"What is truth?" asked Pilate.

Opening Story

How do I struggle with this?

Question

How can we live in a culture that has rejected truth?

What is truth? What makes truth true?

Text

Jesus goes from prayer to being arrested, after being arrested He was taken to Annas. Annas is the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Annas then sent Jesus to his son-in-law Caiaphas, who was the high priest. Caiaphas sends Jesus to the governor’s headquarters where Pontius Pilate was the governor. Pilate questions Jesus.

John 18:37 CSB

37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus acknowledges that His ultimate purpose in life is to die for the people’s sins.

Jesus says something that got Pilate to ask another question. Jesus talked about truth.

John 18:38 CSB

38 “What is truth?” said Pilate. After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging him.

What is truth?

What is truth? What a great question. That is one of the most important questions that could ever be asked. In this era defined by “fake news,” misinformation, and fact-checkers, this is, I believe, a more important conversation than ever. But it is definitely not a new question.

Have you ever met anyone or heard of anyone who only seems to believe something is true if it lines up with what they already believe?

The mess the world is in today is the result of our attempts to reshape truth to fit our desires rather than us shaping our desires around the truth.

So back to Pilates question. What is truth? Is it based on our desire, or something beyond us? Are we the measure of all things? Are we the masters of truth? Is truth nothing more than our feelings, opinions, and desires?

If we step back we see that Jesus answered this question before it was ever asked by Pilate.

John 14:6 CSB

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

When you put yourself in the shoes of the audience that Jesus was speaking to you would see there were divergent Jewish traditions, it was difficult for the Jewish person of the first century to know which was God’s will.

Thru the Bible Vol. 39: The Gospels (John 11–21) Jesus Comforts His Disciples

Jesus said, “I am the way.” He is not just a person who shows the way, but He, personally, is the way. No church or ceremony can bring you to God. Only Christ can bring you to God. He is the way. Either you have Christ or you don’t have Him; either you trust Him or you don’t. Also Jesus said that He is the truth. He isn’t saying that He tells the truth, although He does do that. He is the truth! He is the bureau of standards for truth, the very touchstone of truth. And He is the life. He isn’t simply stating that He is alive. He is the source, the origin of life from the lowest vegetable plane of life to the highest spiritual plane of life.

Okay, okay, okay. So Jesus is truth. So, what does that mean for me?

Take one more step back with me.

John 8:31–32 CSB

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 8

To know the truth is to know Christ.

Application

We have been asking the wrong question. It’s not what is truth. It’s - Who is truth?

Thru the Bible Vol. 38: The Gospels (John 1–10) Jesus is the Light of the World (Sixth Word)

Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. It will produce something. After a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, he will want to “continue in His Word.” The proof of faith is continuing with the Savior. As the pastor of a church, I learned to watch out for the person who is active in the church but is not interested in the study of the Word of God. Such a one is dangerous to a church.

Challenge

Thru the Bible Vol. 38: The Gospels (John 1–10) Jesus is the Light of the World (Sixth Word)

The truth shall make you free. The truth is that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is the Truth. First we come to Him as our Savior. Then as we go on with Him, we know by experience that we are free. We are free from the penalty of sin—we don’t need to lie awake at night worrying about going to hell. He doesn’t even ask us to live the Christian life. He asks us to trust Him and let Him live His life through us. When we yield to Him, we are free.