From Misery to Mission

04/1/22 – 04/20/22

Grasping the Whole Truth

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/19/22

Read Luke 24:25-29. Down through history, the most dangerous leaders have been the ones with only partial information. In the pulpit, the most reckless preachers are the ones who preach half-truths. Partial information leads to wrong conclusions. In order to walk in the Truth, we need all of the Truth.

When Jesus began walking with the downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus and heard the sorrow in their voices, He did not hesitate to correct their understanding of the Messiah’s mission. They weren’t wrong to place their hope in Jesus as Savior, but they were missing important information from the Scriptures. Jesus asked them, “Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (v. 26). And so, while they still did not recognize Him, Jesus filled in the gaps using the Old Testament. He did it to restore their joy.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (v. 27). If these two disciples had embraced the whole Truth, they would have known that the tomb could not hold Jesus, that He would conquer death by rising again. They would have realized that the very events that brought them despair were part of God’s plan.

Our joy is robbed whenever we believe anything less than the whole Truth. When false teachers say the Bible is a smorgasbord—that you’re supposed to pick up what you like and reject what you don’t—you are being led astray, and despair will soon follow. If they try to tell you Christ is so loving that He’s not going to judge anybody, you’re being lied to. If they can get you to believe God does not care about your moral behavior, you will soon be walking far from the Lord—and you will be robbed of the peace He wants you to experience.

Today, you can have an encounter with the resurrected Jesus. He will give you the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. Not half-truths. Not partial information. Jesus once 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). That was true for the people listening in Jesus’ day, and it’s still true for us today.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word that gives me the whole Truth, the glorious Good News of salvation. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. I am a new creation by the power of Your cleansing blood. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!'” (Luke 24:25).