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"What is Truth"
John 18:28-40

Many years ago, about the time I graduated from high school, a new game show debuted on TV. Actually, it wasn’t new, it had already been a successful show some years back, but it now had a new host and a new set, and a new audience. And, this show has had a big impact on society, believe it or not. It helped spur on the trivia challenge in America. The game Trivial Pursuit became one of the fastest and best selling games of all time. It seemed as though almost everyone loved answering questions. This show however, did things a little differently, instead of answering questions, the contestants were given the answers and had to come up with the proper question. All of their responses therefore had to be in the form of a question. Of course the gameshow is Jeopardy, and they just had their tenth anniversary challenge several weeks ago. I had a teacher in 7th grade named Mr. Bloom, and he used this a Jeopardy style game to help teach us about world geography. Guess what, it worked. I still know that the capital of Nepal is Katmandu. I thought that since this worked so well in teaching me geography, that it might just work pretty well when it comes to learning various aspects of the Bible. Last year, the junior and senior began a study of the last few hours of Christ’s life. In fact, we spent over 4 months on just a little over a day in the life of Christ. Needless to say, a lot happened in those 24-36 hours. After each four lessons, we paired the senior high off against the junior high in a game of Jeopardy. It was a lot of fun, and we learned a great deal.

Several weeks ago when I preached, we discussed who Jesus was and what God’s plan for him was, based on Philippians chapter 2. Tonight we are going to take an even closer look at Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth, which we just celebrated (and still should be if you remember the challenge from that message). To do that, I thought we might begin by using a bit of the Jeopardy method to review some of the important facts, so we are all on the same level. I will supply the answer, and you are to come up with the proper question.

1. The village where Jesus was born.

What is Bethlehem?

2. He was Roman Governor at the time of Jesus’ trial.

Who was Pontius Pilate?

3. Despite his power, Jesus displayed this quality during his life and death.

What is humility?

4. Though they wanted to execute Jesus, they lacked the legal authority to do so.

Who are the Jews (or Jewish leaders)?

5. This term describes Jesus’ nature as being 100% God and 100% man.

What is the hypostatic union?

Good work, how did you do? The reason for all the Answers and questions, is that the text we will look at tonight is mostly dialog and most of that is in the form of a question. Why all the questions? And, what are the answers, lets see. Take your Bibles and turn to John 18:28-40.

There are six main questions in this section. Along with those six questions, we will find that there are some amazing answers, and some profound non-answers.

1. What charges are you bringing against this man?

Pilate naturally assumed that if they were bringing someone to him in a trial situation, they would present a list of the specific charges. This was the proper procedure for an arraignment. Charges were always presented. Even the Law Code of Hammurabi which was written some 1800 years before Pilate relied on the presentation of charges. Pilate wanted to know what charges the Jews had against this man.

Their response came not as a polite and legal reading of the charges, but rather in the form of a snobbish jab at Pilate and what amounted to a non-answer. The Jewish leaders snidely said to Pilate that they wouldn’t have turned Jesus over to him if he wasn’t a criminal. Interesting to note here that the word translated "handed over" in the NIV or "deliver up" in the KJV is translated nearly as often in other passages as "betray." (Mat. 20:19) John intentionally uses this word to describe what the Jews were really doing with Jesus. The only hint of a charge, is found in their uses of the word criminal, which actually meant "evil-doer." The truth was, there were no real charges, just trumped up emotion. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus was charged with doing the exact opposite from what he was doing. In any case, the Jews were put off by what they thought was Pilate’s unnecessary call to legal order. "Look, we say he is a criminal, and that ought to be enough for you to know." Pilate was not in the mood to continue this game, so he simply told them, "If you think he did something wrong, than you judge him under your law."

What the Jews said next, I am sure surprised Pilate. The Jews told Pilate that they wanted this criminal put to death, and they knew they didn’t have the legal authority to do that under Roman rule. Pilate had perhaps underestimated how serious they were about this man. But he didn’t look much like a criminal. What could he have possibly done to get these people to hate him so much?

