What is Truth (John 18:28-40

Me

“Good morning, church. As we begin, I want to share a story that might make me look a little foolish—but I was pretty young, so please give me some grace.

Do you remember those little capsules you put in water and they grow into sponge creatures?

Well, I got my hands on a pack of those and was so excited that I didn’t read the instructions. I just filled up the sink, dropped one in, and waited. And sure enough—it started to grow. Slowly at first.

Then someone—definately my dad—came up to me and said, ‘Uh oh… that’s never going to stop growing.’

And I believed him.

I remember the absolute panic setting in—I thought I had just destroyed the house… maybe even the world.

Of course, that wasn’t true. But in that moment, I was completely convinced it was.”

And this just reminds me of the state of truth in our world.

You

We are living in a deeply significant cultural moment. When I look around, I see a generation that often looks inward—trusting what they feel in their hearts—rather than anchoring themselves in what is real and tangible.

We are surrounded by countless voices, all speaking at once, pulling us in different directions. And if we’re honest, for many of us, it’s overwhelming. It can make us feel like giving up.

And this isn’t just something happening outside the church. Even among those who claim to follow Christ, we often let our opinions and emotions shape how we treat one another and how we engage with the world.

We’ve reached a point where it’s difficult to know who to trust, where to turn, or how to move forward as we genuinely seek what is true. Cultural bias, personal opinion, and ideas like “your truth” all compete for authority.

And the result? We feel ungrounded. Disoriented.

The search for truth has become more than a search for answers so that we can feel confident. That’s actually an understatement.

We aren’t just looking for understanding—

We are trying to discover what reality actually is.

God

“Let me be really clear before we go any further—I’m not here to give you a dictionary definition of truth. If I wanted to, I could just say, ‘Truth is that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality,’ and leave it at that.” But— thats not what Im here for.

Today, I want us to explore truth—where it comes from, who embodies it, and how the truth revealed to us transforms the way we live.

Because—no pun intended—there really is something more to truth than just the idea of it… there’s a reality it points to

So, let’s keep this in mind as we dive into the passage.

John 18:28–40 “Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.”

Leading up to this moment, the Gospel of John has been building toward a clear purpose: that people would believe in Jesus and find life in His name. John focuses more deeply on who Jesus is, highlighting personal encounters that reveal His identity.

And here, we see one of those encounters—between two men from completely different worlds.

Pilate represents worldly power and political authority. He oversees the military and governance of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea under Roman rule.

And standing before him is Jesus of Nazareth— the incarnate Son of God.

Pilate stands with authority backed by Rome. Jesus stands with authority rooted in truth itself.

From the passage, we see three different responses to truth:

The religious leaders are close to the truth—but they reject it. Pilate is curious about the truth—but ultimately avoids it. The crowd is presented with the truth—but chooses something else instead.

It shows us something sobering: It’s possible to be around truth, to ask questions about truth, even to sense that something isn’t right…and still not actually live in it.

That’s the tension in this passage. The issue isn’t always that truth is unclear— it’s that truth requires something from us.

And as we continue to explore, the real question that we’re seeking to answer here today is what does Jesus through this passage revealed to us about truth. Like I said where it comes from who embodies it and how that ought to Dictate our lives.

WHAT DOES JESUS THORUGH THIS PASSAAGE REVEAL TO US ABOUT TRUTH?

Point 1: Truth Comes from God’s Kingdom, Not This World

John 18:36 “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.””

In this exchange between Pilate and Jesus, we see two things clearly.

First—Jesus makes it clear His kingdom is not from this world. It’s from another place.

Second—when Pilate calls Him a king, Jesus doesn’t deny it… but He reframes it.

John 18:37 ““You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.””

He’s not saying He isn’t King. He’s saying, “You don’t understand the kind of King I am.”

Jesus is not like earthly rulers. He doesn’t chase power—He already has all authority. And His Kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world.

Look at John 8:23 “But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”

And in Luke 17:20–21 it says “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”” Kingdom of God isn’t something you can point to— it’s already in your midst.

