Pilate’s Question
Scripture
Jesus Before Pilate
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “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. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising. (John 18:28–40).
Reflection
The COO of a dating website appoints his marketing team to design an advertisement guaranteeing viewers that they will find happiness and contentment, everything they are looking for, if they join the company’s safe and secure platform. The head of marketing devises a plan of action, knowing full well the ad is not altogether truthful.
As believers navigating the world in which we live, we all can relate to this familiar scenario. We all can remember when we’ve been persuaded to make decisions that our convictions tell us are faulty; we are enticed by ideas that are not true, pressured to exchange truth for a lie.
Jesus had been taken to the Praetorium, the governor’s headquarters, where Pilate, historically presented as a corrupt and ruthless man, would determine his fate. After listening to the accusations of the Jewish leaders and then to Jesus, Pilate retorted, “What is truth?” The tone of his question indicated frustration, and even anger. The leaders had said that Jesus was a criminal; Jesus said that he came into the world to testify to the truth. Jesus had committed no crime; he was innocent. Pilate knew what was true, but at the insistence of the crowd, condemned Jesus to death.
Pilate’s question, although cynical, is an important one for us all: What is truth? Truth is absolute and unchanging, it does not depend on circumstances. Jesus said that, when we know the truth, it will set us free (John 8:32). He also said that he is the way and the truth and the life, that no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6).
As we think of Jesus on his way to the cross and then dying there to pay the only price acceptable for our freedom from sin and death, let us take time to thank God for the gift of his Son. Let us thank the Holy Spirit for leading us to the gospel. And let us commit once more, through our words and deeds, to proclaiming it in our world that is looking truth.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. You are constant in the midst of our changing circumstances and world. We confess there are times when we are tempted to give in and exchange the truth for a lie. Help us to hold fast with integrity as we seek to be bearers of the truth in all we say and do. Amen
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown