“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. John 18:38 NLT
There is a terrible irony in Pilate’s well-known question. Jesus had said that those who were “of the truth” recognized that what he said was true. That, of course, implicitly asked whether Pilate was “of the truth.” Pilate dived for the philosophical question like a drowning man for a life preserver.
People debated that question long before Pilate was born and have debated it long after his death, but, in fact, the matter is not nearly as abstruse as the philosophers like to make it. The truth is nothing more than what is so, and behavior that reflects what is so. So the Bible tells us again and again that God is true (usually translated in English, “faithful.” But see, for instance, Ps 100:5 KJV “…and his truth endures to all generations.”) If God says he will do something, it is so. He will! He is true to his word. Praise his name!
So, Pilate, what is truth? The truth is simply that Jesus has done nothing worthy of crucifixion, and you know it! This is not a big philosophical riddle. The truth is staring you in the face, and what are you going to do about it? Are you going to be “of the truth” and refuse to be railroaded by a screaming crowd that has been manipulated by some aristocratic priests whose prerogatives have been trampled upon by this Galilean peasant? No, you will deny the truth and sign the death warrant of a man you know to be innocent. Your standing with the Ceasar is on the line, and truth cannot stand up to that.
So what about you and me? Truth is not relative. What is so, is so. Theft by any other name is still theft. Innocence is still innocence. If you made a promise, it is so, whether keeping that promise later seems like fun or not. Why? Because we are “of the truth.” We belong to One who is true, all the way to the Cross. Don’t deny what is so, either for gain or favor, or, God forbid, convenience. Be true.
Called To Be Transformed 