Dear Christian friends:

Tonight we take up Pilate's fifth question to Jesus: "What is truth?" When Pilate asked that question he did not wait for an answer, but walked away to tell the Jewish mob that he found no reason for death in Jesus.

Pilate didn't really ask a question here. By the tone of his voice and the look on his face he really said, "There is no truth. I have one idea you have another idea, nobody knows the truth." Or he meant to say we can't be sure about the truth.

People who don't want to do the truth and obey the truth always say such things. But Jesus shows us that there is truth. Let us attend to our text and see:


Truth is doing God's will at the right time. For Pilate truth meant doing his duty judging rightly. Four us: Businessman being honest with customers and employees. Housewife faithful to her husband and seek the welfare of her children; Student to use his time well to prepare for life's work; Laborer, honest days work for wages received.

Joshua: "choose this day whom you will serve as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15b)

But people like to argue about truth and spend all their time going to meetings and conferences and discussions and do little or nothing, even avoid necessary action.

People do this when a pastor goes to visit them to see why they do not go to church. They say, "Why are there so many churches I'm all confused." They want to change the subject so the pastor will not bother them about their sin. They want to discuss and avoid action and truth.

Many church members go to many meetings but do nothing. They don't witness, don't visit the sick and the needy. They take no action. Only, go to many meetings and avoid the truth.

But truth is not action only. We must not misunderstand that. Some people do many things, lots of action but it is not truth action, but false action. Truth is action after accepting Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Truth stood before Pilate but Pilate was blind to see it. We always meet truth when we meet Jesus. He shows us that we are weak and sinful. He shows that God forgives us and makes us holy through His death and resurrection.

True, men can learn some truth without faith in Jesus. Scientists, Doctors, etc. But when we ask the important questions of life: Who made me? Why am I here? Where will I go when I die? Then only Jesus can give us true answers.

The Ten Commandments are truth and give us rules about God, father and mother, family, marriage, dealing with one another, and business dealings etc.

Jesus showed this and showed us our sins and that He died to take away our sins. He gives us a new heart and new spirit to love God and our neighbor and serve.

Pilate did not accept Jesus as King and Son of God. He acted, but only for his own interest. He condemned an innocent man to die.

Napoleon was a man of action, but not a believer in Christ. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Min too. See the terrible things men do when they act without Jesus, the truth.

What is truth? Truth is doing God's will at the right time led by the Lord Jesus our Savior. I hope you know what truth is and do it.

Amen.