WHAT IS TRUTH

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

Text: John 18:28-38.

Delivered on: May 4, 2008. Streetsboro.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. ²⁹ Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” ³⁰ They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” ³¹ Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” ³² that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. ³³ Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷ Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” ³⁸ Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Introduction.

1. After Jesus’ arrest, He was first taken to Annas who was the High Priest’s father-in-law.

2. Then He was taken to Caiphas.

3. Then Pilate.

4. Then Herod.

5. Then back to Pilate.

6. Then the crucifixion.

7. John 18:28-38 is an account of Jesus’ first examination by Pilate.

8. In this encounter, Pilate cynically asks Jesus, “What is the truth?”

9. From this passage, let us answer this question for Pilate.

Body.

1. WHAT IS TRUTH?
   
   
   

   1. Dictionary definition: Conformity to fact or actuality; A statement proven to be true; Reality.

      1. Subjective truth.

         1. This is the idea of perceived truth.

         2. Meaning that truth is simply what you, the individual, perceive it to be.

         3. Subjective truth implies that a truth for one person may not be a truth for someone else.

         4. The problem with this view of truth is that how a person perceives something may have nothing to do with the actual reality of that thing.

         5. For example… a magician makes a card disappear. Our perception says that the card disappeared into thin air. However, reality is different. (The card went up his sleeve.)

         6. There are those who argue that all truth is subjective.

         7. This contradicts the Law of Identity in logic which states that a thing is either true or not true.

      2. Objective truth.

         1. Objective truth says that a thing is either true or it is not true.

         2. Regardless of how people perceive it, objective truth will always be true.
            
            
            

   2. God’s word is truth. John 17:17. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
      
      
      

   3. Jesus is truth. John 14:6. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
      
      
      

   4. This truth…

      1. Sanctifies us. John 17:17.

      2. Saves us. James 1:21. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

      3. Purifies us. 1 Peter 1:22. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart

      4. But only if we hear His voice.
         
         
         

2. THE TRUTH IS… JESUS WAS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
   
   
   

   1. Pilate wanted to know if Jesus believed that He was the King of the Jews. John 18:37. Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
      
      
      

   2. He has all authority. Matthew 28:18. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

      1. Not only, was he the King of the Jews.

      2. He was King of the Gentiles as well. Daniel 7:13-14. “ I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. ¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

      3. 1 Timothy 6:13-16. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, ¹⁵ which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen
         
         
         

3. THE TRUTH IS… JESUS’ KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD.
   
   
   

   1. Jesus did not come to set up an earthly kingdom.

      1. If He had wanted to do that, He could have earlier on in His ministry. John 6:15. Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

      2. Prophecy says that Jesus could never be a king on earth.

         1. Jeremiah 22:28-30. “ Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol— A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, And cast into a land which they do not know? ²⁹ O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the LORD! ³⁰ Thus says the LORD: ‘ Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.’”

         2. Coniah (Jechoniah) was an ancestor of Jesus. Matthew 1:11. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

      3. His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. Luke 17:20-22. Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ²¹ nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” ²² Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
         
         
         

   2. His Kingdom was established on the day of Pentecost.

      1. Mark 9:1. And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

      2. Luke 24:49. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

      3. Acts 1:8. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

      4. Acts 2:4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

      5. After this day, the Kingdom said to be in existence.

         1. Colossians 1:13. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love

         2. Revelation 1:9. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
            
            
            

   3. His Kingdom is the church. Matthew 16:18-19. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
      
      
      

4. THE TRUTH IS… THERE WAS NO FAULT IN HIM AT ALL.
   
   
   

   1. Jesus had never sinned. Hebrews 4:15. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
      
      
      

   2. This is what made Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. 1 Peter 1:18-19. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.