We believe that the voice of Truth comes from Jesus of Nazareth.   Many books have been written on why one should or should not believe in Jesus. This paper attempts to answer these very questions, yet not by our own interpretation of the Word, but by listening to what Jesus himself said about this very subject.  Yes, it is true that Jesus knew of these questions in man’s heart, and he did not leave them unanswered. 

The multitudes of those who try to disprove Jesus’ Words surely have their own worldly agenda and reason for doing so.  Yet, we invite you to go directly to the source itself, to Jesus. Hear what he has to say, not what others have to say about him, and make the choice for yourself whether to believe he is of the Truth or not.  For one who is earnestly and honestly seeking the Truth, it should and must be an individual choice, not someone else making that choice for you. You can spend your lifetime listening to what others have determined is or is not the Truth, or you can find it out yourself.

If we listen (read) the Words of Jesus alone, apart from what anyone else tells you (this includes bible commentaries, Paul, online sites, or even us at the VOJ), then he (Jesus) promises that we will know the Truth, and that this Truth will set us free. He also tells us that if we do not believe in him, then at least believe the works/words he is telling us and in so doing, we will find out if he is telling us the Truth or not.

His message from the Father has been preserved in the world, and will continue to be preserved until the end of this world. It will come down to one’s faith in order to accept this, for material proof cannot be given. We do, however, offer spiritual proof.  We offer His Word. Jesus tells us that we can know!

If one will only try it out, 

do the will of the Father, 

obey the Words that Jesus gives us from the Father,

than by doing so that one will know if Jesus' teaching is from God or not:

(Jesus’ Words are highlighted in red)

Give It A Try!

John 7

14 Now the festival being already in the middle Jesus went up to the temple and was teaching.

15 So the Jews were marveling saying: How does this [one] know letters, not having been taught?

16 So Jesus answered them and said: My teaching is not mine but of the [one] having sent me.

17 If anyone wills to be doing his will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is from God or [if] I speak from myself.

18 The [one] speaking from himself seeks his own glory. But the [one] seeking the glory of the [one] having sent him, this [one] is true and injustice is not in him.

Jesus Has Witnesses

John 5

31 If I witness concerning myself, my witness is not true.

32 Another is witness concerning me, and I know that the witness is true that he witnessed concerning me.

33 You sent to John, and he has witnessed to the truth;

34 but I do not receive witness by man, but I say these [things] that you be saved.

35 That [one] was the burning and shining lamp and you wanted to rejoice for [hour] in his light.

36 But I have [a] witness greater than John; for the works that the father has given me in order that I complete them, these works themselves which I do witness concerning me that the father has sent me.

37 And the father having sent me, that [one] has witnessed concerning me. Neither his voice have you ever heard nor his visible-form have you ever seen,

38 and his word you do not have abiding in you, because he whom that [one] has sent, in this [one] do you not believe.

39 You search the scriptures, because you suppose in them to be having eternal zoe-life, and these are those witnessing concerning me.

40 And you do not want to come to me in order that you have zoe-life.

41 I do not receive glory from men,

42 but I have known you that you do not have the agape-love of God in yourselves.

43 I am come in the name of my father, and you do not receive me; if another come in his own name, that [one] you will receive.

44 How are you able to believe, receiving glory from each other, and the glory of the only God you do not seek?

45 Be not supposing that I will accuse you to the father, the [one] accusing you is Moses, in whom you have hoped.

46 For if you were believing Moses, you would have believed me; for concerning me did that [one] write.

47 But if you do not believe the writings of that [one], how will you believe in my words?

The Father’s Witness / Jesus the Light of the World

John 8

12 So, again Jesus spoke to them saying: I am the light of the world. The [one] following me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of zoe-life.

13 So the Pharisees said to him: You witness concerning yourself, your witness is not true.

14 Jesus answered and said to them: And if I witness concerning myself, my witness is true, because I know from where I came and [to] where I depart. But you do not know from where I come or [to] where I depart.

15 You judge according to the flesh, but I judge no one.

16 But if I judge, my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but [it is] I and the father having sent me.

17 And in your law it is written that the witness of two men is true.

18 I am the [one] witnessing concerning myself, and the father having sent me witnesses concerning me.

19 So they were saying to him, Where is your father? Jesus answered: You know neither me nor my father. If you had known me, you would have also known my father.

20 These words he spoke in the treasury teaching in the temple. And no one arrested him, because his hour was not yet come.

Where Jesus Came From and Where He is Going

John 8

21 So he said to them again: I depart and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins; where I depart you are not able to come.

22 So the Jews were saying: Will he not kill himself, because he says: Where I depart you also are not able to come?

23 And he was saying to them: You are of the below, I am of the above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.

24 So I said to you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am [he], you will die in your sins.

25 So they were saying to him, Who are you? Jesus said to them: What I told you from the beginning.

26 I have many [things] concerning you to be saying and to be judging. But the [one] having sent me is true, and I, what I heard from him, these [things] I speak to the world.

27 They did not know that he was speaking [about] the father.

28 So Jesus said: When you have lifted up the son of man, then you will know that I am [he], and [that] from myself I do nothing, but just as the father taught me, these [things] I speak.

29 And the [one] having sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do the [things] pleasing to him.

Abraham's Children and the Devil's Children

John 8

31 So Jesus was saying to the Jews having believed in him: If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.

32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

33 They answered him: We are Abraham's seed, and to no one have we ever been enslaved. How do you tell us that: You will become free?

34 Jesus answered them: Truly truly I say to you that everyone doing sin is [a] slave of sin.

35 Now the slave does not dwell in the house[hold] to eternity, the son abides to eternity.

36 So if the son set you free, you will be free indeed.

37 I know that you are Abraham's seed, but you seek to kill me, because my word does not have room in you.

38 What I have seen beside the father I speak, and therefore what you heard from your father you do.

39 They answered and said to him: Our father is Abraham. Jesus says to them: If you are children of Abraham, you would have done the works of Abraham.

40 But now you seek to kill me [a] man who has spoken to you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.

41 You do the works [of your] father. They said to him: We were not born out of fornication, We have one father—God.

42 Jesus said to them: If God were your father, you would have agape-loved me, for I have gone out from God and have come. For neither am I come from myself, but that [one] sent me.

43 Why do you not know my speech? Because you are not able to be hearing my word.

44 You are from your father the devil and you want to be doing the desires [of your] father. That [one] was murderer from the beginning, and he has not stood in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the "lie", he speaks from his own [self], because he is [a] liar and the father [of them].

45 But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me.

46 Who among you convicts me of sin? If I say [the] truth, why do you not believe me?

47 The [one] being from God hears the words of God; because of this you do not hear [me], because you are not from God.

48 The Jews answered and said to him: Did we not well say that you are [a] Samaritan and you have [a] demon?

49 Jesus answered: I do not have [a] demon, but [rather] I honor my father, and you dishonor me.

50 I do not seek my glory; there is the [one] seeking and judging.

51 Truly truly I say to you, if anyone keep my word, he will not see death to eternity.

The Sheep Hear His Voice, Not A Stranger’s Voice

John 10

1 Truly truly I say to you, the [one] not coming in through the gate into the sheep-pen but coming up from elsewhere, that [one] is [a] thief and [a] robber.

2 But the [one] coming in through the gate is [the] shepherd of the sheep.

3 The gatekeeper opens [the gate] to this [one], and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

5 They will not follow [the voice belonging] to [a] stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.

6 Jesus told them this parable; but these [ones] did not know what it was that he was speaking to them.

7 So Jesus said again, Truly truly I say to you that I am the gate of the sheep.

8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep have not heard them.

9 I am the gate. If anyone enter through me, he will be saved, and he will come in and will go out and will find pasture.

10 The thief does not come except in order that he steal and slaughter and destroy; I came in order that they have zoe-life and have [it] exceedingly.

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd appoints his psyche-life in behalf of the sheep.

12 But the hired-hand also not being shepherd, of whom the sheep are not his own, he sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees—and the wolf seizes them and scatters [them]—

13 [he flees] because he is [a] hired-hand and the sheep are not [a] concern to him.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,

15 just as the father knows me, and I know the father, and I lay down my psyche-life in behalf of the sheep.

16 And I have other sheep that are not of this sheep-pen, and I must lead [these], and they will hear my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

17 Because of this the father agape-loves me, because I lay down my psyche-life, in order that I again receive it.

18 No one takes it from me, but I dedicate it myself. I have authority to dedicate it, and I have authority to again receive it; this commandment I received from my father.

19 [A] division again came to pass among the Jews because of these words.

20 And many among them were saying, He has [a] demon and is insane; why do you hear him?

21 Others were saying, These words are not [those] of [one] demon-possessed. Is [a] demon able to open [the] eyes of [the] blind?

The Works of Jesus Do Witness

John 10

22 The Festival of Dedication then came to pass in Jerusalem. It was winter,

23 and Jesus was walking in the temple in the porch of Solomon.

24 So the Jews encircled him and were saying to him, How long do you hold our psyche-lives [in suspense]? If you are the Christ, tell us openly.

25 Jesus answered them, I told you and you did not believe. The works that I do in the name of my father, these witness concerning me,

26 but you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,

28 and I give them zoe-life eternal, and they will not perish to eternity, and no one will seize them from my hand.

29 My father who has given [them] to me is greater than all, and no one is able to be seizing [them] from the hand of my father.

30 I and my father are one [thing].

31 The Jews again took up stones in order that they stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works I showed you from my father; for what sort of work among them do you stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, Concerning [a] good work we do not stone you but concerning [God] slander, and because you being [a] man make yourself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law that “I said, You are gods?”

35 If he called them "gods", to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be loosed,

36 Do you say of him, whom the father made holy and sent into the world, that: You are slandering [God], because I said: I am [the] son of God?

37 If I am not doing the works of my father, be not believing in me.

38 But if I do [them], and if you are not believing in me, [then] be believing in the works, in order that you know and be knowing that the father [is] in me and I in the father.

Jesus' Parting Words to His Disciples

John 14

1 Let not your heart be being troubled. Be believing in God and be believing in me.

2 In my father's house[hold] are many dwelling-places. If [it were] not [so], I would have told you,

3 because I go to prepare [a] place for you. And if I go and prepare [a] place for you, again do I come and will take you to myself, in order that where I am you may be also.

4 And where I go you know the way.

5 Thomas says to him: Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the way?

6 Jesus says to him: I am the way, the truth and the zoe-life; no one comes to the father except through me.

7 If you have known me, you will also know my father. And from now [on] you know him and have seen him.

8 Phillip says to him: Lord, show us the father, and it suffices us.

9 Jesus says to him: So much time I am with you and you have not known me, Phillip? The [one] having seen me has seen the father. How do you say: Show us the father?

10 Do you not believe that I [am] in the father and the father is in me? The words that I say to you [all] I did not speak from myself, but the father dwelling in me does his works.

11 Be believing me that I [am] in the father and the father [is] in me. But if not, be believing on account of the works themselves.

12 Truly truly I say to you, the [one] believing in me, the works that I do, that [one] also will do, and greater than these will do, because I go to the father.

13 And whatever you ask in my name, this will I do, in order that the father be glorified in the son.

14 If you ask anything [of] me in my name, I will do [it].

Teaching on the Holy Spirit

John 14

15 If you agape-love me, you will keep my commandments.

16 And I will ask the father and he will give you another advocate, in order that he be with you to eternity—

17 the spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not behold him nor know [him]. You know him, because he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 I will not leave you orphans, I come to you.

19 Yet [a] little [while] and the world no longer beholds me, but you behold me, because I zoe-live and you will zoe-live.

20 In that day you will know that I [am] in my father and you in me and I in you.

21 The [one] having my commandments and keeping them, that is the [one] agape-loving me; and the [one] agape-loving me will be agape-loved by my father, and I will agape-love him and reveal myself to him.

22 Judas says to him: not the Iscariot, Lord, and what has happened that you are [about] to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?

23 Jesus answered and said to him: If anyone agape-loves me, he will keep my word, and my father will agape-love him, and we will come to him, and we will make our dwelling-place with him.

24 The [one] not agape-loving me does not keep to my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but of the father having sent me.

25 These [things] have I spoken while dwelling with you.

26 But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, which the father will send in my name, that [one] will teach you everything and will remind you of everything which I spoke to you.

27 Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, not just as the world gives do I give to you. Let your heart not be being troubled, neither let it be being cowardly.

28 You heard what I said to you:I go, and come [back] to you.If you were agape-loving me, you would have rejoiced that I go to the father, because the father is greater than I.

29 And now have I told you before it comes to pass, in order that when it comes to pass, you believe.

30 No longer will I speak many [things] with you, for the ruler of the world comes and he has nothing in me,

31 but in order that the world know that I agape-love the father, and just as the father commanded me, thus I do. Be arising, let us be going from here.

Jesus Is Truth

John 18

33 Pilate therefore went in again into the Praetorium and called Jesus and said to him: Are you the king of the Jews?

34 Jesus answered: Do you say this from yourself or did others tell you concerning me?

35 Pilate answered: Am I [a] Jew? Your nation and chief-priests have delivered you up to me. What did you do?

36 Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my officers would have fought in order that I not be delivered up to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here.

