What is Truth?

In our third installment of this special month-long series on the stories of the crucifixion, we will look at this event from the viewpoint of the Roman authorities, Pilate and his soldiers. I am borrowing the question of Pilate for the title of this sermon.

I) World’s ignorance

It is strange that Pilate knew nothing about Jesus, considering the events from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem – – and the temple teaching

Matthew 21:8–11 ESV

Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

But the world in general knows little to nothing about Jesus – – only what they have (mis-)heard from others

John 18:33–35 ESV

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?”

World only accepts the truth they want to hear – – Pilate does not listen for an answer, but goes on with his plans – – he does not hear the voice of Jesus

John 18:38 ESV

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.

John 18:37 ESV

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.”

II) Injustice

Ironic that the Romans boasted of their justice system, yet condemned an innocent man –

Matthew 27:24–26 ESV

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent at least three times – ; ,

John 18:38 ESV

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.

John 19:4 ESV

Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

John 19:6 ESV

When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”

Pilate’s wife also warned him not to do anything with Jesus because He was righteous –

Matthew 27:19 ESV

Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

And the centurion –

Luke 23:47 ESV

Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

Yet, this act of injustice allows God to be just –

Romans 3:25 ESV

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

III) Individual believers

In this story, there are the few who begin to understand, like Joseph and Nicodemus –

John 19:38–39 ESV

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

There is also an unnamed centurion who gives the testimony of Peter – ;

Matthew 27:50–54 ESV

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:37–39 ESV

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Concl: Pilate asked the Jews, “What would you have me do with Jesus?” The world is confused by Jesus, and ultimately hates Him because they can’t understand Him – . Do you understand Jesus?

John 17:13–17 ESV

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.