A most profound question, indeed.

Here's another of my devotions.  Each of the verses I use are inspiring to me.  This one is key to me and my mission as a teacher.  As a teacher, my task is to teach students how to seek the truth.  But…

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. 

(John 18:38a)

I must admit, I have an addiction to learning.  Especially if that learning is at all related to Theology.  I can spend literally hours reading the cross-references in my self-study here.  I could spend more simply reading footnotes.

That’s a problem, though.  When Jesus was brought before the governor’s court, Pilate asked a somewhat strange question: “What is truth?”

Now, according to my Bible’s footnotes, he may have been sarcastic with his remark, or perhaps he was genuinely curious about the truth of why Jesus was there.  Maybe he was thinking something even more profound than that.  If you want I could even tell you what his little question was in Greek.

The problem is that all this thinking and information is distracting from the very thing Pilate asked.  All this searching and no truth to be found.

Sometimes we over-think things.  If I tried, I could probably teach an entire week on what “truth” is.  But does it matter?

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, says that seeking wisdom, seeking truth, is like “chasing after the wind.”  (1:17b)

So, what is truth?

Not what, who.  Jesus Christ, the Worthy Sacrifice, is Truth.  The answer Pilate sought was right in front of him, waiting to be sent to the cross.  John 8:32 says “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth is this: Christ came to live the perfect life that you could not, and pay the price that you deserve, so that you can be free to live with Him eternally.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we come before you this week, when we turn our minds to the truth of Your life and death.  We are reminded that we are the cause of Your suffering, and we are reassured by the truth that You came to free us.  Help us to be mindful of this fact not just this week, but throughout our lives.  Help us to seek You, the Truth, in all we do.

Amen