37 Pilate therefore said to him: So are you [a] king? Jesus answered: You say that I am king. I am born for this and am come into the world for this, in order that I witness to the truth. All those being from the truth hear my voice.

38 Pilate says to him: What is truth? And having said this he again went out to the Jews, and says to them: I find nothing blameworthy in him.

39 But it [is] custom for you that I release to you one [man] on the Passover. Do you wish therefore that I release to you the king of the Jews?

40 They therefore cried out again saying: Not this one, but Barrabas. Now Barrabas was [a] revolutionary.

So, in summary, did Jesus answer the questions proposed at the beginning of this paper? 

We suggest that he did. 

Yet, you must decide.

There are so many voices out there in the world today.  Which is the right voice to follow?

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Jesus says, “The sheep follow him, because they know his voice.”

Jesus says, “All those being from the truth hear my voice.”

Jesus says, “The spirit of truth…You know him, because he dwells with you and will be in you.”

How do we know not to follow strange voices that are not of the Truth?

Jesus says, “They will not follow [the voice belonging] to [a] stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Jesus says, “All who came before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep have not heard them.”

Who do we believe? 

Jesus says, “Let not your heart be being troubled. Be believing in God and be believing in me.”

Jesus says, “Be believing me that I [am] in the father and the father [is] in me. But if not, be believing on account of the works themselves.”

Jesus says, “Be believing in the works, in order that you know and be knowing that the father [is] in me and I in the father.”

Do they have a witness?

Jesus says, “But I have [a] witness greater than John; for the works that the father has given me in order that I complete them, these works themselves which I do witness concerning me that the father has sent me.  And the father having sent me, that [one] has witnessed concerning me.”

Jesus says, “The works that I do in the name of my father, these witness concerning me.” 

Jesus says, “You search the scriptures, because you suppose in them to be having eternal zoe-life, and these are those witnessing concerning me.”

Jesus says, “For if you were believing Moses, you would have believed me; for concerning me did that [one] write.”

Jesus says, “If I witness concerning myself, my witness is true, because I know from where I came and [to] where I depart.”

Who is the Way, the Truth, the Light, and the Life?

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the zoe-life; no one comes to the father except through me.”

Jesus says, “I give them zoe-life eternal, and they will not perish to eternity, and no one will seize them from my hand.”

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. The [one] following me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of zoe-life.”

Jesus says, “But now you seek to kill me [a] man who has spoken to you the truth, which I heard from God.”

Jesus says, “I came in order that they have zoe-life.”

Why do so many not hear the Truth or believe?

Jesus says, “Why do you not know my speech? Because you are not able to be hearing my word. You are from your father the devil and you want to be doing the desires [of your] father. That [one] was murderer from the beginning, and he has not stood in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the "lie", he speaks from his own [self], because he is [a] liar and the father [of them]. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you convicts me of sin? If I say [the] truth, why do you not believe me? The [one] being from God hears the words of God; because of this you do not hear [me], because you are not from God.”

Jesus says, “How are you able to believe, receiving glory from each other, and the glory of the only God you do not seek?”

Jesus says, “You do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.” 

Jesus says, “You are of the below, I am of the above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.”

Jesus says, “The spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not behold him nor know [him].”

Jesus says, “The [one] not agape-loving me does not keep to my words.”

And finally, how can we really know that we have found the Truth?

Jesus says, “If anyone wills to be doing his will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is from God or [if] I speak from myself.”

Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus says, “The [one] having my commandments and keeping them, that is the [one] agape-loving me; and the [one] agape-loving me will be agape-loved by my father, and I will agape-love him and reveal myself to him.” 

Jesus says, “If anyone agape-loves me, he will keep my word, and my father will agape-love him, and we will come to him, and we will make our dwelling-place with him.”

So can we really know the Truth?  Jesus says we can!

If you have come to the Words of Jesus in search of the Truth, we have faith in you because you are looking.  Very few ever truly look for the Truth.  It is when we stand apart from the world and start searching for answers of "why" that the Father hears you and brings you to his Son to learn the Truth.  You have stepped aside, you have asked, you are seeking, you have knocked on the door.  The Father has heard you and has brought you to His Son.  Now it is up to you whether to listen to his Son, and to believe his Son, or not.  We do not judge you for whatever decision you make.  We are only here to witness to you that we do believe Jesus was sent here to us from the Father, our creator, to inform us of the "why" as well as what we are to do to receive eternal life.