What is Truth?

If you have a copy of God’s Word please open them up to John 18…

I Have titled the message this morning… “What is truth?”

In a sermon titled Promises from heaven I have mentioned in the sermon that John alludes to this idea that Jesus is the truth. And in that sermon I quoted a fellow pastor who said, “Jesus so mediates God’s truth and God’s life that he is the very way to God.”

Now we know at this point in the gospel of John that Jesus has been accused multiple times now of not telling the truth. Though not one lie has ever came out of his mouth. And so we have seen after Jesus arrest this accusation that he claiming to be God, though in the Jews mind there is no way this is the case. They did not even allow the possibility that Jesus was the messiah.

Even last week after we went over part of this illegal trial we saw that despite their efforts to provide a guilty claim they failed miserably, It really frustrated them, and so in there minds as a last gasp effort they say let’s take him to Pilate. Let’s see if he will let us do what we want to do with Jesus. And they try to frame it in such a way that Pilate will want to go along with their plan.

So what I want you to see before we dive into this message is this as your main idea…

Despite false claims, Jesus is the truth and all who believe in him will have eternal life.

Listen to God’s word starting in verse 28.

John 18:28–32 ESV

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 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.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

First point I want you to take note of this morning is…

The Jews cannot bring a true charge against Jesus.

Here is the closing moments of Jesus life the Jews have been trying to build this case against Jesus, and they are doing it very quickly, after they leave the house of Caiaphas they bring Jesus to Pilate. Notice in the text they do this in a certain way.

John says it’s early in the morning. Its probably right before 6am as we would know it, and some may think that is very early but many Roman officials days would be over by 10 or 11 am.

So as they bring Jesus to Pilate with these false accusations, they stay outside the headquarters so they wont be defiled. There is some irony here from John, because the reality is this… They were seeking to be pure for the passover, even as they reject its fulfillment.

The passover was not only a reminder to them each and every year about what God did for Israel by bringing them out of Egypt, but that one would come and do that again, but in a way that frees them from sin inwardly.

In the same way When we take of the cup, and bread when we celebrate the Lords supper we remember what happened on the cross, but we also do that looking forward to him coming again, and just like he came to rescue he will come again to bring all his home!

But going back to the text they are trying to be careful to not themselves become defiled so they stand in just the right place and pilate comes to them, and they do that because the Mishnah of the law said that if a Jew entered into a Gentile dwelling place they would become unclean. See they don’t want to miss out of the passover feast for coming close to a gentile, but they dont mind breaking the law in Jesus own Trial. Sin makes you Stupid.

Pilate is introduced for the first time in this gospel. And Pilate was a major figure during Jesus ministry because of the role that he had. Historians have him governing this area from AD 26-37. Historically he gets a bad wrap and rightfully so. Most people say that he was morally weak, stubborn and a brutal person who hated the Jewish people. ( In fact many people didn’t like governing that area, because it was the least desirable because the Jews didn’t like having someone over them) Pilate tried to bring Rome into Jerusalem and it angered the people. One time they staged a sit-down for 5 days, even after Pilate threaten to behead them all. But never went through with it. Pilate even went into the Holy place, and the Emperor of Rome even said that was to far. To let them have their Holy Place and let them be.

In scripture we see one example of Pilate’s violence.

In Luke 13:1 it says this..

Luke 13:1 ESV

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Never the Less this man the Jews hated knew that Pilate had to be the one who finished Christ.

So Pilate asks what accusation do you bring against this man? He wants to know what is so wrong that indeed this man needs my judgement and not yours. And so they answer him, but not so clearly, saying If this man where not doing evil we would not have delivered him over to you.

Imagine for just a moment that the Jews tell him the truth. That Jesus has done all these miracles, healed all these sick people, and taught like no man we have ever heard, but we don’t like what he says, because if everything he says is the truth then life as we know is over for us, but we think he is a lair, so we need him dead according to our law. But they really didn’t want to say that to Pilate.

Pilate had given them soldiers to arrest Jesus. So he knew about the plan, but im not so sure if he knew Jesus was going to be brought back to him, because he said take him and judge him for yourself, Remember he hates the Jews he doesn’t want to do their own dirty work.

and this is where we clearly see the Jews motive,They say.. we can’t really execute this kind of judgement without you Pilate.

Now if for some reason the Jews were to execute judgement the death of Christ would have looked different than we know it today. The main charge against Jesus would have resulted in him being stoned.

