Truth & Power

Introduction In case you haven't heard yet, 2024 is an election year. This means everything is about to get less interesting and fun. From conversations with friends and coworkers to social media to entertainment to even sports, everything will become infected with politics. It will get nasty and divisive.

Two words that will dominate the political conversation will be truth and power. Truth is vitally important to society. Without the truth, there can be no real morality, justice, equality, unity, success, freedom, love, security, peace, spirituality, or even survival. And, of course, the entire election will be about who has power in the future.

Both truth and power have driven man to accomplish and discover great things. Pursuing truth and power has also driven humanity to some of its most horrific behaviors. A scene in Jesus' final hours confronts the topics and nature of truth and power. In a year where we will constantly feel like we are sitting on a powder keg, Jesus' words can help us find the peace that transcends all understanding. John 18:28-40

John 18:28–40 ESV

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. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 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.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 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.” 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.” 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. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Scriptural Analysis When we study the scriptures, our task is not simply to understand the historical details of the story but to discern the theological truths contained. In the verses before these, Jesus had been arrested at the Garden. He then faced Caiaphas, the high priest. During this time, Peter infamously denied knowing Jesus. Moving their plan forward to execute Jesus, Caiaphas sends Jesus to Pilate for their final resolution.

Verses 28-32 Roman officials began meeting the public at daybreak—“early” is no exaggeration. The priestly aristocracy, Sanhedrin, controlled Judea for the Romans and could secure an audience with Pilate on short notice. Clamoring before Pilate in large numbers was usually effective because a riot was the last thing Pilate wanted.

History and the Bible reveal Pilate as a cruel man. He was never shy in killing or crucifying anyone he wanted to. You detect his distaste for the Jews throughout the Gospels. Historically, on five occasions, Pilate slaughtered Jews, earning such a violent reputation in Jerusalem that the emperor Tiberias finally yanked him back to Rome. However, when it comes to Jesus’ trial, it seems he wasn’t trying to be cruel. In fact, Pilate had no desire to meddle in this Jewish religious affair concerning Jesus.

Pilate is so apprehensive of this case because, in Matthew 27, Pilate’s wife gives him a message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him.” Now, we don’t know what the dream contained, but we know it obviously frightened her. Pilate took his wife's dreams seriously because the Romans believed that dreams were omens that needed to be given attention. This belief caused Pilate to be hesitant in pronouncing Jesus as guilty or free.

The Jews were evasive on the charges because their case against Jesus was weak. The Sanhedrin did not have the power of capital punishment, which is why they came to Pilate. According to the Jewish Law of Moses, anyone who blasphemes God can be given capital punishment. However, when speaking to Pilate, the Jews correctly noted that the Romans did not allow their subjects to exercise capital punishment. So Pilate is being drugged into a capital punishment case that was strictly Jewish in nature, all the while his wife's words echoed in his ears. All of this, of course, is being guided by God to accomplish His redemption plan.

Verses 33-35 Pilate begins to follow the Roman procedure called cognitio, an inquiry to determine what really happened. As prefect, he would make the final decision and answer to no one for it unless a complaint was sent to Rome. The priests charged Jesus with claiming to be a king, which was a charge of treason against the emperor.

All four Gospels indicate Pilate’s opening question to Jesus was: “Are you the king of the Jews?” So deeply embedded into the traditions of the early church was this question that it could hardly be omitted from a legitimate canonical testimony of the Death Story of Jesus. In each Gospel, the question begins with the emphatic: “Are you …?!” This suggests that Pilate was astonished that Jesus was claiming such a title. Jesus hardly had an army, and he certainly had not led an uprising against the Romans as a rebel king might have been tempted to do. What kind of a king was this?

Jesus countered Pilate's opening question with his own question concerning the source of Pilate’s question. Pilate’s response indicates that, as governor responsible for the “just” conduct of trials, he recognized the defendant was challenging him. He was disturbed by the way the interrogation was going, and he replied sharply, “Am I a Jew?”

Finally, Pilate is forced to ask the question he should have asked at the outset of the interrogation, which was only fair to ask: "Why are you here? Or, what have you done?" Coming where it does in this investigation, however, it seems to be less of a genuine question of seeking the facts and more of a question of why there is so much pressure to dispose of this case violently. The way the questioning proceeded, however, indicates that Pilate did not simply rubber-stamp Jewish hostility. He sought an answer to Jesus that might satisfy the logic of his judgment.

