4 things we learn about the truth from the Truth

This is a portion of a sermon I preached recently. I taught from John 18:28-38 and 19:19-22.

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.  So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”  “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.- John 18:28-40(NIV)

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”- John 19:19-22 (NIV)

We all have our truths that we hold on to. As we get older, the truth we knew as a kid changes. When I was 4 years old, maybe 6, I was stung by yellow jackets. My older brother and I were attacked by a swarm. In my opinion, there were at least 500, but I know there was probably 50-ish. I don’t know how many came out of my hair and other parts of my body. As I get older, I add details to that story only because my truth seems to shift as the memory shifts.

When Jesus is speaking to Pilate, He shares the true meaning of Truth. There are four ideas that we discover through Jesus referring to Himself as the Truth.

Truth always…

1) Challenges: Truth will challenge everything you know or believe you know.
Truth will cause you to question concepts of your culture, society, economic system, social classes, and much more. You will weigh everything by the Truth and you will discover parts of your life that do not match up to the Truth and will challenge you to fix, change, or do away with parts of who you are. Pilate was challenged to think about t truth. So much so that he asked, “What is truth?” Then, he came to the conclusion that the Truth was right in front of Him as the king of the Jews.

2) Stays Consistent: Jesus never shifted character as His ministry went on. He continued loving people, serving people, and caring for humanity. He never sinned and never became vengeful. He had been smacked, accused, spit on, and more before going in front of Pilate. Yet, He maintained a humble attitude and shared the Truth with Pilate.

3) Liberates: Jesus came to set the captives free. He came to relieve us from the burden of sin and reconcile us with our Creator. Even when He knew His life was going to end on earth, He continued to free people. Barabbas, a criminal who was known for causing problems in the community, should not have been let go. Through Christ’s willingness to remain humble and silent in order to fulfill His purpose, Barabbas was released. Freedom was Christ’s message and it continued to His death.

4) Stands On It’s Own: Christ didn’t need people with signs out in front of the palace saying He was Jesus. He did not need to have a group of people yelling on His behalf. In fact, the very people who should have been doing so fled the scene. The Truth will always stand on it’s own and will, reveal itself to be true without a battle.

Jesus said, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me”. If we are listening to Christ’s words, then we will live in freedom, we live to challenge the status quo, we will live consistent with His words, and we will live standing on His words without feeling the need to defend ourselves for serving, loving, and caring for humanity.

May we live and walk in the Truth. May the world around us long to know the Truth that we know in order to experience a full life as Christ intended for His creation.

Peace and blessings friends.

QUESTION: Do you have a “true” story in your life that has changed as time has gone by?