tears began to pour down my face. I wept uncontrollably all the way cross the Golden Gate Bridge until I arrived at Golden Gate Seminary. Yet, my heart felt an indescribable sense of relief and clarity—as if a heavy burden had been lifted. It was a moment where I tasted a small piece of what it truly means for the Truth to set you free.
