Champion of Truth
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TRUTH - What is it, what about it, who is telling it?
IF there were ever a more profound statement that is relative to the day in which we live, this is it!!!
What is truth?
We live in a day where there is more information at our fingertips than ever before in the history of mankind. You can find out info about things on the other side of the world in just moments on a device you hold in your hand and take anywhere you go!
However, our information is tainted, it is skewed by perspective, false information and people questioning what the truth is.
Fact checkers that have agendas, media with agendas, holding back information --- what are we to believe....
Lies are used to control people, governments, and to maintain power ---
There is an account in Scripture of Jesus meeting the most powerful man in Israel - there at the command of the Roman Government… speaking with the authority of Caesar in that land himself…
When Jesus met Pilate… AND WHEN
Pilate met the AUTHOR OF TRUTH -
In that moment Pilate stared TRUTH in the face and asked what TRUTH was!!!!
People are trying to figure out truth these days!!!
I want to say today that JESUS IS TRUTH - and He is the CHAMPION of TRUTH
Not of A TRUTH, but of THE TRUTH!
Years ago a movement to make truth relative and not absolute became the new norm. Each of us has our own truth, which leads to dividing people when there is no absolute to gather around.
There is no such thing as relative truth! There is deception and truth.
Relativism is a lie and its author is the devil...
44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Yet Jesus is TRUTH -
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
All battles in our world today are to lead us to truth or away from it…
TRUTH matters because it determines our outcome for eternity!
Not living by our own truth, but by God’s truth!
Let us look at our Champion of Truth in a moment that seems like He is being defeated, He is actually winning a great VICTORY!
28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover.
29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”
30 “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.
31 “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied.
32 (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.)
33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.
34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.
39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”
40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
1. The Statements
1. The Statements
Jesus said:
34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
Are asking me, have you been told this or are you observing this for yourself?
This statement made Pilate aware that his (Pilate’s) heart did not care about discovering truth - but getting through his situation and he was looking for an easy way out
So many could care less what the truth is - they just want to resolve and justify the circumstance in front of them
Today, people reject truth because they do not want to be inconvenienced by the truth and what it may require of them.
What I dont’ know won’t hurt me...
We hear things that we don’t want to hear because when we are confronted with those truths we have to do something with them. In this case, if Jesus was claiming to be King of the Jews it would require Pilate to have him killed on those grounds and He did not want to do this.
We cannot ignore truth because it makes us uncomfortable or demands action out of us!
36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
My Kingdom is not of this world or my people would be fighting for me...
In reality to an unbelieving mind it may have made Pilate think Jesus was nuts - kingdom of another world — hmmmm, that does not oppose Caesar - thus why he found no fault in Christ — Pilate’s finite mind could not comprehend the depth of this truth — His unbelieving heart could not handle this truth...
which Jesus than summarizes in
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
You can’t handle the truth because you don’t want to receive it! is in essence what Jesus is saying to Pilate.
I have come to bear witness to truth and those who desire truth hear my voice .
You can know The OnLy Real Truth if you allow yourself to and want to -
This is my Divine Purpose - to bring truth to those who desire it - truth of salvation, eternity, faith, the origins of man, the future and what it holds
Jesus in reality is calling us all to examine this for ourselves! Are we ready to handle TRUTH? Do we want to hear TRUTH???
2. The Question
2. The Question
Pilate looking at TRUTH personified cannot recognize it because his heart is not open... he is blinded by the systems of the world and all the voices speaking to him including his own pride, rebellion and desire for sin and power and control
The world is asking this question today in the same way in which Pilate did - what is truth?
It sounds different and means something different based on how you say it?
- What is truth? (Disgusted like it does not exist) Relativism
In other words does it even exist or is it all relative?
We each have our own version and those versions are fine for each of us
You have your truth and I have mine, who are you to think you have a superior truth?
- What is truth? (Desperation to truly know) Seeking
Help me find it in a world of lies -
Genuine desire - I want to know what is true and real
- What is truth? (Exasperation - like does it have any purpose or can it be ignored ) Inconvenienced by it
Pilate was here and also somewhat the face of relativism...
Is truth something we have to contend with - how does it play into each scenario in life?
Does truth have power or does it matter?
Can we pick and choose when to accept it and when to reject it if it is for the greater good or ease?
3. The Outcome
3. The Outcome
You can
- ignore the truth
- reject the truth
- mock the truth
- accept the truth
But the truth will win!!!
Jesus is the way, truth and life and He came to establish what is absolute truth - not relative truth
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
In this He foretold His death and Resurrection and it happened! I
t is truth - not one to ignore or reject or lock but to receive -
He also promised those who follow and obey Him - His Kingdom not of this world - will live eternally - that is either truth or a lie - and as truth there is hope and a future - if rejected it does not change the truth -
The penalty for rejection is eternal death and separation from God - punishment in hell -
At His return He will judge the world - and at that judgment all will be revealed - what is truth and what is lies - those who rejected truth - Christ Himself - will be held accountable for their adherence to lies -
The fact that He delivered on His prophecy of His death and Resurrection should be enough to make us all aware --- He is the truth! His outcome will happen!
He is the CHAMPION of TRUTH
These are the words before His proclamation of being TRUTH...
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Jesus Keeps HIS WORD!!!
This CHAMPION OF TRUTH is only the CHAMPION if He keeps HIs word!!!
Truth will not proclaim something that it fails to deliver on, and we have already see Him deliver on all his other claims. HE WILL DELIVER ON HIS CLAIM TO COME BACK FOR HIS CHURCH!!!!
We even see in Matt 24 that Jesus told us what the last days will be like ---
wars, earthquakes, pestilence of disease, like Sodom and Gomorrah, and the days of Noah --- which are the expressions of sexual perversion and violence and people celebrating life under the lies of Satan!!! WE ARE LIVING IN THIS RIGHT NOW!
6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true.
7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.
5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
Jesus Wins - His Truth Wins -
So when you feel the frustration of deceit in this world - remember there is coming a day when all will be brought into the light!