Verses 36-37 The fundamental attribute of Jesus’ kingdom is that it is not derived from this world. Accordingly, it would not do battle with the Romans by means of earthly weapons. Jesus’ kingdom had its origin and strength external to the world, and therefore, his followers would not take up arms to prevent his being “handed over.”  Jesus’ kingdom is not a piece of land on earth or involved in earthly power and domination. Jesus’ kingdom is directly related to the concept of the kingdom of heaven and the reign or authority of God.

Jesus is not denying that his kingdom exercises authority in this world; rather, he is affirming that the origin and nature of his kingly authority are not the same as those of the kings of this world. His authority is not of human origin, and the nature of his rule is different from that exercised by the rulers of this world. Thus, Pilate is now in a quandary as the charges against Jesus have no material evidence. Pilate’s question went to the heart of John’s proclamation of who Jesus is; therefore, Jesus did not counter this question. Instead, he thrust his response directly at Pilate. The response literally is: “You say that I am a king.”

Jesus then explains a concept that has been repeated throughout the book of John. The theme of truth is a foundational idea in John. For Jesus and John, truth is not merely some intellectual concept of correct knowledge. It also involves life-oriented to the one true God. Jesus is himself the truth, as he states: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” in John 14. Jesus is truth. Jesus’ mission was to bring people to himself and to God. Jesus’ mission was to integrate truth, himself, into our life.

Verse 38 Pilate summarizes his politically oriented life pattern with the haunting question, “What is truth?” The implications of that question are exceedingly far-reaching for any person. For Pilate, that question was an attempt to resist taking Jesus’ statement seriously in his own life. Still, it did initially impact his view of Jesus during this first interrogation session. Roman law prohibited treason, not nomadic antisocial philosophers. From Pilate’s Roman perspective, he had no reason to condemn Jesus.

Ironically, the man charged with determining the truth in the matter glibly dismissed the relevance of truth in the presence of the one who is truth incarnate. Pilate’s comment may reflect disillusionment, if not bitterness, and a pragmatic viewpoint. He then went out to the Jews again. Pilate exonerated Jesus multiple times, but Jewish pressures convinced him to press the prosecution.

Verses 39-40 In raising the ultimate question of truth, Pilate had tried to evade responsibility for a decision regarding Jesus by a retreat into relativity. Now, he tried to avoid the necessity of choice by an act of clemency. Going back out to the Jews again, he first assured them that Jesus was guilty of no crime. Pilate understood that Jesus' conception of kingship was not political and, therefore, not seditious. Then, referring to a custom that he releases one man at the Passover, Pilate offered to release for them the so-called King of the Jews. Even this effort quickly boomeranged, however, as the frenzied crowd expressed a preference for not this man, but Barabbas! Such a choice would have completely flustered Pilate, for he not only knew of his wife's warning, but he knew that Barabbas was a robber and political insurrectionist who, once released, would return to anti-government behavior, which could bring down intense oppression on the entire population. They chose the one who could lead to death and oppression by rejecting Jesus, who is truth. TODAY'S  KEY  TRUTH Pursue Jesus, not the mirage of power.

Application The core of biblical teaching is that truth is unified and grounded in God. In Old Testament usage, truth is grounded in God. The New Testament retains the same ideas, but John takes the idea a bit further. Like so many other areas of his Gospel, John uses terms that have strong meanings in both Hebrew and Greek circles. His use of truth accurately conveys something firm and stable.

In John 14, Jesus told his disciples that he was leaving to prepare a place for them. The disciples, however, were totally blind to what Jesus meant. Thomas asked how they could know the way Jesus was going because they did not know Jesus’ destination. Jesus responded with the bold statement, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also." Jesus’ claim to be the truth also occurred elsewhere. Earlier in Jesus’ interactions with a number of Jews, he pointed out that those who truly followed him would know the truth and that truth would set them free.  As Jesus says, “I am the truth,” he declares himself to be the one people can rely on. He is salvation. He is redemption. Jesus is truth.

This is the backdrop when John relates the story of Jesus interacting with Pilate on truth. Jesus is saying, “No, I’m not a political leader, and I don’t want people ruling and going to war and taking up the sword in my name,” but he says, “I am a King, and I have come to bear witness to the truth. I’m coming into the world to bear witness to the truth.”

What he’s saying here is, “I am here to change the way people actually live in the world. I’m not otherworldly in the sense that Christianity is something that just gives you peace and joy and good vibes in your private life, that doesn’t really affect the way people actually live in the world.” Jesus is not saying that. Jesus says, “I have come to bear witness to the truth.” In other words, Jesus came to change every aspect of human life. Jesus is saying he should influence the way people live in the world.

Jesus is saying, “I’m coming into the world, not as a political leader, because that’s limited in what you can do. I’m coming as truth, and that will change how life is lived in the world,” and it did. The gospel truth shaped the early Christian community and changed how people lived. It eventually did change the Roman Empire. Centuries later, the Christian approach to relationships, the Christian approach to the poor, and the Christian approach to sexuality and family were so attractive and life-giving that Roman society slowly became less brutal and a far better place to live. Why? Because Jesus bore witness to the truth, and the Christians bore witness to the truth. Jesus was impacting all of society, which at that time impacted the entire known world.

Here, Pilate looks at Jesus, laughs, and says, “What is truth?” and leaves, not waiting for an answer. What is Pilate saying? Pilate is asking Jesus sarcastically, "What in the world does truth have to do with power? I don’t care about truth. I don’t care about theology. All I care about is whether you are a threat to my power. Are you a threat to my power and the power of Rome?” PIlate thought political power was the ultimate possession. That's all he was focused on. Pilate says at the very end, “I am Rome, I have power, and I could crush you like a bug.” Do you know what Jesus says? Jesus is saying. “You don’t realize this is all part of the plan. If you abuse power, you’re just going to bring your own house down. Go ahead. Try to destroy me. All you’ll do is put me on a cross and make me the Savior of the world. All you will do is put me up there as an emblem, a sign, and a power in the lives of people who will eventually turn your entire Roman Empire upside down. By abusing your power, you are helping me show the world what power really is. Do you worst.”

Isn’t that an amazing assurance? It’s similar to the Job situation, where God allowed so much bad stuff into Job’s life that it actually accomplished the opposite of what Satan wanted. Here, scripture says, "If someone in power does something bad to you, respond by serving, loving, and following Jesus, as in the end, it will only accomplish what God had planned.

Pursue Jesus, not the mirage of power.

Conclusion Pilate didn't pursue truth and was pursuing power. Like too many modern-day politicians and everyday people ourselves, he was guided on the basis of political correctness, his desire for power, and his feelings instead of what is morally right. Pilate factored everything into his decision except the truth. He weighed the dream, the Jews, his relationship with Herod, and everything except what was right. How selfish and feelings driven was Pilate to say I will do what is best only for me? I am concerned primarily with my own comfort. I won’t do what I know is right because it is not best for me.

We take the same pragmatic approach.  “What will friends and family think? How much will it cost? What will be the level of inconvenience to me? How do I feel about this? What will it get me?” We think of everything else except the only thing that matters: "What is right? What is the truth of this situation? What is right by God? Where is Jesus, the truth, in this?" If you are not doing the right thing, then you are doing the wrong thing. The right thing is always to be pursuing the truth, Jesus. Jesus should change our approach to every aspect of life. Jesus showed here that truth, not power, is what matters. And Jesus is truth.

Pursue Jesus, not the mirage of power. We must recognize our need for God. This is key. We don’t just pursue him because someone told us to. Instead, we know that it’s the reason for which we have been created. The key is not to pursue feelings themselves but to pursue the Lord Jesus by looking to Him, knowing His ways, pondering His promises, and obeying His commands. We pursue Jesus because Jesus is truth.

Pursue Jesus, not the mirage of power. Consider how often we are afraid when facing the unknown or the dangerous, just like Pilate was. When we run up against the fragility of life or the potential of loss, anxiety and fear are right beside us, working their way into our hearts. This is precisely when God calls us to “fear not.” Yet the hope for relief from fear is not found in ignoring what lies ahead but in looking to the God whose sovereignty is certain and whose promises are sure. When we seek the Lord and ground our faith in Him, He delivers us from our fears (Ps. 34:4). The trouble itself may not disappear, but the knowledge of God conquers what makes us afraid. Just as Jesus stood confidently before Pilate, knowing God was really the one in control. So can we.

Pursue Jesus, not the mirage of power.