This leads us to the second question. Read verse 33

2. Are you the King of the Jews?

Pilate leaves his courtyard, and returns back into his room, where he then has Jesus brought before him. Pilate wants to know what is going on here. You might ask yourself where did this question come from. Pilate didn’t seem to have much knowledge of what was going on or who Jesus was. But, he was told that Jesus was some self-styled King of the Jews. It sounded as if they were making Jesus out to be some radical revolutionary. Pilate asks the question with a sense of incredulity. The words "are you" or "art thou" are emphatic and thusly so in all four gospel accounts. Pilate couldn’t believe that this guy was a revolutionary, look at him! Why then was this the first question he asked Jesus? Jesus himself was wondering that, and so he did not answer Pilate’s question, but rather responded with a question of his own. Read 34-35a.

3. Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?

It is interesting to think about the conversation that is taking place. Pilate is from Rome, and no doubt can speak both Latin and Greek. Jesus is from Judea and conversed probably predominately in the language of the region which was Aramaic. In what language then did they converse? It is unlikely that Pilate would have learned or even cared to learn Aramaic. Jesus, of course, being who he was, could have chosen to speak in any language he pleased, and no doubt surprised Pilate by speaking directly to him without an interpreter. Jesus wanted to know if Pilate was speaking for himself, and really seeking the answers to Jesus’ identity, or whether he was just repeating a question that the Jews had told him to ask Jesus, and thereby setting a trap. If Pilate was asking for himself, then he meant "Are you a political King, conspiring against Caesar?" The answer to that was "No." If he were asking on prompting from Caiaphas or the other Jewish leaders, then he meant "Are you the Messianic King of Israel?" The answer to that of course would have been yes. So Jesus is asking Pilate to tell him who was really asking that question, so Jesus could answer it properly. Pilate did not answer Jesus straight forward, probably because he was a little taken aback by the fact that Jesus had even dared ask Pilate a question, and by the fact that he spoke in Pilate’s native tongue.

Pilate first asks fecisiously, "Do I look like a Jew?" In other words, Pilate is stating that of course it was a question from the Jews, why would he care or know anything about this whole thing. He tells Jesus, "Hey, look, it is your people who have brought you here, I don’t really care about his whole thing, but they do." He then asked the next important question of Jesus, even without receiving an answer to his first scripted question. Read verse 35

4. What is it that you have done?

Pilate decided to abandon the Jews’ line of questioning, and simply inquires of Jesus, from his own interest, "what have you done to get these people, your own people, to hate you so much?" Pilate seemed baffled by the whole thing, and just wanted to find out what was at the root of this odd case. Instead of answering this question directly, knowing that Pilate needs a little civics reminder, Jesus returns to the first question and begins to answer it with explanation.

Jesus tells Pilate that he is not a King of this world. I am not like your king, Caesar, or like King Herod, if I were that kind of a king, a political king, my followers would have attempted to, and still would be attempting to free me by use of physical force. Pilate would understand this process all too well. That is the way the world worked. He had seen it happen several times himself no doubt. Earthly rulers never went out quietly...Pilate’s thoughts probably trailed off for a moment thinking back to the last time the emperor had been deposed or about when it was going to happen again, and how that was going to effect his political position, it was important to always be on the right side. If you stood with the current emperor, and he was overthrown, the new emperor might have you tossed out as well, or even killed. But if the coupe attempt failed, and you had sided with them, then the present emperor would kill you as a traitor. It was very shaky ground sometimes, and Pilate being a politician new that all too well...but what was that, not of this world stuff? What did he mean by that? How could a kingdom be not of this world. This guy is a loony bird. But Pilate had at least heard Jesus say something about a kingdom, or so he thought. Pilate’s response is recorded as a question in the KJV and a exclamation in the NIV. Actually, it is a little of both. It is question, yet at the same time it is a ironical statement. It carries with it the weight of "You are a king then?!" It is almost laughable to Pilate to even think it.

Jesus finally answers Pilate straight out. I picture Jesus, sternly and confidently, yet gently, looking into Pilate’s incredulous Roman eyes and explaining. First he tells Pilate, in so many words, "You said it, not me, but if you are going to put it that way, I can scarcely say no."

