There pr
obably isn’t any person who shaped history more than Pontius Pilate. In an earthly sense, this man held the power to make history in the palm of his hand. However, the hands that carried the powerful scepter of judgment were the same hands that were cowardly washed in a bowl of warm water.
Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect or governor, of the southern region of Palestine known as Judea. He served there for about ten years from A.D. 26 to 36. During that time he made many enemies among the Jews, who often reported his antics to the Roman emperor. After he slaughtered a sizable number of Samaritans, Rome sent him off to Vienna, where, as some historians claim, he likely committed suicide.
Although little is mentioned of Pilate in Roman history, his name appears in the Apostles’ Creed, recited by Christian churches around the world for his part in the trial of Jesus. It was there he showed his weakness as a man and his confused logic as a ruler.
Following his arrest, Jesus was ushered from place to place, yet he was always brought back to Pilate’s doorstep. First the Jewish Sanhedrin charged Jesus with blasphemy, so he was sent to Pilate. As Pilate questioned Jesus, he learned Jesus was from Galilee, so he sent him to Herod, ruler of the northern province. Herod ridiculed Jesus, tortured him, and returned him again to Pontius Pilate. Finally, Pilate was in a quandary. While questioning Jesus, Pilate asked Jesus if he was indeed a king.
Jesus told Pilate, “You are right in saying 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” (18:37).
In a sarcastic tone, Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (18:38). These three words exposed Pilate’s true self. Here sat a man on a judgment seat who had no idea what truth was, nor did he know where to look for it. Too bad he didn’t notice that the answer was standing just a few feet in front of him. Instead, he silently stared at the one who was the Way and the Truth and the Life. How close he came, but like everyone in the unbelieving world, he missed it. “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Instead, he sentenced the one who is pure truth to death on a cross.
What was Pilate thinking? He was thinking the same pragmatic thoughts as the rest of those who do not believe. He was searching for the ultimate truth but came up short. That’s because Pilate asked the wrong question. Instead of asking what is truth, he should have asked who is truth? When we put on the glasses of a believing child of God, we get to know who the real truth is and where to find him. Certainly many can claim they know truth, but real truth transcends knowledge, culture, people, and ages and can only be found in the Savior. That’s why Jesus can call himself the Truth!
Seventy-nine times in the gospels we hear Jesus say, “I tell you the truth.” Why? Because those words come from the one who is ultimate truth. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching . . . then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
Do you want to know the truth? Truth tells us that Adam and Eve’s sin brought death to everyone. Truth says that God’s Son came into this world to die the death we should have died. Truth says that Jesus rose from the dead and promised that we will also rise to eternal life. That’s truth! Where can we find out more about that truth? “Your Word is truth!”
When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.
(from “O Jesus, King Most Wonderful”)
Recent Comments