WHAT IS TRUTH?

JOHN 18:37-38: “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.” [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.” CSB

OBSERVATION: What is truth? How does one find the truth? Is truth absolute or is it an ever-changing construct that is determined by the individual? Truth seems to be a moving target in our culture and also in our churches.

As we move through the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday it is important to consider the events that led up to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. The Jews had arrested Jesus, brought Him before the High Priest, and then delivered Him to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, asking for a ruling of death for the crimes Jesus had committed.

What did Jesus do? As Pilate examined Him he could find no reason for such a drastic request. When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a King, Jesus answered by saying, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” When questioned about this “Kingdom” Jesus replied that His purpose and His reign were focused on one goal. What was this goal? What was the purpose that Jesus came to establish this Kingdom? Jesus answered with these words.

“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, His rule, His Kingdom, was established for this one purpose – to testify to the truth. In a culture that embraced so many different religions and claims to the truth, when Pilate heard these words, he replied – “What is the truth?”How could one man hold the truth? How could anyone know the truth? What is the truth?

This is the same question and debate that rages on today. When we think about the Passion Week. When we ponder the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. When we consider the suffering and agony He went through, we wonder – Why was Jesus crucified? Why did the nation of Israel reject Him as Messiah? Why does the world still reject Him today?

It is because of the truth!

Jesus was not crucified because He worked miracles. He was not crucified because He fed the 5000, opened the eyes of the blind, or made the lame to walk. Jesus was not crucified because He stood in opposition to the Roman government.

Jesus was crucified because He bore witness to the truth!

When Jesus was crucified the world continued to search for the truth. The disciples left in defeat as they saw their only hope of knowing the truth die on a humiliating cross. The women who followed Him felt their hope was shattered as they saw Him laid in the tomb and the stone rolled into place. The Jewish leaders tried to put a lid on the truth by requesting Roman soldiers to guard the tomb.

Jesus’ claims to Pilate seemed like empty words.

The truth seemed to be lost. It seemed to be relegated to whatever someone wanted to believe. There was no absolute truth. The teachings of Jesus had ended on the cross and sealed in a stone tomb. Yet, Jesus never claimed to have the truth. The truth was not some new revelation Jesus’ taught. Jesus’ claim was more radical than this. Unlike those who came before Him, Jesus made a claim that seemed impossible and that many continue to miss today. Jesus proclaimed,

John 14:6-7: “Jesus told him, “I am the way,   the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you know me, you will also know my Father.   From now on you do know him   and have seen him.” CSB

Jesus did not come to proclaim the truth. JESUS WAS THE TRUTH! The truth did not die on the cross – IT ROSE FROM THE DEAD! You can’t kill the truth. You can’t reinvent the truth. You can’t ignore the truth. The historical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ confirm the truth. Jesus is the TRUTH! It is not simply what Jesus taught it is who He is. The truth does not change because Jesus is alive and He never changes!

Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” CSB

Without Jesus, there is no truth. Without Jesus is there no way. Without Jesus, there is no life. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! Mankind’s search for truth begins and ends with the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ teachings are true because He is the truth. He is the Logos of God, the living Word, the revelation of the Father. The most important thing to understand about truth is the fact that truth is not a philosophy, creed, or personal opinion.

TRUTH IS A PERSON AND THAT PERSON IS JESUS CHRIST!

When Jesus died on the cross for the truth, He took upon Himself the penalty of the sin of the world. What is the essence of sin? It is rejecting God’s truth. It is exchanging the truth of God for a lie. It is turning one’s back on the Living Word (Jesus, the Logos of God, John 1:1). This sin separates man from God and continues to do so. It is in man’s broken state of sin that he aimlessly searches for truth and never finds it. Jesus died and rose again so that we could be forgiven, united with the Father, and find the TRUTH!

Ephesians 2:13: “But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” CSB

2 Corinthians 5:21: “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” CSB

Ephesians 1:13: “It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.” MSG

Are you looking for the truth? This Easter I pray that you will find TRUTH! It has been tested on an old rugged cross. It has been buried in hopes of being forgotten. Yet – it has broken the chains of sin and death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The empty tomb is the validation that JESUS IS THE TRUTH! It is only through Jesus Christ that you can be forgiven, restored in a relationship with the Creator of all things, and enter into the hope of eternal life. Jesus, the pathway of TRUTH, leads to life and life abundantly!

John 8:30-32: “As he was saying these things, many believed in him. [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

Father, thank You for the TRUTH! Thank you for giving Your only begotten Son! Thank you for the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life, abundant life, and freedom in the TRUTH through Jesus Christ my Lord.

In Jesus’ Name!