The answer Jesus then gives is a defining moment. The stage is bare except for these two men who stand face to face in the spotlight at center stage. The hustle and bustle and commotion that has encircled Jesus for 3 years is silenced for this moment. All the other players in the passion narrative are temporarily gone. Pilate is the only one who will hear Jesus’ response as he continues...

Jesus defines for Pilate the whole reason he has come to earth, what his purpose is, and what he as God stands for. Truth. This statement is so heavy, and so weighted, it is even difficult to grasp its complete meaning today. Jesus is telling someone that he was born into the world, but not because his parents decided they wanted a child, but rather, Jesus came, he decided to, according to the will of God, to come into the world. He chose to be born. That is a loaded concept huh. Who else has chosen to be born? Jesus is claiming his pre-existence. His purpose in coming was to testify or witness to the truth, not the truth as opposed to that which is false, but the ultimate religious TRUTH about God. Jesus then digs into the heart of Pilate, asking him, albeit in a veiled sense, if Pilate cares about the TRUTH. Jesus tells Pilate that those on the side of truth listen to him. Jesus has drawn a line for Pilate. Either you listen to me and are on the side of truth, or you don’t listen to me and don’t care about truth. It is a logical argument for Jesus to make and should provoke one into making a choice, and the choice should be obvious. But rather than admitting to the validity of Jesus’ statement, Pilate utters the next and perhaps most dramatic and profound question found in the Bible? Read verse 38

5. What is Truth?

How do you think Pilate asked this question? Did he say it flippantly? Did he say it earnestly? Did he say it sarcastically? How did he ask this question? We can tell how he asked it, by looking at what happened next. Pilate left. He did not wait for a response from Jesus, and Jesus did not stop him. For Pilate, truth didn’t mean much. Religious truth was just a bunch of superstition. The only truth he knew was based in his world, and even in that reality truth was pretty subjective. The word didn’t mean much. Oh sure, you could explain it in a way that might make people agree with you, and thus you would gain political favor. But it was mainly just a gimmick. What was truth today, might not be truth tomorrow. That was certainly Pilate’s experience. So who was this guy to talk about truth like it was a matter of life and death. Whatever the case, Pilate didn’t even care to hear if Jesus had a response, his question was rhetorical. Pilate was probably afraid of the truth. His mind was made up about the world, and he didn’t want anyone confusing him with facts. "Look, don’t try to shatter my reality with your version of truth, I don’t want hear it." Jesus’ response to Pilate’s million dollar question is impressive. Shhh, can you hear it? The silence is deafening. No verbal response was necessary. Jesus knew that Pilate was not on his side, and would not listen to reason. Jesus’ answer came through actions. His death and resurrection on the cross were his answer to Pilate. Pilate you want to know what truth is, do you really want to know what truth is, I’ll tell you what truth is. Truth is that you are going to hell unless you believe in me. Truth is that there is no hope for mankind unless I had come to earth. Truth is that God hates your sin, and the sin of your Rome, and the sin of all mankind. Truth is that your political position means nothing. Truth is that your world and society is devoid of righteousness and absolutes. Truth is that I am the way, and the truth, and the life, and no man, whether king or pauper, comes to the Father but through me. That’s truth Pilate. But Pilate didn’t care about the real truth, he had all the information he wanted. Jesus wasn’t a criminal, but neither was he some Godlike king.

Those are the only two choices though. Not only for Pilate, but also for the world and for us. Jesus is either who he says he is, or he is a liar and evil-doer. "Of course he is who he says he is," the Christian world says. But, God’s TRUTH has been watered down so much by society, that many of us often see the TRUTH of God’s word as nothing more than friendly advice that we can disregard or negotiate as we see fit. The truth becomes our toy, or politcal gimmick like what Pilate thought it to be. We want everyone to be happy, rather than calling everyone to righteousness. We seek to fulfill peoples needs rather than fill them with the spirit. We are interested in satisfaction, not in holy dissatisfaction with all that is wrong. We look to provide a big umbrella under which more people can fit, rather than drawing a righteous line in the sand and demanding that people make a choice. That is what Jesus did for Pilate. He drew the line for Pilate. What is it going to be Pilate? What are you going to stand for? Like Pilate, we back away from that type of question all too often, but our non-decision is a decision. You see, the TRUTH matters, and the TRUTH is black and white, not gray and subjective like Pilate’s conception of it. Our acceptance of the TRUTH is the only thing that will define our relationship with God. John Piper has written:

