Joseph Caiaphas was high priest from 18A.D. to 36A.D., and he was in charge of Jesus' first trial, which was a bad thing for Jesus because, according to John, Caiaphas had already determined that it was better for Jesus to die than to allow him to stir up trouble with the Romans. (John 11:50) Pontius Pilate was the prefect of Judea and he handled Jesus' second trial, which was also an ominous thing because he was know for his violent acts and corruption. Pilate wasn't particularly concerned with the charges the Jews levied against Jesus, but he was concerned with threats to the Pax Romana (the Roman Peace). Therefore, when they met, Pilate asked Jesus if he was a king, and Jesus told Pilate that he had been born to bear witness to "the truth." He added that all people who are "of the truth hear my voice." Then, just before he left to speak to the Jewish leaders, Pilate asked Jesus this question- WHAT IS TRUTH? What is truth? To Pilate and Caiaphas, power was truth and might was right! They believed that "truth" was in the hands of those who could define and enforce it.
But what do you say? What is truth to you? Shakespeare noted that life is like a walking shadow- an illusion- a poor actor who struts and frets for his hour on stage and is never heard of again. Is that the truth for all of us? The Ecclesiastes preacher (1:1) cries, "Vanities of vanities. All is vanity. Generations come and go; the suns rises and sets; the rivers flow... but there is nothing new under the sun. Same o' same o'- is that the truth for you? In Greek mythology a man named Sisyphus is sentenced to a life in which he struggles to push a huge rock up a hill... only to watch it roll back down again. Is this the truth of it... or is the truth something that I've experienced, seen, or come to know? Is is absolute... or relative? Does it change with time... or remain forever true? Some people believe that- since we're all blind- the truth is like the proverbial elephant, who can only be known in part... because one of us comes in contact with the trunk, one with a leg, one with the tail... and so forth. In this view, truth is just an opinion... and opinions are a dime a dozen.
"What is Truth?" Pilate's question is the world's question and it is our question. Religious history has dealt harshly with Caiaphas, Pilate, and the poor fools who hollered, "Give us Barabbas," but the spotlight now falls on us. What do we say? Surely we won't ask Jesus if he's a king because we know that he is the King of kings. Right? And none of us would ever give in to mob rule and cry out, "Release Barabbas... and crucify this man called Jesus!" Would we? Surely, we are among those who are "of the truth" because we know that Jesus died on Calvary's cross for our sin. We know that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, to Cephas, and to the twelve... as they hid behind closed doors. Jesus lives. We know this, and we know that he ascended to his Father's right hand, where he sits in glory to this hour. We know that he will come again and take us to himself, that where he is, we may also be. We know all of this, and knowing it... we would never trust in a lesser god.... or believe that the truth can be many different things. Would we?
Jesus plainly said, "I am the truth," and so... now it's on the table! We know what he said and what he did- so now it's just a matter of living as if He is the truth. Surely we would never be confused or caught off-guard by Pilate's question, and if he (or anyone else) asked us today-what is truth- we would respond right away- Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and The Truth!
The truth was as close to Pilate as the nose on his face and he didn't even see Him! Surely, that could never happen to us. Right?
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