“ ‘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 this world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.’ ‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate” (John 18:37-38a NIV).
What is truth? One evening about a month ago, I listened as thirty or forty people stood up in public and spoke their minds. Most were passionate, some emotional, a few raising their voices to emphasize their point. One man even turned and yelled at the crowd behind him. All of them were talking at a recent city council meeting in my small town, commenting on the current controversy about the public library. I’m certain they all felt they were speaking the truth. Their truth.
In our country, we say we believe that all citizens have the right to their own opinion, and they should have an equal opportunity to speak about their opinion to anyone who will listen. We believe in being fair and hearing what others have to say. But with so many opinions, who is right? And how do we determine who is right? In the realm of public discourse, there are rules for that sort of thing. The system is not perfect, but then nothing in our world is perfect. We have a government that began as an experiment some 248 years ago, and we have been tweaking it ever since with varying degrees of success. It’s satisfying and frustrating at the same time to see it in action. I thought about that outpouring of opinions when in a Bible study I encountered Pilate’s snippy response to Jesus’ explanation that He “ ‘came into the world to testify to the truth’ ” to which the frustrated Roman replies, “ ‘What is truth?’ ” (John 18:37-38a).
Pilate is not asking for information. His question is rhetorical, and he is not interested in what some backwater, troublemaking, Jewish rabbi would have to say. We know this because “With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against Him’ ” (John 18:38b). Pilate’s worldview prevents him from entertaining any ideas about truth that do not come from Roman philosophy because, as any Roman of the time would say, all things Roman are superior. Besides, he does not want to hold a philosophical debate unless the discussion is about how to get rid of the religious leaders outside who are ruining his morning.
Like Pilate, most people (then and now) base their idea of what truth is on current views of their time and culture. As time goes by and the culture changes, so does the common opinion of “truth.” In the absence of a clearly defined truth upon which everyone agrees, people love to determine what truth is according to what is generally known for certain. The “truth” of any time in history in any given place is a moving target. Truth is also often crafted by whoever is in control—conquering invaders, the wealthy and powerful, or rebellious upstarts. Whoever is on top tells everyone down below what to believe.
This leads us back to Pilate’s question, “ ‘What is truth?’ ”
First, God’s truth is not a “what,” but a “who.” Jesus makes this clear to His disciples as He leads them to Gethsemane: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ ” (John 14:6). Nothing in the Bible makes sense until it is filtered through the supremacy of Christ. In fact, nothing in our faith or no decision we make matters except the Gospel that points us to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. That is THE Truth. Paul emphasizes this in his first letter to the Corinthians when he came to minister to them: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified ” (I Cor. 2:2). He knew that if you miss the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection, you miss everything.
Second, why is this truth so vital to our Christian life? The truth of who Christ is and what He does for us is the center of the Gospel. Earlier in His ministry Jesus points this out: “To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). The truth of the gift of salvation sets us free from sin and death. Later, trying to pour everything into His disciple’s heads before the temple guards come to arrest him, Jesus gives them some hope in case they forget what He has said that evening: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:12-13a). The Holy Spirit not only recharges the disciples after Jesus ascends to heaven, but He also has become a guide and comforter to every follower of Jesus since Pentecost.
Third, how does knowing the truth of the Gospel help us survive in this world of falsehoods? Many people fall for false teaching that leads them away from God’s truth. The devil has a knack for making his schemes seem attractive, and he uses people to spread his lies: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Pr. 14:12 NKJV). In the absence of God’s truth in their hearts, those who have not heard the Gospel or have rejected it, make up their own truth that suits their needs and fills the void within them. Even some Christians may get ensnared in these lies: “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” (Col. 2:8 NLT), Paul warns the Colossians. We must be wary of the devil and his traps by
comparing manmade truth to those of God.
Finally, how do we avoid straying from the Truth? Look to Jesus, who is “the way and the truth and the life.” The writer of Hebrews urges us to run the race of life while “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2-3). Life in this fallen world is difficult and full of trouble, but we look to Jesus who lived on this earth just like us and who now sits with God the Father, interceding for us. The Holy Spirit accompanies us on this race; like a coach, He strengthens us, encourages us, and guides us. Today I heard the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” The chorus reminds me to keep focused on the Truth: “Turn your eyes
upon Jesus / Look full in His wonderful face / And the things of earth will grow strangely dim / In the light of His glory and grace.” Look to Jesus for the Truth. I’ll be praying for you.
