Today marks the centenary of Leon Lamb Morris' birthday. I have been posting regularly this week on Morris and his legacy. I continue in this vein today with another great quote from Morris in his commentary, The Gospel According to John (NICNT). Originally published in 1971, Morris lightly revised the commentary in 1995.
One of the best known passages from the Fourth Gospel comes during the Farewell Discourse as Jesus encourages, comforts, and instructs his disciples. Jesus makes the bold declaration in John 14:6a that "I am the way and the truth and the life." Morris comments on this declaration in part:
'Way,' 'truth,' and 'life' all have relevance, the triple expression emphasizing the many-sidedness of the saving work. 'Way' speaks of a connection between two persons or things, and here a link between God and sinners. 'Truth' reminds us of the complete reliability of Jesus in all that he does and is. And 'life' stresses the fact that mere physical existence matters little. The only life worth the name is that which Jesus brings, for he is life itself. ...We should not overlook the faith involved both in the utterance and in the acceptance of those words, spoken as they were on the eve of the crucifixion. 'I am the Way,' said one who would shortly hang impotent on the cross. 'I am the Truth,' when the lies of evil people were about to enjoy a spectacular triumph. 'I am the Life,' when within a matter of hours his corpse would be placed in a tomb.(Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John, Rev. [NICNT; Grand Rapids: MI; Eerdmans; 1995; italics mine]), 569-570.
Happy Birthday, Leon!
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