Jump Start # 3659
John 18:38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.”
Our verse today comes from the spineless Roman puppet ruler, Pilate. He faced a major problem. The Jews were demanding the execution of Jesus. The charges brought against Jesus were flimsy, and without evidence. Pilate questioned Jesus. He saw nothing worth taking a person’s life over. This was a Jewish squabble and he didn’t want to get involved, especially be in the middle of it. But the Jews pulled Pilate into this mess. They threatened, either give us what we want, and that was the execution of Jesus, or we’ll report you to Rome and Caesar will deal with you.
To save face, Pilate suggested an exchange. Jesus or Barabbas. Now, that just wasn’t any random name pulled from the prison role. He was a murderer. He was trouble. No one would want him on the streets. No one was safe if he was allowed to roam free. Jesus or Barabbas. No choice at all. Keep the bad guy behind bars. Shockingly, the people asked for the murderer to be released. Jesus was to be executed. The hatred of Jesus blinded their eyes to what they were doing.
In this atmosphere, Jesus to Pilate, says, “Every one who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate shoots back, “What is truth?”
And, that very question from that Roman official is often asked today. Just what is truth? And, before one can begin an honest journey with the Lord, that question must be asked and answered. If it is not, “why should I,” and, “Do I have to,” will be raised over and over and over.
Consider:
First, truth is determined by an outside source. You don’t walk into a store to buy something and lay down a twenty dollar bill and tell the clerk, to me, this is a fifty. The clerk will remind you, “it says, twenty.” And, you say, “I know. But twenty means fifty.” And, about that time, security will be escorting you to the front doors.
Why is 12 inches, 12 inches? Why is up, up? Why is red, red? Why is out of bounds, out of bounds? Why is right, right and left, left? Why is wrong, wrong? Those things have been determined and established long ago. We use those standards all the time. Speed limits. Road signs. Cooking instructions. All of these standards have been established. One can’t change them just because they want to. One can’t declare that “up is now down.” That doesn’t work.
We understand this when going to a hardware store to buy a specific length of board. But, somehow culture doesn’t get this when it comes to religion or gender.
Second, truth, by it’s very nature is exclusive, not inclusive. One and one are two, we teach the little ones. That’s it. Now, one and three aren’t two. One and four aren’t two. And, on and on we can go. The number of wrong answers are without limit. There is one right answer. The right answer is narrow, specific and exclusive.
Isn’t this the nature of Ephesians four? One God. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One hope. One body. One, one, one. Not two, two, two. So, God declares what is right, what is truth. We may not see it His way, but His way is the right way.
Third, my dislike of the truth or even my rejection of truth, doesn’t change what is true. I was preaching recently in Arkansas. There are stretches of the highway where the speed limit is 75 MPH. I know of no place in Indiana where the speed limit is 75. I may not like driving 55. I may wish the law changed. But if I’m driving 75 in Indiana and get pulled over, my defense can’t be, “I don’t like the speed limit.”
So, someone declares, “I don’t like baptism, especially immersion. I am going to believe that you don’t have to be baptized.” Guess what? That doesn’t change the Lord’s command to be baptized. “I don’t like getting up and going to the church house on Sunday morning. I want to stay in bed.” Guess what? That doesn’t change what God says about assembling with the saints. “I don’t want to apologize.” “I don’t want to forgive.” The word of God is not a salad bar where you pick what you want and can skip the things you don’t like.
Truth stands and remains, whether I like it, embrace it, or ignore it. But, if I ignore it, there are consequences. And, if I abide in the truth, there are blessings. God knows us. He knows what we need.
What is truth? Do you know?
Roger