WHAT IS TRUTH?

Pontious Pilate, sitting as judge, heard Jesus say “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.” Pilate’s response?  “What is truth?” His response summed up the world of the judge with the words of the jaded, the one who has heard it all, all the lies, the half truths, and so many truthful witnesses giving very different descriptions.  That was in the 1st century A.D.  In the 21st century, the question is still the same: What is truth?  Police detectives ask it, as they sift witness statements and physical evidence.  Each witness may portray a different truth.  Politicians claim to have the truth?  Do they?  We think we know the truth based on our own education and experiences.  Do we?

The truths we see may run contrary to the truths others see, and we assume they are wrong.  But what if they are right, and we are wrong?  What if we both are wrong? Could we be wrong?  What if, like witnesses to an accident, who see a red car, a black car, a dark green car, with a woman driver, a man driver, a man with a mustache and glasses, a man without a mustache or glasses, a passenger, no passenger, a tinted windshield, one with no tint, what if, like those witnesses we see only part of what is true.  What do we really know?  What have we actually observed?  Who knows the truth?

If if we are completely and sincerely honest to the best of our ability we are still going to be caught out someday. Yes, we will be wrong.  So, where is the truth?

Jesus said it.  “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  If we want to know the truth we must know the One who is the truth.  We can be wise, we can demonstrate our wisdom, but unless we are honest with ourselves all we may be able to say for sure is that we saw a dark car.  We can be sure of only one thing. And if that one thing is truth, it’s the most important thing.  So where do you find your truth?  Is it with yourself, you parents, your classmates, your teachers?  Sure, they will all have some of the truth but which bits are the right ones?  Jesus is the only one who has all the pieces.  He is the one who embodies  truth.  He’s the only completely reliable teacher, and He’s the only one who can teach you the truth, show you the truth, and be the truth in your life.

The Apostle Paul said it well when he said that some want wisdom and some want signs but he would teach only Christ.  If it’s truth you’re after, it’s Jesus.  If it’s life you’re after, it’s Jesus.  If it’s a way you’re after, it’s still Jesus.  There no way, no life, and no truth without Jesus.  And there you have it.

 

Photo By Stéfan Le Dû from Nantes, France [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons