What is Truth? This profound question was once asked by the Roman Governor of Palestine Pontius Pilate, in John 18:38 Pilate asked Jesus what is truth. Pontius Pilate could not possibly comprehend who this man was standing before him. Pilate as Procurator must have heard rumors about this man who wandered about preaching and talking about God, after all he was the governing authority of the region. Pilate was a Roman and though he was more than likely briefed on Palestine and the customs and religious beliefs of the Jews he would not fully understand the Jews, their religion, or their God. Yet here he was in this time and place faced with the very Creator of the universe and all that exists. In verse 37 Pilate asked Jesus art though a King. and Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate must have been taken aback, who was this man speaking so plainly to him did he not know he had the power to release him, spare him from the torture and death to come. Somehow though Pilate felt uneasy, disturbed in his spirit there was something about this man. Pilates wife had even warned him not to have anything to do with this just man. Now this accused man, this Jew stands before him claiming to be a King and talking of truth, surely this condemned mans truth was not the same as his truth and reality. Would the conversation have gone differently if Pilate had his eyes opened and realized who stood before him? Pilate had heard rumors of course, Jesus had been preaching for three and a half years. Jesus had performed miracles, healing the sick, giving the blind sight, casting out evil spirits, feeding five and seven thousand with a few small fish and a couple loaves of bread, even raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus turned water into wine, walked on water, and calmed the storm with a word. Jesus would have been anything but unnoticeable, surely these things would not have passed the attention of the Roman Procurator. Pilate would most certainly have heard of Jesus and the things He was doing. Palestine was a troubled district and was continuously steeped in problems and uprisings due to the Jewish religion and faith. Rome when they had conquered an area would demand the people bow and pledge allegiance to Cesar and his image. The Jew would not comply with this edict due to the words in their Holy scriptures. Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. A religious Jew would never violate these words and therefore would fight back against the Romans who were trying to make them violate their religious beliefs. Pilate would have at least kept a loose eye on Jesus to make sure he was not attempting to lead a revolt against Rome, the fact that Pilate did not have Jesus arrested himself speaks volumes. Pilate could have had some of his people watching Jesus but probably did not give much personal attention to Him or His ministry. History was now in the making, here stood before him the God man, Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of God and The son of man, son of David, the Second Adam, The Deliverer, The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, The second personality of the God head, The Creator of all that exists, The Way The Truth and The Life. Pilate was either ignorant of these things or he as a Roman was so full of pride he did not care. What is Truth?! Pilate was about to find out exactly what truth was, God had prophesied in His word precisely what was about to happen. Consider this written a couple of thousand years before Jesus birth. Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. Now in the New Testament written shortly after the death an resurrection of Christ. Mat 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. Pilate then tried to release Jesus thinking that if he appealed to the people they would call for the release of Jesus. So Pilate brought Jesus and Barabbas who was accused of sedition and murder before the crowd and asked them to choose: Mat_27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? The whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth was to redeem mankind from sin and death. Pilate could no more release Jesus then he could prevent his own death. So came the response: Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Mat 27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. Also read Mark, 15: 6-14, Luke 23: 14-25, and John 19: 10-16 Pilate had no power over the fate of Jesus other than that which was already determined by Almighty God. Only Jesus Himself could have ended what was about to happen, He would not because of His devout love for His creation, mankind. We were created to have a relationship with God, a loving relationship as child to Father which was destroyed at the fall of the first Adam. Sin causes a separation between a Holy and Perfect God who cannot look at sin and a sinful and debase man that cannot look on God and live. Only a perfect and sinless life would serve as the sacrifice for the sins of all mankind that person is Jesus Christ. We live in a society today that is not unlike the thinking and philosophy of Rome. Prideful man questions absolute truth, seeks answers to contradict what God has said. Pseudo science attempts to solve the mystery of life and the universe but excludes any and all answers that point to Almighty God, the God of scripture, the Holy One of Israel, the Savior. Man can no more do away with truth then create life from nothing. Man is a prideful sinful being that wants their own way. The problem with that is mans way brings people to Hell, God never intended Hell for men and woman but if we do not repent and accept His provision for sin He will have no choice but to send you to Hell. God is a loving and merciful God who would that all be saved and live with Him for eternity, but love demands a choice and our free will to choose is in play. Choose you this day who you will serve, Choose Jesus repent from your sins and receive His righteousness unto salvation and eternal life, or choose to serve Satan, this world and your prideful flesh and you will reap the just rewards of sin which is eternal punishment in Hell. I pray all who read this will choose the first. If you have any questions or wish to make a commitment for Jesus Christ pleas contact me at e-mail address thetrutharmy@gmail or returntotruth@hotmail Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except by Him. God bless you all and may you come to know Christ as your personal savior if you do not yet know Him. If you do know Him draw close and keep looking up for our redemption is very near. A servant of Jesus Christ Dale T. Lumley Sr.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:01:27 +0000