11-18-2022

Good Morning All,

     John 18:38; “Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

     Our verse today is part of the exchange between Pilate and Jesus during Jesus’ “trial” right before he was crucified.  Pilate was a politician who was wise in the dealings of governmental politics.  He had seen the backstabbing, the double dealing, the feigned friendships, and allegiances.  This was probably a big part of why he was in Jerusalem and not in Rome.  He probably was moved aside from some other job so someone who had bribed or married into the right family. 

    You can almost hear the plaintive request of Pilate.  Jesus had just told him that He had come to “bear witness to the truth.”  You can almost see a somewhat defeated Pilate, knowing that it was jealousy that drove the Scribes and the Pharisees to try and have Jesus crucified.  The Scribes and Pharisees had played their trump ace against Pilate; they challenged his allegiance to Rome if he let Jesus go.  Pilate had played this game before, the truth; that objective distant fact, had nothing to do with this.  This, to Pilate, was politics.  Truth belonged to the team that won, and the winners got to define truth.  It had happened so often that Pilate possibly was really asking Jesus an honest, truthful question; “What is truth?”

    We can, and do, ask that same question today.  It seems like you can’t believe anyone.  It seems that every “fact,” even facts and truths discovered by “scientists,” are and should be questioned.  It seems that every “fact” is paid for by someone who has a stake in the outcome of the debate.  It is not an objective truth that is sought in studies and research but rather a “truth” that fits what I already believe and want to happen.

     What is truth?  One thing is for sure, man does not it possess on his own.  As we watched the political season unfold and we think it is worse than ever; it really isn’t any different than it was 2000 years ago or 5000 years ago or 50 years ago.  All that has changed is the faces and the arguments but the basic human tendency to make the “truth” what I want it to be is as old as sin itself.  Adam and Eve wanted the “truth” to be that they were equal to God. 

     So, what do we do?  Do we hide under a rock and not be part of the society that we live in?  God wants us to be active in this world in order to be a light to this world to be his agents in reconciling man back to God and to each other.  So, what do we do?  Fortunately, Jesus warned his disciples, that’s us, when he tells us to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Mt. 10:16).  Men will lie and try to twist the truth.  So, when men talk; listen as wisely and as craftily as a serpent but when we act or speak let our message be as innocent as doves.   Make sure that the “truths” we are told match up to Scriptures.  This means to know your Scriptures because just as the devil can quote Scriptures, so can a deceitful man. 

     Above all remember that truth is not a what but a who.  Jesus is truth.  He is always the right answer, showing us His truth which he wants us to live by.  Faithful to his Word and loving to his people; a difficult position to be in; but on the right side of truth in our life and our faith.          

Dear Father in heaven, all truth comes from you.  Give us a discerning heart and the wisdom and courage to use it.  Make us instruments of your truth and lead us to bring truth and reconciliation to all men.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret