In
the last few months I have been writing to address many difficult issues, and
more than a few abstract thoughts. I had no idea what I would write when I
started this blog. And I had no idea that one of the smallest postings would
become one of the most popular.
"What is Truth?" It was a short enough essay—more of a scribble really— hardly worthy
of mention; or so I thought. But despite my preconceptions, “What is Truth” remained an article of distinction, and ranked
number one in the top three articles until just recently
“What is Truth?” That really is the question
we’re all asking, isn’t it? Science seeks to discover the truth. Philosophers
debate the meaning of truth. And people get themselves into serious trouble
when they distort the truth. But what is truth?
This
question has probably been asked more times, by more people, than any other query
in human history. But I only know
of one person who got the chance to present this question to the man who
could answer it in its entirety. Pontius Pilate: The man who Crucified Jesus.
John 18:33-40
New
Living Translation (NLT)
33 Then Pilate went
back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you
the king of the Jews?” he asked him.
34 Jesus replied, “Is
this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?”
Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me
for trial. Why? What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My
Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep
me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this
world.”
37 Pilate said, “So
you are a king?”
Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came
into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that
what I say is true.”
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he
went out again to the people ...
After
this, Pilate had Jesus flogged and crucified. He asked the ultimate question to
the God of the universe, but he failed to listen. The Bible goes on to explain the truth in more detail in
several other passages. But these are some of the best.
John 17:17
New
Living Translation (NLT)
17 (Jesus Speaking) Make them holy by your truth; teach them
your word, which is truth.
Psalm 119:160
New
Living Translation (NLT)
160 The very essence
of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.
James 1:17-19
New
Living Translation (NLT)
17 Whatever is good
and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in
the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us
his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
God’s
Word is truth. But God’s word is more than the Bible. God’s Word is Jesus.
John 1:1-5
New
Living Translation (NLT)
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2 He existed in
the beginning with God. 3 God created
everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was
created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
can never extinguish it.
John 1:14
New
Living Translation (NLT)
14 So the Word
became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and
faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only
Son.
And
as Jesus himself put it:
John 14:6-7
New
Living Translation (NLT)
6 ... “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you
do know him and have seen him!”
So
what is truth? The answer was looking Pilate in the face 2,000 years ago. A man, but more than a man. God clothed
in human flesh, waiting for Pilate to give the order that would end His life; so that He could offer life to us all.
That
is truth.
Jesus is Truth.
2 Corinthians 5:21
New
Living Translation (NLT)
21 For God made
Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could
be made right with God through Christ.
Philippians 2:6-11
New
Living Translation (NLT)
6 Though he was
God, he did not think
of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave
up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as
a human being. When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled
himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God
elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth,
11 and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Pilate
saw Jesus face to face. He looked The Truth in the eye, and then washed his
hands of Him.
If you have read this, or any of my other
articles, then you also know the truth. Even if you didn’t before, you do now. And the Bible teaches that each of us will be held accountable for that knowledge
and what we decide to do with it. (Ezekiel 33:8-9, Matthew 25:14-30, Mark 6:10-12,
Luke 10:10-12, Romans 1: 18-32, Romans 2:1-16, etc.)
So the question is: what are you going to do with the truth?
Will you accept the truth of Christ? Or are
will you reject it, like Pilate did?
Are you going to hide the truth under a
basket? Will you burry it in the ground until Christ returns? Or will you invest it in the Kingdom
of God, in fulfillment of the Great Commission?
The choice is yours.
Today is the day of salvation, for the truth will
set you free.
(2 Corinthians 6:2, John 8:32)
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