by Tracey McMahan
It was a day like no other. The King of kings stood before the governor of the land. Pilate asked, “Are You a king?” And Jesus answered, “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.”
It was a day like no other. The King of kings stood before the governor of the land. Pilate asked, “Are You a king?” And Jesus answered, “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.”
Then Pilate asked a question that has reverberated down through the centuries like a gong that still echoes, “What is truth?”
At this point in the story, do you, like me, want to grab Pilate by the shoulders, shake him soundly, and shout, “What is wrong with you? You are staring into the very face of truth! Truth stands before you, truth incarnate! Open your eyes and see the One who is the very definition of truth!”
But sadly, Pilate wasn’t really seeking an answer to his immensely profound question, was he? If he had been, he never would have asked it in the first place, for Jesus had just answered that very question: “It is I who testifies to the truth.”
Let’s pause a moment on this day of remembrance, this Good Friday. Let’s take a step back and ask one another a slightly different question. “How would you have answered Pilate’s question, a question many still ask today – What is truth?”
The Greek word for truth, aletheia, is full and rich. It takes into account the reality of what clearly lies before our eyes as opposed to the mere appearance of something not grounded in reality. It is something pure, free from all error or falsehood. It is sincere holiness and divine doctrine, standing in stark contrast to all that is unrighteous, wrong and counterfeit.
According to Jesus, the word of God is truth, and He prayed to the Father that His followers would be sanctified (made pure and holy) by the perfect and divine word of truth (John 17:17).
The Holy Spirit is truth, and Jesus promised that the Helper would abide with us and be in us forever (John 14:16-17). The Spirit came to guide us into all truth, taking the wisdom of Jesus and disclosing it to all who trust in Him (John 16:13).
Jesus Himself is truth and the only way to God the Father (John 14:6). The truth found in Christ manifests itself in the lives of believers, allowing a transformation to take place as our old nature is replaced by a new nature of true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:21-24).
Now return with me to the day we began with. Truth stood before a man blinded by fear, lies and disbelief. In a few short hours, Pilate would condemn Truth to death, and Satan would sing. But the enemy’s supposed victory would be short-lived indeed. For Truth would be gloriously resurrected. He would take up permanent residence not only in heaven at the right hand of the Father of Truth, but also in the hearts, minds, spirits and souls of those who seek Him, who desire to walk in His ways, and who recognize their desperate need of rescue and restoration.
On that Good Friday two thousand years ago, Truth was nailed to a cross and left to die.
But on the first Easter morning, Truth rolled back the massive stone and came forth a Conqueror. From that day forward you and I, together with all the saints who have gone before, can answer once and for all Pilate’s question of questions, “What is truth?”
Shout out the answer with me, dear friend! Truth – His name is Jesus. And He is alive forever more!
What has the Truth spoken in your life recently?
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