"What is truth?" asked Pilate to Jesus and then walked away. "What is truth?" asks the world to us and then walks away. I am sure you have had one of those conversations with a person who contends that there is no God. Or perhaps it was with a person who asks you which of the many religions have it right. "Who has the truth?" they ask. The thing is that, just like Pilate, no one is really prepared to listen to the response. Believing there is no answer because "everyone creates their own truth" they either stop listening or walk away. That is a shame because Jesus has the answer for them.
When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure he told them that they had all the understanding they needed to succeed in the truth of the message Jesus had delivered. He told them they knew the way. Thomas spoke up and stated that they did not know, they did not understand, they did not possess the truth. Jesus' response was direct:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
What is the way? The way is Jesus. What is the truth? The truth is Jesus. What is life? Life is Jesus.
All Jesus had to offer Thomas and the others was himself because he is the answer to everything. When Pilate asked Jesus "What is truth?" he was actually asking it of truth. When the world asks us "What is truth?" our only reply is Jesus. When the world asks us which of the many religions holds the truth our response is none of them. The answer is not found in religion, which is man's attempt to define the unknown. The answer is only found in the person of Jesus Christ. No religion offers what Jesus offers, as he holds out salvation from ourselves and freedom from everything that enslaves us. Religion is about what we do for the gods, but Jesus came to do for us.
Jesus stated:
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46)
He said:
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:9-10)
He came that we may have life and to have it to the full. We have nothing else to offer this world but Jesus. He is the answer to every question, every doubt, every fear, every wound. If they are not willing to accept the truth that is up to them but we have no other answer to their question.
We have to be careful with this because some ministries are being built on acceptability. They are "good works" based instead of Jesus Christ centered. They almost come across like we can answer all the evil in this world by the works of our hands. Although "good works", kindness, love, patience and such are the fruits that are produced from a Holy Spirit possessed heart, they are not the answer to the question of truth. They are not the salvation of the world. They are not the way to the Father. They are not the light of this world.
If our response is not Jesus; if everything does not flow from Jesus; if he is not our entire focus, then we have got it wrong and we are not able to respond properly to this world. Jesus did not speak in riddles about this matter. He spoke plainly:
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Jesus Christ is the freedom giver, he sets us free from everything that binds us, including the falseness of man's philosophies and religions. As the world asks the question and you cannot respond with Jesus, it is best you remain silent. You yourself need to come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and then you too can hold out the truth to the world. Jesus warned that many are called but few are chosen, that broad is the way to destruction and narrow the way to the Father. What is truth? His name is Jesus.
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