How does Pilate's question, "What is truth?" challenge our understanding of truth today? The Courtroom Moment • John 18:37-38 paints a tense scene: Jesus declares, “For this reason I was born … to testify to the truth.” • Pilate replies, “What is truth?”—a dismissive shrug that ends the interrogation. • In that instant two worldviews collide: Eternal Truth incarnate stands before a cynical governor who sees truth as negotiable. Pilate’s Skepticism Then, Cultural Skepticism Now • Pilate treats truth as abstract and unattainable; many today echo the same attitude. • Relativism insists, “Your truth is yours, mine is mine,” but Scripture treats truth as fixed and knowable. • Romans 1:25 warns of trading “the truth of God for a lie,” highlighting the danger of redefining reality. Jesus Defines Truth • John 14:6—“I am the way and the truth and the life.” Truth is not merely a concept; it is embodied in Christ. • John 17:17—“Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” God’s written Word shares the same unchangeable nature as the Living Word. • Truth, therefore, is: – Objective (rooted in God’s character) – Revealed (spoken through Scripture) – Personal (found in relationship with Jesus) Why Pilate’s Question Still Stings • It exposes the human heart’s tendency to dodge accountability. • It reveals the gap between intellectual curiosity and moral commitment: Pilate wants information without transformation. • It challenges every listener to decide whether truth is negotiable or authoritative. Absolute Truth in an Age of Options • 2 Timothy 3:16 affirms, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching.” God’s Word remains the measuring rod. • Ephesians 4:25 urges believers to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully,” showing that doctrine shapes ethics. • The Bible’s accuracy and literalness anchor us when culture shifts. Living the Answer • Receive the Truth: Embrace Jesus as the definitive revelation of reality. • Renew the Mind: Filter every claim—news, entertainment, opinion—through Scripture’s lens. • Reflect the Truth: Practice honesty, integrity, and love; truth isn’t just believed, it’s displayed. • Rest in the Truth: In a world of spin, God’s unchanging Word offers stability and peace. The Takeaway Pilate’s cynical “What is truth?” still echoes, but Scripture silences the doubt: truth stands revealed in Jesus and the written Word. The question is no longer whether truth exists, but whether we will submit to it and let it transform every part of life. |
    |