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We are still dealing with the Sermon on the Mount and the tremendous love for and love of the truth that Jesus demonstrated in that discourse. However, we will begin in a somewhat distant setting and show a connection to our Lord's mountainside discourse.

“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.' 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.'” (John 18.37-38). The occasion at which this conversation took place was, of course, during one of the trials of Jesus just hours before His crucifixion. Notice the prominent place that truth and hearing the truth played in this, His final hour. Also note the scoffing question which Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Well, the fact is, if Pilate had really wanted to know the answer to his question, the resources to do so had been at hand for years! Yet now in this fateful hour it seems too little and too late to ask such a question.

Notice now the connection between the Sermon of the Mount and our Lord's trial before Pilate. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7.21-23). Jesus was, as far as the establishment was concerned, a nobody. He was simply a thorn in their flesh that had to be dealt with! Yet, look at who Jesus claimed, by implication, to be in the quotation just noted. Notice that He referred to His Father in heaven. Notice also that He referred to Himself as Lord and assumed that in the day of judgment, others would be accountable to Him. Note likewise that Jesus portrayed himself as pronouncing judgment on those who sought to enter the kingdom of heaven without having met the requirements to enter. Jesus claimed in these verses to be far more than a mere man! God was His Father, He would be at His side during the judgment scene, and He would pronounce judgment from that lofty position. Yes, from this early time, Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh!

That truth was the one truth that the religious and political establishment could not swallow. They did not mind Him being a prophet; they did not mind Him being a healer and lending a compassionate ear everywhere He went. However, they absolutely could not countenance Him being the Messiah, the Son of God! This was the one truth that they could not allow to be told and which He could not keep from telling! They hated truth; He loved it supremely! When Pilate raised the question as to whether He was a King or not, he was simply bringing to culmination the real reason for their hatred of our Lord!

If only Jesus had not been so vocal about His identity. If only He had been content to keep His secret between Himself and a few close friends. If only He had been willing to compromise a few points of contention. If only... if only... But then He would not be the champion and lover of truth that we needed to save us from our sins!

Questions:

1. Do you think Pilate was serious when he asked, “What is truth?” Why or why not?

2. When Jesus looked to the day when others would seek entrance into the kingdom of heaven by appealing to Him, what was He implying about His identity and authority?

3. Why would the truth about Jesus' identity be contrary to the wishes of the political and religious establishment in Jerusalem?

4. Could Jesus have loved truth less and still have become our Savior? Just how important was truth to Him?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Comfort in Isaiah II (12-14-10)