What Is Truth?

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Good Friday, the 2nd of April, 2021, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service due to constraints put in place due to the pandemic.  The service also included Holy Communion.  Our YouTube streaming channel is:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

Last night, we shared the Passover meal with Jesus and His dearest friends and closest disciples.  His heart was heavy as He announced that He was about to be betrayed, arrested, and put to death.  One of those seated at His table, Judas Iscariot, rushed off in the middle of the meal, led by Satan to make a deal with the Jewish authorities.  What followed, from last night through today, are the darkest hours in the history of mankind.

During the night and into the day, Jesus was betrayed, denied, humiliated, ridiculed, tortured, beaten, whipped, and nailed to a cross.  And through it all, He remained mostly silent, as the Spotless Lamb led to the slaughter.  Our church reading earlier, from our hymnal, is adapted from Mark 15 as sort of a summary.  I’d like to read the full story of this event to you now, beginning just after supper last night and continuing through the trial and execution of Jesus.  This is rather long, but God, through our Bible, preaches far better than I’ll ever be able to.

Please listen and follow along to the Gospel account of the beloved Apostle John, as I read chapters 18 and 19 from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible...

18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”

He said, “I am not.”

18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

28 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.

39 “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40 Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

19:1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

--John 18-19 (NKJV)

Let us pray… Father God, this afternoon we remember the darkest day in all of Your creation – the day we tortured and executed Your Son, nailing Him to a cruel cross.  Jesus came to offer us salvation, but the world refused Him.  We drove nails into the hands He stretched out to save us.  We cursed Him, spat on Him, beat Him, killed Him.  But You knew all this had to happen.  You knew that only the blood of the one true Spotless Lamb could wash us clean and atone for our sin.  Thank You, Father, for Your great love and mercy.  Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice.  Imprint this day on our hearts so that we might understand just how important this is to us and to others, how critical it is for our eternal life.  This we pray in the name of the Lamb, Your Son Jesus.  Amen.

That is a very long passage and there is much of importance in it.  All four of the canonical Gospel writers recorded this event, from their own perspectives.  We know by this repetition how critical it is that we grasp just what Jesus went through, and why.  For those who love our Lord, this is by far the saddest period of our Christian calendar.

Judas brought along a full detachment of troops and officers, happily provided by the Jewish chief priests and the Pharisees.  They came to the garden where Judas knew Jesus often met with His disciples.  And they came well-armed, as if either expecting trouble or just to make a show of force.

But did you notice their reaction when Jesus confirmed that He was the one they sought?  They drew back and fell to the ground.  These trained and armed soldiers were gripped by fear in the presence of this unarmed man who stood before them.

Jesus again tells them He is the one they seek, and in a sign of the sacrifice yet to come, He implores the soldiers to let His followers go in peace.  “Take Me, but let the rest go.”  Jesus shows His selfless, sacrificial love that finally becomes evident to all on the cross.

What is truth?  So far I’ve only looked at the opening event of all that takes place in a span of less than 24 hours.  And everything that occurred is important.  It is critical for us to hear of everything that happened to Jesus and to understand why it had to happen this way.

But I think it also crucial that we - as followers of Jesus, as those who bear His name – it’s crucial that we are able to recognize the truth.  We need to be able to answer that question: what is truth?  After all, it is one of the things that Pilate asked Jesus.  Jesus didn’t answer the Roman commander directly, but He does tell us, and more than once.

The first time Jesus answered this question was there in the beginning of our reading, when He admitted, without any hesitation or prompting, that He was the one the soldiers sought.  He didn’t try to hide it.  He didn’t try to run away, or put His followers in harm’s way by using them to block the soldiers.  “I am the one you’re here for; let the others go.”  Peter tried to intervene, as Peter so often did, but again Jesus answered our question by affirming that the truth of prophecy must be fulfilled.

And speaking of Peter, there at supper Jesus told this firebrand of a follower that he would deny Jesus three times this very night.  Peter refused to believe the words of his Master.  But he found out the hard way, painfully, the truth that Jesus spoke.

