Pilate asked perhaps the most significant question of all time when He asked Jesus, “What is Truth?”
Pilate’s question came at the end of an interesting question and answer exchange between Pilate and Jesus.
The Jews had delivered Jesus to Pilate for the final necessary sanctioning of His Crucifixion.
Pilate began his questioning of Jesus by asking, “Are You the king of the Jews?” (John 18:33)
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about Me?” (John 18:34)
Jesus had asked His Disciples a similar question, as recorded in
Matthew 16:13-20.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His Disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Jesus asks us the same question. He is not so much interested in what others have told us about Him. He wants us to come to our own conclusions.
He wants to know Who we say He is. He invites us to be participants in Life, not just spectators of how others try to live life.
So now let’s go back to Pilate.
After more questions and answers, Jesus told Pilate why He had come into the world.
“In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to The Truth. Everyone on the side of Truth listens to Me.” (John 18:37)
Pilate, who was standing in The Presence of All Truth, retorted, “What is Truth?” (John 18: 38)
But he didn’t hang around long enough to explore it further with Jesus. He thought he knew what the truth was. And what he believed was the truth was not giving him peace. It was giving him indigestion.
How are you doing with The Truth? Are there truths you have come to know that you would stake your life on? Do your beliefs bring you anxiety or Peace?
Let’s start with the question Jesus asked. Hear Him talking directly to you.
“Tell Me the truth, (insert your name). What about you? Who do you say I am?”