Why? Because He is standing right there.

Jesus is the embodiment of the Kingdom of God. Everything He says and everything He does reveals it.

And here’s what that means:

The Kingdom of God produces truth.

Because unlike the kingdoms of this world, it is ruled by a King who has all authority simply by who He is.

So we can say this with confidence:

Nothing God says is false

Nothing God says is flawed

Nothing God does is imperfect

But the kingdoms of this world are different.

They bend truth. They adjust truth. They sacrifice truth—for power, for influence, for control.

But if a Kingdom already has all authority— there is no need to distort the truth.

Because where true authority exists, truth never has to be sacrificed.

And we see this clearly in Pilate.

When he asks, “What is truth?”—he’s not really searching. He’s frustrated. He’s conflicted.

Because he knows Jesus is innocent.

He even says in John 18:38, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”

And yet—he still hands Him over.

Why?

Because for those driven by power and politics, truth becomes negotiable.

And if we’re honest—we’re not that different.

It reminds me of school.

As social groups form, people start chasing influence. They want to be known. They want to belong.

And often, the people with the most influence aren’t the ones with the most integrity.

And what do we do?

We compromise. We stay quiet. We go along with things we know aren’t right.

Why?

Because aligning ourselves with the “right” people gives us something— status, acceptance, identity. And without even realizing it—we trade truth for approval.

That’s exactly what Pilate does.

He knows the truth. But he chooses something else in order to appease the people.

So here’s the reality:

Truth is not something we create. Truth is not something we discover on our own. Truth is revealed—through Jesus, the Son, who embodies the Kingdom of God.

So let me ask you:

Are you living in that reality?

Do you recognize that there is a Kingdom beyond this world— and at the same time, at work within it?

Are you placing more trust in earthly systems… or in the rule and reign of God?

Because this is really a question of truth.

If we’re honest, many of us trust worldly leaders to bring a better future.

And in the process—we begin to idolize people… and even the nations we live in.

But when we do that— we’re not just misplacing hope. We’re believing something that isn’t true.

Because the truth is this:

No earthly kingdom holds ultimate authority. No leader defines reality. No system can bring what only God’s Kingdom can.

Romans 14:17 it says this, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,”

This is where truth is found.

Not in shifting systems— but in the unchanging rule of God.

And if we have been saved— we have been brought into that Kingdom.

Which means:

Our lives should be shaped by what is actually true.

Because in God’s Kingdom:

Justice is established (Psalm 9:8)

Peace has no end (Isaiah 9:7)

And one day—there will be no hunger, no pain, no injustice (Revelation 7:16–17; 21:4)

That is reality. That is truth.

God’s Word is reliable. God’s character is trustworthy. God’s Kingdom is unshakable.

So the question isn’t just what you believe— it’s this:

Are you living in alignment with the revelation of the truth of God’s Kingdom?”

Which brings me to my second point.

Point 2: Truth Is Revealed in Jesus

John 18:37 ““Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.””

This is a lot to unpack. And I think this is where we need to go back to the beginning of John’s Gospel, because the themes connect so clearly.

John 1:14 says, ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’

What John is showing us here is this: the same reliability we see in God’s words and actions is now revealed in Jesus.

In other words, the faithfulness of God is not just something spoken—it is something we can see, touch, and witness in the person of Jesus Christ.

So when Jesus speaks, we can trust Him. When Jesus acts, we can trust Him. Because He is the Word made flesh—the full and perfect revelation of God’s truth.

That is why Jesus says not only that He came to testify to the truth—which is the reality of the reign and rule of God—but He also says that everyone on the side of truth listens to Him.

In other words, those who are genuinely seeking truth don’t just gather information… they are drawn to Him.

Because this isn’t just about facts or definitions about the world. This is about life.

This is about a kind of light— the kind of light that shines into the darkness of this world, and exposes the darkness of the earthly kingdoms within it.

John 1:4–5 says “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

And Jesus is saying: if you are truly seeking that kind of truth— you will listen to Me.

