"What is Truth?"(John 18:28-40)

 John 18:28-40

 

In our age relativism and false news, it can be hard to know what truth is. We all have a desire to know what is true, but it can be elusive and hard to discern.

 

In this passage, Jesus is brought to the courthouse, but the Jewish leaders do not enter with him. We understand that the Jews would not enter a gentile place because they would be defiled. If they were defiled, they would not be able to perform the Passover rituals that year. This is one of the reasons the Jewish leaders and the disciples would not enter the Roman courthouse.

 

When asked what Jesus’ charge was, the Jewish leaders responded to Pilate with this answer.

 

They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”

John 18:30 ESV

 

Pilate tells the Jewish leaders to deal with Jesus themselves, but the leaders lie and say they do not have the authority to execute anyone. The Jews could stone their people to death, but they wanted Jesus cursed. A sure way to do this was to have a man hanged. The Jesus leaders knew that Jesus could be executed by crucifixion if he were an insurgent against the Romans.

 

Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

John 18:31 ESV

 

Pilate is a little skeptical probably because Jesus does not look like the leader of an insurgency or a member of royalty. The Romans had established another family to be king over Palestine.

 

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

John 18:33 ESV

 

Jesus responds to Pilate's incredulous question by asking Pilate what his source is.

 

Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”

John 18:34 ESV

 

Pilate admits that he has been given Jesus' by His nation and the chief priests.

 

Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

John 18:35-36 ESV

 

Finally, in frustration or in mocking Pilate ask Jesus what truth is and then goes to ask the Jews if they want Jesus to be released. Pilate's question deserves an answer. The bible defines truth as the word of God.

 

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17 ESV

 

It is important to know the truth since it is vital to our life and freedom. However, instead of asking what truth is, it would be better to ask who truth is.

  

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 ESV

 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 ESV

 

We need to listen to Jesus to know the truth. We need to listen and conform to what we hear. It is not enough to just listen passively.

 

Let us strive for the truth that can only be found in Jesus and allow it to transform our lives.

I Love You Lord

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Mighty To Save

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