By Chalcedony Williams
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 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’?”
But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
John 18:38-40 NLT
He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
1 Peter 2:22-23 NLT
In today’s first scripture, Pontius Pilate asks, "What is truth?” This is often the question we see people asking themselves in our postmodern world today. We often see ourselves as the judges, as Pilate was, with the authority to decide what is true. But what is our measuring line? What tools do we have to determine and define truth? To many, truth is personal, based on how we feel, based on how convincing someone’s testimony is, based on how convenient an outcome is. We often use truth to serve ourselves and our own interests, rejecting evidence and ignoring every argument that contradicts our own point of view.
This is the predicament that Pilate found himself in. He considered Jesus to be innocent. But he was backed into a corner in a political chess game, trying to figure out the truth whilst trying to maintain relations with the angry Jewish citizens of his boss’ empire. His job was to keep the peace and dispense justice – two things at odds with each other if keeping the peace means keeping the crowd happy. So, rather than conducting a full investigation and drawing a fair conclusion, Pilate gave in to the pressure of the Pharisees and their followers – “crucify Him”. The “truth” that was heard in the courts that day was that Jesus was a liar, guilty of blasphemy and guilty of treason.
But here is something true about truth. It remains true. Regardless of what we think, feel or say, it has no real bearing on what is true. Not only that but there is One who sees and knows everything. God, the Almighty, the just and true Judge, is the One who has the final say on every matter. Jesus did not need to defend Himself; He did not need to fight against His accusers or bend over backwards to prove His innocence. Not only that, but as the Son of God, Jesus revealed Himself to His followers as “the truth”. In other words, He cannot lie, and He has the final say.
As citizens of the Kingdom of heaven, we will be public opposers of the world’s systems and ideologies, we will stand for truth even when it is unpopular and, as a result, we will be persecuted and accused. As human beings, we often want to convince others of our innocence; we seek to be exonerated in the eyes of those around us. The thought of people believing something untrue about us can be unbearable. But, if we follow Jesus’ example, then we realise that we do not need to do that. Because the only eyes that matter, the only verdict that sticks is that of our heavenly Father. And so, Jesus entrusted Himself to His Father’s hands, knowing that, in the end, the truth will out.
God’s verdict on that day was “not guilty”. And He demonstrated that to the whole world by raising Jesus from the dead. The grave could not hold the spotless, sinless Son of God. And that, my friends, is the truth we hold fast to, the good news we proclaim and the future we look forward to. When the “not guilty” verdict will be declared by our King when we too rise from the grave.
Ask: How do unbelievers define truth?
Seek: Have you ever been falsely accused? How did that make you feel? Have you ever falsely accused someone? What made you sure you were right?
Knock: In prayer, praise Jesus for His perfect sacrifice on the cross. Repent of times when you have falsely accused others. Ask God to help you receive and trust His verdict about you – if you have given your life to Jesus, then you have been declared “not guilty”.