And this is where the religious leaders—the Pharisees, and many who refused to believe—missed it.

It’s actually deeply ironic: they bring Jesus before Pilate—a man who, in many ways, looks more like the kind of Messiah they were expecting. A strong political leader, with authority, power, and the ability to judge and control.

They were longing for someone who could free them from under the weight of the Roman Empire.

But when the true King stood in front of them— not with political power, but with truth— they rejected Him.

On the contrary, if we go to John chapter 8, we see an ongoing dispute about who Jesus is—His testimony about Himself, and the response of those around Him.

In verses 31–32, Jesus says this: ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’

But immediately after this, the people push back. They say, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’

And Jesus responds: ‘John 8:34–36 “ “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Do you see what’s happening?

The people were thinking politically— Jesus was speaking spiritually.

They wanted a leader who would free them from Rome. But Jesus reveals a deeper truth: the freedom they truly needed was freedom from sin.

Their heritage couldn’t save them. Their religious leaders couldn’t save them. Even their strict adherence to the law—meant to reveal their need for a transformed heart—could not save them.

And yet Jesus stands before them, offering true freedom. Not the freedom they expected— but the freedom they actually needed.

Because this is the reality: it doesn’t matter what earthly kingdom you belong to, where you come from, or what you’ve built your identity on—the deepest problem we face is sin and spiritual death.

And the truth revealed in Christ is this: only He can set us free from it.”

If you look back even as far as Moses— and this is just a side note for those of you who do Bible-in-a-year plans— I don’t know if it’s just me, but the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch, can feel some of the hardest to get through.

Because we often read them as just a collection of laws mixed in with some narrative. But in reality, those laws are part of a much bigger story.

They reveal something about what is actually true: God’s chosen people continue to fail.

It’s this cycle— ‘We’ll follow you, God,’ then failure… then instruction… then ‘we’ll follow you, God’ again… and then failure.

But in the middle of that, God is revealing something deeper.

In Deuteronomy 10:14–16 as Moses recounts God’s mercy and covenant renewal, he says: ‘“To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.

Circumcision had been the outward sign of belonging to God’s covenant. But Moses makes it clear—that outward sign is not enough.There must be an inner alignment.

To be “stiff-necked” is to resist, to refuse to submit— so this is a call to surrender, to be shaped by the word of God, and to remain within that covenant relationship not just outwardly, but inwardly.

And as the story continues, it becomes clear: they will fail again. But that’s not the end.

Because in Deuteronomy 30:4-6 we’re given a promise: “Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.”

In other words, what God commands in Deuteronomy 10— He promises to accomplish in Deuteronomy 30.

And this is the truth: the problem was never just behavior— it was the heart.

And the solution was never going to be more laws— it was going to be transformation.

And here’s what we begin to see: the very laws that the Pharisees and religious leaders clung to—so tightly that they ultimately rejected Jesus—were never meant to transform the heart.

They were never the solution. They were meant to reveal the problem.

And that’s why Jesus can say in John 8: ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’

Not free from political powers or earthly kingdoms— but free from the grip of sin.

Not just in what we do— but in who we are.

Because the issue was never just external behavior— it was the condition of the heart.

And the truth Jesus brings doesn’t just inform us— it transforms us.

So let me ask you—are you listening to the truth… or are you just hearing it?

Because there’s a difference.

Are you allowing the truth revealed in Jesus Christ— the living Word of God thorugh is teachings—to actually enter into your heart?

Or are you just reading your Bible to get it done? If I’m honest, I’ve done that more times than I’d like to admit.

Because listening and hearing are not the same thing.

Hearing can be passive— it requires nothing from you.

But listening… listening demands a response.

I can hear my wife tell me that the dishes need to be done, or that something around the house needs fixing. But if I’m not really listening, nothing changes. I don’t act.

And in the same way, we can hear the truth of God Revealed through Christ, and his teachings, over and over again— and yet never actually respond to it.