So Jesus is hauled off and taken before Annas who asked Him to go into detail regarding His doctrine and His followers.  Jesus responded that He’d never hidden anything, that He always spoke openly and kept no secrets, and that if Annas wanted to know what He had said that he need only ask someone He talked to.  Whereupon one of the guards slapped Him for being impudent to the high priest.  Again Jesus explains the truth, by simply asking what evil, what wrong, had He spoken.  The guard, realizing the truth of Jesus’ word, had no response.

Finally, Jesus is taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor and commander.  Jewish law did not allow for a person to be put to death, and the religious leaders so wanted for Jesus to be put a permanent end to, so they took Him to the man that could make that happen.

But the trouble is, Pilate didn’t see anything wrong with Jesus.  The ultimate authority in the region found no guilt in this quiet, stoic figure standing before him.  Pilate tried to coax some misdeed out of Jesus, so he could appease the Jews and prevent a riot.

The high priests claimed that Jesus called Himself a king, and the Son of God.  Well, the Romans only recognized one king, and that was Caesar, so claiming to be a king could be a capital offense.  Jesus answered truthfully that He is a king, but not of this world.  He came into this world for the very cause of bearing witness to the truth.  Which led Pilate to ask our question, “What is truth?”.

What is truth?  Back in my youth, there was a rock opera titled “Jesus Christ, Superstar”.  It was based on the last few days of Jesus’ life on earth, His trial, His death, and His resurrection.  In the lyrics of the song at this point in the opera, Pilate asks, “What is truth?  Is truth unchanging law?  We both have truths.  Are mine the same as Yours?”.

That is a very poignant question.  Is my truth the same as yours?  In this day and age, too many people want to make everything relative to the times.  There is no black and white, only many and various shades of grey.  And even “truth” is flexible – it can be different things under different circumstances.

But these people are wrong, dead wrong!  There is only one truth and it indeed is unchanging law, the law of God Almighty.  There is only one truth and it is written in black and white and contained in our Holy Bible!  What is truth?  Jesus is truth!

Throughout our scripture reading, Jesus fulfilled the truth of prophecy that described this day.  Jesus came for the cause of bearing witness to the truth.  Pilate recognized the truth when he had “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” written on a sign and nailed to the cross above Jesus’ head.

John testified to the truth in this report.  He wrote, “He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.”  John told us the truth so that we might believe.

What is truth?  The truth is that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God – begotten, not created.  The truth is that Jesus came into this world to offer salvation to all who would believe the truth.  The truth is that He shed His precious blood so that we might be forgiven of our sins against God.

The truth is… Jesus.  Believe the truth, and live forever in paradise.  In the blessed name of Him who died so that we might live, the name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Lord Jesus, You came offering the living water that leads to eternal life.  You came to us when we were lost in our sin, holding out Your hand to us.  You came to break the chains of sin that hold us captive to this world.  You came to save us from ourselves.  And how did we react to all this mercy and grace?  We refused to accept You.  We tortured You and nailed You to a cruel cross.  You asked Your Father God to forgive those who tormented and beat You, because they just didn’t understand.  Yet still, to this very day, even we who are called by Your name, we still drive nails in Your hands.  We believe in You and Your goodness, but the world has too strong a grasp on us, and we are afraid to let it go.  We judge others based on their looks or their background or the color of their skin, without taking the time to see what is in their hearts.  Forgive us, Lord, because sometimes we still don’t know what we are doing.

But You knew, Lord.  Every step of the way, You knew what was coming.  You knew how the events of every single day would play out, including Your last day lived as a mortal man.  You knew exactly how God’s plan would be accomplished.  You knew why it was necessary for You to be slaughtered, the Spotless Lamb, for the atonement of our sin.  You knew the truth.  Help us, please Lord, to fully grasp the importance of Your sacrifice to our eternal soul.  Help us realize that Your greatest suffering came not from any physical pain, but from having to take all our sin upon Yourself.  Forgive us when we fail You.  Forgive us when we won’t listen to Your voice, when we don’t live as You would have us live, when we hesitate to speak out in Your defense, when we deny You by our actions and our inactions.  Forgive us when we fail to love sacrificially, unconditionally, as You love us.  Help us be worthy of Your great sacrifice.  Help us better serve You.  In Your precious name, Lord Jesus, we pray.  Amen.