Quid est Veritas

In the tremendous conversation between Pontious Pilate and Jesus we see the quintessential condition of the human heart. Allow me to give you the context to this story.

Jesus has been arrested, after many attempts, by the hand of one of His own. It took a betrayal of one that was closest to Him for Him to be brought into custody and sure death. Now that He was under arrest, He was sent back and forth between the Roman government and the Pharisees in order for ‘due process’.

Finally He is taken to the Roman governor, Pontious Pilate, to be questioned by the governor himself.

Now since this was a religious season for the Pharisees, in order to maintain cleanliness for the upcoming ceremonies they were not allowed to enter the house of a gentile. So they send Jesus in under Roman guard alone and is brought to Pilate.

“Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked, seeking confirmation in the accusations brought against Jesus.

“Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?” Jesus replied.

“Am I a Jew? It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it that you have done?”

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would come to fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!”

“You are right in stating that I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate looks down at the ground and shrugs his shoulders. He looks back at Jesus and says,
“What is truth?” he walks away and then allows Jesus to be crucified.

Are you the king of the Jews, Pilate asks at first. He’s looking for truth. There have been accusations brought to Him and the defendant is neither confirming nor denying this. Upon the answer that Jesus’ gives, Pilate can discern if Jesus is a liar, lunatic or Lord.

But always seeking the heart of men, Jesus responds by giving a question back to Pilate getting him to open up on his own personal assumptions.

Who’s asking that question? Do you really not believe me? Has someone else prompted to doubt what I say? Even when there is substantiated proof of my claims you reserve judgement. A man honestly seeking truth would see the evidence of people’s hearts and the actions it unfolds…not some accusation coming from a political force.

Pilate retorts by removing himself from the equation. Am I a Jew? What personal stake do I have in this issue? What consolation will I receive if I judge one way or another? Who are you and what have you really done to upset this many people who demand your death?

Humbly Jesus submits that He is a king, but a king that Pilate has not seen before. My kingdom, Jesus says, is not of this world.

You are a king? Pilate is now intrigued that this rational and calm man is providing an answer Pilate can ascertain. If Jesus really is a king of a earthly kingdom and is innocent of these charges, Pilate can release Him. If Jesus is not a king, a simple judgement will do.

Again causing Pilate to show his true motivation, Jesus appends by saying that His kingdom is not of this world. In fact, His kingdom is so powerful He could have prevent His arrest by the Jews. He could have overthrown the Jews, and quite possibly be a threat to the Empire. But that’s not why He came…He has come to testify to the truth that He is King.

Jesus is essentially bringing this conversation to an end, by forcing Pilate to conclude on his own assumptions, and not the persuasion of others.

Without God, Pilate could find no truth.

“What is truth?” He turns and walks away, as many of us do when faced with Christ.

Here was Christ the King before this man saying that He is the truth that Pilate has been searching for. When we think the question is more important in the answer, when we think that the answers cannot be obtained or when it’s easier to walk away from what’s in front of us; we miss the Christ standing before us offering truth.

“I am the way, the truth, the life. No man comes onto the Father except through Me.”
-Jesus