But real listening— real listening leads to action, to obedience, to transformation.

Which leads me to my third and final point.

Point 3: Truth Creates a New Way to Live

Lets go through this again…

Point 1: Truth Comes from God’s Kingdom, Not This World

Point 2:Truth is reveald in Jesus

Point 3:Truth Creates a New Way to Live

This point may be a bit shorter than the others, but it’s essential if we’re going to fully understand not just where truth comes from and who embodies it—but how it actually impacts the way we live.

Because if truth originates from the Kingdom of God—from His rule and His reign Which is the inverse of the kingdoms of this world—meaning every word He speaks is trustworthy… and if that truth is embodied in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh… and if He calls us not just to hear Him, but to truly listen—then something has to change in us.

Because when we listen, we step onto the side of truth. And if holding to His teaching means we know the truth, and the truth sets us free—then that truth cannot leave us the same.

It must transform us.

And guess what, friends—Jesus makes this clear elsewhere. Look at Matthew 7:24–27 ““Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”” .

Those who not only hear the words of Christ but actually put them into practice—those are the wise ones.

But those of us who sit and merely hear the words of God revealed through Christ, and do nothing—our lives aren’t changed, aren’t shifted—we are the foolish ones.

And when the storms come—and they will come—we will not be able to withstand the trials and tribulations of this world, the evil, the wickedness, and the agendas of earthly kingdoms… which, by now, if you’ve been with me, we know are not ultimately reliable.

And church, this is not about works righteousness. This is not to say that we are saved by what we do.

But it is clear—especially when you look at what comes just before this in Matthew 7:21–23 —that there is such a thing as true and false disciples. It says, ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

If our lives are not shaped—if they are not changed—by the words and the actions of Jesus Christ, who is the revealed truth of God and His Kingdom, then we may find ourselves standing before Him one day, thinking we knew Him…only to realize that we never truly lived in the truth He revealed, thereby no doing the will of the Father.

And we even see the response of those who refuse to listen to the truth revealed through Jesus and His character.

When Pilate gives them the choice at Passover—who should be released—Jesus or Barabbas… listen to what they say in John 18:40: ‘No, not him! Give us Barabbas!’

And John adds this detail—Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

Do you see the irony?

They reject the true King— the embodiment of truth— and instead choose a man who represents the very kind of kingdom they thought they needed.

They don’t just miss the truth— they choose something else over it.

So let me ask you—are you allowing Jesus to actually change your life?

If God’s Kingdom is marked by peace, righteousness, joy, and hope— are you living in a way that reflects that reality?

Are you loving your neighbor as yourself? Are you even loving your enemies?

Because this is the truth Jesus came to reveal about the Kingdom of God.

Not just by speaking about it— but by embodying it in everything He did… even to the point of dying on a cross.

We

Worship team you can come up now.

Let me take a moment to summarize what I’ve been saying.

First—if we’re talking about truth in the biblical sense, we can’t reduce it to a dictionary definition.

Truth comes from God’s Kingdom— a Kingdom that stands in contrast to the kingdoms of this world. A Kingdom marked by justice, righteousness, peace, joy, and hope— and a Kingdom that does not tolerate sin.

Second—this truth is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of that Kingdom in our midst.

And because we can trust the Father, we can trust the Son— everything He says and everything He does.

And third—this truth is meant to transform the way we live.

We’ve reduced Christianity in our culture to saying a prayer— like it’s some kind of ‘get out of hell free card.’ But following Jesus was never just about saying something— it was always about living something.

If people truly understood that following Jesus means walking in His way, putting His teachings into practice, there are many who might feel like they were misled.

But this is the truth of the Kingdom:

There is one road—and it is narrow. It is a road that leads to death to self… to the transformation of our hearts… so that we might find true life as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

Jesus says, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

There is one way. Which means we must allow the truth of the Kingdom—revealed through Jesus—to shape the way we live, the decisions we make, and the direction of our lives.

Not the voices of this world. Not the narratives we consume. But the truth revealed in Christ.