Listen to Leviticus. Lev 24:10-16

Leviticus 24:10–16 ESV

10 Now an Israelite woman’s son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, 11 and the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them. 13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

So if the Jews executed judgement than Jesus would have been stoned, and not crucified.

But we see John alude back to John 12:32-33 in this text as well that points to the idea that Jesus will be crucified.

John 12:32–33 ESV

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

The Roman punishment for Jesus would not be some sort of stoning, but death on a cross.

And all this happened because God is in control and The Jews cannot bring a true charge against Jesus.

Second thing I want you to take note of is this…

Jesus only makes truth claims.

Listen to the words of scripture starting in verse 33.

John 18:33–37 ESV

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 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.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

I think we can draw a little bit of a conclusion of what the Jews may have told Pilate, and that is this man is claiming to be a king? And truly he is the king of the Jews. ( I Will dig into that more in the upcoming weeks ) But As I have mentioned during our study of John, Jesus is prophet, priest, and king!

But rather than Jesus strait up telling Pilate Hey! I am king of the Jews. He asks him Do you say this on your own accord? Or did others say it you about me? He is now the interrogator… Pilate is being put on trial, because what he does with Jesus in this situation impacts the history of the world. The Rumors about Jesus were not enough to convict Jesus he knew that, so instead of answering Jesus he says am I a Jew? You are the one on trial here, your own people brought you to me.

So Pilate is like what have you really done? Why are you so evil that your own people want to get rid of you? I like what D.A. Carson says.. It is just possible that under Pilate’s question ‘Am I a Jew?’ the Evangelist finds lurking deeper ironies. Pilate despises and distrusts the Jews, yet in the course of the narrative he is eventually forced to adopt their position. Insofar as the Jews here represent the ‘world’, Pilate joins them. And in any case, the reader knows that in a profound sense Pilate’s question really means (though certainly not intended this way by Pilate), ‘Are you my king?

Because if Jesus is Pilates king he could not bring any charge against him. So rather than Jesus saying I am the King of the Jews and your King. He says my kingdom is not of this world, and in doing so he is really telling Pilate look if I were the king dont you think I would have this army breaking down the very walls in which you lay your head at night and coming to get me? You are not about to see thousands of people come rescue me because the all my disciples have left me…

Pilate was most likely told that Jesus had a huge following that threatened Rome but he says my kingdom is not here. Which is powerful if you think about it, because the Jews best case scenario would be that Pilate would just let the Jews kill Jesus, because Pilate thought he was a danger to the Roman Kingdom.

Jesus kingdom was not like that of Rome its a heavenly kingdom that gets in origins from eternity past.. One man said, “The kingships of this world preserve themselves by force and violence; if Jesus’ kingship finds its origin elsewhere, it will not be defended by the world’s means. And if it resorts to no force and no fighting, it is hard to see how Rome’s interests are in jeopardy.”

Jesus posed no threat at the moment to Rome’s kingdom, he wasn’t about to bring the sword to them at least not in the way Pilate might have been presented to by the Jews.

The reality was this man born in Bethlehem. The Eternal son of God, Second person of the Trinity, stepped into his creation not to make a kingdom full of chariots, warriors, and statues of himself, but to bear witness to the truth. His kingship is built on truth. Jesus came to reveal God to his people. He is saying to Pilate the truth I am bringing, will be heard by those who are mine. Whether you believe it or not, my kingdom will reign longer than Rome’s and that is the truth.

Jesus only makes truth claims. Third point this morning is this…

Pilate does not find any guilt in Jesus.

Listen to verse 38. John 18:38

John 18:38 ESV

38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

Pilate says something really important, but the text appears to indicate that Pilate moves on very quickly. But Pilate says what is truth? Jesus is the truth we know based on our study of the gospel of John that this is the case. One of the great I am’s in the gospel of John was Jesus saying I am the way, the truth, and the life. Truth though has sadly became really subjective even though that is not real possibility. there is truth and there is falsehood. Contrary to what many say my truth does not exist. It’s something that has done more damage than anything, for Pilate to say such a question and not even get a response is shocking to me, but we know that Jesus is truth.

One man’s commentary had a question that fits Pilates response, and the world’s really. When Pilate says, “What is truth?—and just as abruptly turns away, either because he is convinced there is no answer, or, more likely, because he does not want to hear it. He thus proves he is not amongst those whom the Father has given to the Son”

I want you to think about that… What is truth? Jesus said he is the truth, but Imagine Pilate for a moment in his context? Rome had hundreds of Gods, and all these philosophical ideas, and to live in that society landing on something to be an absolute truth would seem to be next to impossible. I would have loved Jesus to just tell Pilate I am the truth.. Like he said in John 14. But I think Pilate based on what has happened during his reign as Governor has gotten him to the point where he doesn’t want to hear it. Though this decision would have more impact than any other court decision in the history of the world.

Like I said with the Jews if what Jesus said is true, life as they knew it would change. And the same goes for Pilate. If he knew the truth about this man he wouldn’t do what he was about to do. But as history tells us in the apostles creed he He suffered under Pontius Pilate, despite the fact that he did not find any fault in him.

which leads me to my final point today…

All those who see Jesus as the truth find eternal life in him.

Jesus in verse 37 says. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. The whole Gospel of John has been leading to these moments prior to Jesus death, and the truth is all this had to happen in order for his children to be saved. If Jesus were not betrayed by his fellow man and delivered over to Pilate we would have be able to have access to God through him. This is God’s design. And as we have learned throughout this whole gospel absolute truth is found in no one other than Christ alone.

Francis Schaeffer talked about “true truth,” because he understood that the issue in our day in regard to truth is whether there is an objective reality that is true for everyone, no matter who we are, where we live, or what we do. The same issue was on the front burner in Jesus’ day, and Jesus said He was a witness of that “true truth”; in fact, He had declared earlier that He was the “true truth” (14:6).

You can go on the internet and find about a million different theory's about what truth is? and who is the telling the truth, and who is the truth. And all those website’s draw from this very question Pilate asked… And I am thankful when I did that search that three legit Christian websites came up first, and I want you to hear some true gems about what each of them had to say about what Truth is.…

Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.

Truth has the final word in all matters, telling us how to worship and how to walk. It tells us how to follow Christ. It is the final arbitrator on any subject. It is the final judge of every life. All people are measured by the truth. Every life is weighed in the balances by the truth. Every destiny is marked by the truth. And so the truth will have the final say in every life.

The question Pontius Pilate asked centuries ago needs to be rephrased in order to be completely accurate. The Roman governor’s remark “What is truth?” overlooks the fact that many things can have truth, but only one thing can actually be the Truth. Truth must originate from somewhere. The stark reality is that Pilate was looking directly at the Origin of all Truth on that early morning almost two thousand years ago. Not long before being arrested and brought to the governor, Jesus had made the simple statement “I am the truth” (John 14:6), which was a rather incredible statement. How could a mere man be the truth? He couldn’t be, unless He was more than a man, which is actually what He claimed to be. The fact is, Jesus’ claim was validated when He rose from the dead (Romans 1:4).

2000 years later the truth still remains while many of those theory's will vanish into the darkness. … Jesus said in the text today to Pilate For this purpose I born and for this purpose I come into the world to what bear witness to the truth.... All of Jesus is the truth. We see the expression of God in Jesus. And though Pilate may have thought he had the final authority on this… Truth is, God did, and all peoples including Pilate and the Jews who had Jesus arrested and me and you and anyone will be subject to the truth, and who is the truth Jesus Christ. Everyone will be measured to the standard of Christ, and every one falls short of that standard.

And like the one website said many things can be truth, but only one thing can be the truth. The title of the truth belongs to Christ and God alone, and he showed the most clearly in his death and resurrection. Jesus bore the wrath of God showing he is the truth. He didn’t go and bear this punishment because he was a liar like the Jews and others accused him off. He bore it to show that he was the truth. And he rose again proving that he is the truth. There are books out there of people who have claimed to die and go to heaven, but the reality is only one truly died like Jesus taking the wrath of sin on the cross, and rising on the third day proving that he is what? The truth…

John wrote the gospel of John for what reason..

John 20:30–31 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Do you believe the truth? Or have you bought into the lies that Jesus is not real and is not who he said he is… The evidence is clearly in favor that Jesus is real and everything he ever said is true. God was so intentional giving us his word do you believe it…

Now the way you answer that question has more impact on your life than any other question you will ever be asked, like the truth there is only 1 right answer, I believe Jesus is true, I believe he went to the cross suffered under Pilate and rose again and he died for my sins…

Let us pray…