Our concern with truth is an inevitable expression of our concern with God. If God exists then he is the measure of all things, and what he thinks about all things is the measure of what we should think. Not to care about truth is not to care about God. To love God passionately is to love truth passionately. Being God-centered in life means being truth-driven in ministry. What is not true is not of God. What is false is anti-God. Indifference to the truth is indifference to the mind of God. Pretense is rebellion against reality and what makes reality reality is God. Our concern with truth is simply an echo of our concern with God.

Pilate understood truth only within the terms of what it meant to him. Evangelicals have become infected with much of that same philosophy which has bled over from society. We hear people speak with reference to the Bible, "To me this verse means..." or "I believe this passage says..." or "I think what God really means by that is..." the TRUTH of God’s word is being emasculated by such subjectivism. TRUTH evaporates in this atmosphere of vagueness and ambiguity.

Pilate had TRUTH standing right in front of him, but he didn’t want to face it. Reality was too harsh, and so he reverted back to the way of the politician. (favors for God) "I don’t think Jesus is a bad guy, maybe a little odd, but basically a pretty good guy (certainly not God though), so I’ll see if I can do him a little favor and smooth this whole thing out for him. I’ll help end this whole controversy and in the end be seen as a good sensitive, wise ruler."

And so we come to the final question of the passage. Another question and answer filled with irony. Read verses 38-40

6. Do you want me to release the "King of the Jews?"

Pilate is at his political best, and at his spiritual worst. Rather than turning loose someone he knows is innocent, this would upset and anger the Jews, or rather than turning over Jesus to the angry mob, this wouldn’t sit with his conscience or, be just for this odd man, Pilate pulls a quick fix solution out of that hat that he is confident will insure a peaceful end to this whole situation. He offers the crowd the opportunity to release one prisoner, either Jesus, who is of no real danger to anyone Pilate thinks, or Barabbas, who he knows the people really hate. They will pick Jesus, and that will be that. Instead, Pilate’s attempt fails, as the crowd, without hesitation shouts out loudly for him to release Barabbas. There are two ironies here. First, Barabbas is an Aramaic name which means "son of a father." The people choose to release a "son of a father," and kill "THE SON of THE FATHER." Secondly, John tells us that Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. He had done exactly what they were falsely charging Jesus of. They preferred rebelliousness to the truth. Human nature has not changed much in 2000 years has it. Men continue to desire rebellion more than the truth of God.

We as Christians cannot afford to buy into the idea of subjective truth. We can’t allow ourselves to be drawn into the den of compromise for harmony sake or for the sake of public popularity. Jesus did not come to earth to become popular, he came, as he said, to be a witness to the truth. We must let the TRUTH stand. We cannot shy away from challenges for fear of them being taken as confrontational. We cannot build our house on the fence or middle ground and proclaim victory. As with Jesus’ life and words, the truth draws a line. The word of God is polemic. Sin and death stand directly opposed to righteousness and life. Don’t buy into the worldly version of the Gospel which seeks to accommodate an in so doing looses all impact. Let the truth stand, and stand for the truth, for as Jesus said, everyone on the side of truth listens to me.

Are you listening to Jesus. Are you listening to him in your everyday life. Are your ears tuned into his word, or are you merely seeking to hear what sounds good or sound comfortable. Do you like only to have your ears tickled, as 2 Timothy 4:3 points out, or do you have the courage to learn, live and apply the TRUTH. Are you seeking God’s truth, weather it be on issues like adultery, divorce, pornography, homosexuality, smoking, drinking, or weather it is concerning God’s power and influence and actual place in your life. Are you listening to Jesus? He’s asking you today, everything else is quiet, its just Jesus and you, and he is asking where you stand, he asking what side your on.

Uknown to Pilate, he did get one thing right.

Todays final Jeopardy answer is:

Jesus Christ.

The correct question is:

What is Truth?