What is Truth?
by Roger Pook
When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, he testified about his mission: "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”. Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" (John 18:38-39).
Pilate was deliberately avoiding the practical issue of what to do about Jesus. Instead, he asked a philosophical question, something abstract. As a noble Roman, he would have had a Greek education from a well-educated Greek slave-tutor. This was the way he was trained to think.
Greek philosophy delights in asking abstract questions like this. But all of us have to face the same practical dilemma at some time in our life - what to do about Jesus? He stands on trial in front of each one of us. What do we do? Give up our hard-won personal status and bow before our King, or search for an easy way to wash our hands of him?
Our culture, which is not all that different from Pilate's, always encourages us to look for a clever compromise, a way out, maybe a way to ‘follow Jesus’ without actually getting into danger. But Jesus had earlier said "I am the Truth". A simple statement like this destroys all human philosophy with its questions and uncertainties, and puts a solid rock of truth in its place. The Truth is not an idea, it’s a living person – it’s Jesus!
So, the next time you want to know what on earth is going on, what to think, what to decide, what to do ... start with Jesus! Start with the Truth. What does the Truth say? Obey the Truth. Then all the rest will fall into place.
Prayer: Jesus, You are the Truth. Your Word has higher authority than anything else that I read, hear or think. Please write Your teaching in my heart, so that I can know and proclaim the Truth in this confusing and hostile ‘post-truth’ world. Amen.
Roger Pook For 21 years Roger Pook and his wife Christine served in Central and Eastern Europe, based in Hungary at the Úr Rétje centre of Ellel Ministries. From there they travelled and ministered across the length and breadth of the former communist world. In 2018 Roger retired as Regional Director and they now live back in the UK, where Roger still serves on the Executive Leadership and as a trustee of The Christian Trust. They still travel for the Kingdom!
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