Horses, Carts and Truth

Clichés are so cliché but that doesn't mean they are not true. For instance, we really shouldn't "get the cart before the horse."  Horses are top shelf when it comes to pulling but are seriously useless when it comes to pushing. A horse would make a great pick to pull your car into town but I wouldn't try to get him to push start it. 

This particular cliché is violated quite a bit in applying Scripture. For instance, "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32), is quoted often and it is applied as an educational model for coming to spiritual truth. In other words, if we study enough and learn enough, then we will know the truth and be free spiritually. 

But there is where the cart gets before the horse. Verse 32 comes after verse 31.  No, duh!  I know, it sounds axiomatic but it is so often overlooked. People generally quote and apply verse 32 without giving verse 31 any consideration. But let's read them together and in order: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free .” 

Do you see the difference?  Coming to know truth cannot be accomplished in an educational model, it has to be an experiential model. You learn about truth by study but you learn truth - come to know it as truth - by living it. Thus is the difference in being educated and in being wise - one comes primarily from books and the other primarily from life. 

To really know truth, which is to say, know Jesus who is "the Truth" (Johnn 14:6), you must experience him by following in his steps. This is the core principle of discipleship, which is the response to his call "come, follow me" (Matt 4:19). 

Jus' Sayn.