Thursday, June 23, 2022

TESTIFYING TO THE TRUTH

Jesus answered Pilate, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.” (John 18:37)

When Jesus says that He has come to bear witness to the truth, Pilate asks, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) Contrary to the traditional view that his question is cynical, it is possible that he asks it with a lump in his throat. Instead of Truth, Pilate has only expedience. His decision to throw Jesus to the wolves is expedient. Pilate views man as alone in the universe with nothing but his own courage and ingenuity to see him through. It is enough to choke up anybody.

Pilate asks, “What is truth?” And for years there have been politicians, scientists, theologians, philosophers, poets, and so on to tell him. The sound they make is like the sound of empty pails falling down the cellar stairs.

Jesus doesn’t answer Pilate’s question. He just stands there. “Stands,” and stands “there.” 

-- Frederick Buechner in “Wishful Thinking”


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