City Life Starter

The Word

“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.

³⁸ “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.

Exegesis

“What is truth?”

Pilate’s tone may not be carried directly through the words of the gospel of John, but one could imagine what Pilate was thinking. He didn’t want to find out the truth and didn’t want to make the effort to do so. Pilate’s truth was what was material, what was tangible, and what was then, the power of Rome. For him to question this truth could mean an end to all that he knew and wanted to hold on to.

Yet, I believe that Pilate was hesitant. He wanted to believe that Jesus could be the truth, but refused to make any sort of effort to find out. As if, giving up on the question because the implications of what Jesus said could mean a life changing decision. So he did not want to take any effort to find out.

Though, with all that Pilate thought, he didn’t see Jesus as a threat to his position that was given to him by Rome. Jesus wasn’t a threat to Pilate and thus, Pilate let Him go. We may wonder if Pilate contemplated the question of Truth ever again. My hope is that he did.

Application

We may have those friends who we provide testimony of Jesus and the Truth, but they refuse to make any effort to find out for themselves. They will start to defend other religions or ways of life, wondering if Christianity has the actual Truth.

Do not be discouraged, keep praying for your friends. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to allow them to truly seek after Truth and to find it in the full embodiment of Jesus. He is the true King and we are His light to the world around us…the Kingdom of Heave on this earth.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for always being the best example for us in life. Let us not be hindered by the question of Truth, one that we find in You and what You have done for us on the Cross. Help us to pray for others so that they to will seek after you and after Truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.