What Is Truth?

Definition of John’s concept of Truth

Truth is a part of the nature of God

The Woman at the well

The truth Jesus reveals demands a new level of worship, beyond just where and how we worship

The Jews’ argument with Jesus

The truth Jesus reveals sets us free from sin in a way the Law never could

Jesus’ preparation for his death

The truth Jesus reveals will be revealed by his disciples as well, for the Spirit will guide them into it

Jesus preaches to his disciples

The truth Jesus reveals enters into his disciples as well, for it is carried by the Spirit, or rather, the Spirit guides them into it

Jesus prays for his disciples

The truth Jesus reveals is the basis for our unity, and spreading it is our mission

The importance of Jesus’ Truth

How important is this mission of spreading the Truth? The high priest, Peter, Pilate, and Jesus reveal how far we should go.

The high priest, Peter, Pilate, and Jesus reveal how far we should go.

The high priest rejected the Truth without even considering it. He survived.

Peter was afraid of suffering, and denied involvement with the Truth. He survived, but was haunted by his betrayal.

Pilate was afraid of the people’s opinion of him, and so refused to assist the Truth.

But Jesus, the one who understood it the best, died for the Truth, without hesitation.

The final question

The story of Jesus’ trial is mostly filled with voices of others. When Jesus does speak, he simply affirms that what he says is what he has always said, and is no less true now than it was to begin with.

The story of Jesus’ trial is mostly filled with voices of others. When Jesus does speak, he simply affirms that what he says is what he has always said, and is no less true now than it was to begin with.

When he finally does confront Pilate, he is unafraid as he politely tells Pilate that his kingdom was not like any in existence: if it were, his servants would be resisting the Jewish leaders to prevent his arrest.

Then Jesus calmly tells him that the reason he came into this world was to be a witness for the truth.

Pilate is already unnerved, knowing the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders as well as having Jesus’ calm assurance of being on the right side

If anyone stands against him, it is because they are on the side of liars.

Pilate’s retort went down in history: “What is Truth?”

But then he tries, in his own way, to stand for the Truth that he did not understand.

He is unnerved.

He tests Jesus’ resolve, tries to satisfy their bloodlust, argues briefly about the legality of killing Jesus, but neither Jesus nor the Jews will budge.

He must pick a side, just like Jesus said. And Pilate knows who is in the right.

If he was unnerved before, he becomes truly afraid when the Jewish leaders decare what their accusation is: “he claimed to be the son of God.” Which matches perfectly with what Jesus said, and he had already been predisposed to be on Jesus’ side.

He is a pagan, and believes in demigods. He confronts Jesus with this, but all Jesus does is reaffirm that the Jews are on the wrong side. And Pilate must still pick a side.