But it is Good Friday which has always been an important day to me because of its stark reminder of the reality of the Passion of Jesus Christ. I recall from my youth, when my brother and sister and I, at our father’s direction, would pause on this day between noon and three o’clock and read aloud from our Catholic Bible History book and quietly reflect upon those solemn events.
In the years since, I have studied these events in more detail. I am intrigued at the number of trials that Jesus had to endure, especially the one with the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate. Jesus was brought before Pilate having been charged by the Sanhedrin of proclaiming to be the Christ and a king:
And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” (Luke 23:2)
The intention of those who accused Him was to characterize Jesus as a threat against the Roman Government. In the Gospel of John chapter 18, we observe Pilate questioning Jesus concerning this charge against Him. In verse 33, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” While Jesus avoided answering yes or no, instead He answered:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” (John 18:36)
Pilate answered as if annoyed, “So you are a King?” To which Jesus replied:
“You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37)
In apparent frustration, Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Nevertheless, even though he found no guilt in Jesus but because of political expediency, Pilate sent Him to be scourged and crucified.
This question of Pilate’s has reverberated throughout the ages: What is truth? Theologians have suggested various ideas of what Pilate meant by his question, although the context shows that Pilate was certainly perplexed by the situation that confronted him. As he saw it, there was the truth of Jesus’ testimony, the ‘truth’ statement of His accusers, and there was also that which he thought to be ‘truth’—that none of this mattered to him outside of how this unpleasant incident could affect his political standing with Rome. And while Jesus indeed spoke the truth to him, Pilate was confused and would not believe what he heard from Jesus.
So, what is truth? Even today it is very difficult to separate fact from fiction. We have trouble differentiating what is truth within every segment of society: in the workplace, our government, the media, entertainment, and even within the Church. How are we to know what is truth? Are we even able to know what is truth? Happily we can. For there is a standard which God has provided man—His Word. It was devised to enable all mankind to distinguish fact from fiction and therefore to know what is truth.
In the opening verses of his Gospel account, John proclaimed the truth of who Jesus Christ is:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14).
Little did Pilate know that standing before him was the embodiment of truth in the person of the Son of God. Jesus himself testified to this fact in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” And He declared as He prayed to the Father: “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Pilate literally had a close encounter with the “Truth” and turned instead to his own wisdom.
The truth of God, revealed in His Son, Jesus Christ, and explained by His written Word, is what we see being rejected in our own culture today. His truth is meant to give meaning and purpose for all mankind, and to answer the questions that men have concerning God and His creation. For the truth is that God provided redemption all mankind by the death of His Son on the cross. Jesus Christ bore the penalty for our sins, as Peter wrote:
And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
We Christians should endeavor to make known His truth by permeating His truth into every area of our present culture—with family, in the workplace, with all who we come in contact. We should aspire to ensure that no one ever asks: “What is truth?”
another one well written
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