April 5, 2023: What Is Truth?

"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 18:38, ESV)

What is truth? The truth is Pilate found no guilt in Jesus. The truth is Pilate knew the religious leaders wanted him to do their 'dirty work’.

The truth is Pilate found Jesus to be a King of a kingdom that was not of this world; therefore, Jesus had no earthly aspirations for a throne here. He is not guilty. He finds Jesus to be a man who speaks with wisdom like a king.

The conversation between Jesus and Pilate is one of the clearest, pointed, straight-to-the-point conversations that any two leaders could have. Pilate has questions. Jesus has answers. Pilate wants to know if Jesus is a threat to Rome or his authority in Judea. Pilate wants to know how to save an innocent man. And he also wants to know why an innocent man does not want to save himself.

Jesus is very clear in who He is. "I am a King. My Kingdom is not of this world. I am here to reveal the truth. And everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

"What is truth?" And with that, Pilate dismisses the conversation and turns his attention elsewhere. To recognize truth is one thing. To act on truth is another. We are not so different from Pilate ~ "that which I do not want to do, I do. And that which I want to do, I do not."