Introduction. While Pilate’s question to Jesus: “what is truth?” might have been an honest inquiry, the fact that after “he had said this, he went out again to the Jews,” and did not wait for an answer makes it more likely a cynical challenge, a despondent sigh, or a question of doubt (John 18:38). Although Pilate had been ruler over the Jews from the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist, whatever he knew about the teachings of John or Jesus had not created any interest. He had found nothing in Rome, Greece, or even in Judea to give him guidance or light to answer his question and evidently had no expectation Jesus could either.
The more one ponders the question the broader and more complicated it becomes. The simple truth is that unless the answer is tied to God and His revelation to man, there isn’t any answer. Since truth is absolute, undeniable and constant, nothing man can devise as an explanation could lead to an answer to such a fundamental and complicated question.
The more one ponders the question the broader and more complicated it becomes. The simple truth is that unless the answer is tied to God and His revelation to man, there isn’t any answer. Since truth is absolute, undeniable and constant, nothing man can devise as an explanation could lead to an answer to such a fundamental and complicated question.
With God at the center of His creation and His word respected as absolute truth, Pilate’s question is easily answered. Since the only logical, sound, and reasonable answer to our very existence in the midst of this infinitely complex universe is a Creator, we must begin there. Once man rejects this absolute foundation of truth, he enters a labyrinth from which there is no exit. When God is dismissed from the minds and hearts of men, truth always becomes relative and easily molded to fit one’s own ideas, philosophies and desires. Thus when any nation, culture, or civilization rejects God as the Creator, this is the pivotal moment when all hope of knowing truth evaporates. Without God as a source, reason or purpose for this creation and man’s role within it, men must grope in the darkness, seeking for a light that doesn’t exist unless we start with “in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” and said “let there be light and there was light.” (Gen. 1:1).
God created His creation with all this in mind. He made it so vast and complicated that no matter how far into the darkness one might find themselves, still, “they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27). “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divine nature so that they are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:18-23). All who see His everlasting power and divine nature in this creation can easily answer Pilate’s question. While all who “knew God, did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful,” and “became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” can never answer it. If we don’t begin with God who was infinitely wise enough to create our vast home, there is no one to answer Pilate’s question.
Pilate stood in the presence of the only one who could answer this question. It was Jesus who prompted the question and hoped to answer it when He said: “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.” Through the miracles He had already performed and the resurrection He was about to exhibit, Jesus completely validated His own words of truth: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 18:35-38; 8:31-32). Pilate had the rest of his life to consider these things and perhaps grope after and find the answer.
Pilate’s problem centered on “those who suppress the truth.” Pilate was a Roman, and Rome, deeply influenced by Greece, had a plethora of contradictory idols and philosophies. There was no central truth to bind them together. The gods of Rome and Greece with all the weaknesses, selfishness and ignorance of the men who created them could not shed any light on it. Thus Pilate was so blinded in the midst of a maze of complete darkness that he could not ever comprehend that there was an answer. When he came to Judea, he might have been influenced by the “tutor to bring to Christ” (Gal. 3:24), but the terrible examples of the Jewish leaders he interacted offered no hope that they might have any answer. The divisions and sects of the Jews hopelessly contradicted one another. While the Pharisees proclaimed a resurrection and life after death, the Sadducees used the same law to prove there was no resurrection and that angels and even man’s eternal spirit were myths. If those who claimed to believe the law could not agree among themselves, how could an outsider be expected to think they had the truth?
With such contradictory messages how could Pilate expect they might have any answers? His interactions with them revealed a hypocrisy and corruption that must have sickened and disgusted him: “they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Mt. 23:4). Their hypocrisy was so evident that when they brought Jesus to him as an evil doer, “he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.” (Mk. 15:10). As Paul later charged the Jews, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Rom. 2:24). Hence as the only person who had the answer to His question stood before him, the wickedness and darkness of his world left him so lost he could find no reason to think Jesus would know. After word of Jesus’ body no longer being in the tomb and the teachings of the gospel affirming His resurrection, we have no information on Pilate’s response. He is never heard from again. His greatest legacy is the question he posed and not waiting for an answer.
Until recently, many in America knew the answer to Pilate’s question. God was so much a part of our culture that He was mentioned in the Declaration of Independence: “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” and “in God we trust” has been engraved on our coins, and printed on our paper money for over 150 years. With an understanding and acceptance of this fundamental truth revolving around the Creator, absolute truth was fixed and certain. Upon that foundation, science, philosophy, law and religion had a single answer to Pilate’s question.
Without God as the source of His creation, there is no one left with the authority, knowledge and understanding to reveal absolute truth. Today, as we witness that foundation crumbling around us, fewer and fewer people even pose the question, let alone know the answer. There is little doubt that this began with the teaching of evolution in the schools. For multitudes, evolution has removed God from His creation just as completely as idolatry did in the days of Pilate. With no other purpose than the selfish enjoyment of life, the sexual revolution of the 60's became possible and the explosion of divorce, single parent households and abortion quickly followed. Along with it came an open contempt of all authority. Not only was God and the Bible rejected, but so also were the police, those who defended the country, and those who made and enforced its laws.
Even the “mainstream” denominations were caught up in this trend and were soon subdued. No longer were the Scriptures seen as inspired and their authority became less and less important. In this environment, churches rejected Jesus’ teachings on divorce, morality, and truth. They now fill the same role as the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees did in the days of Pilate. Their open hypocrisy and lack of unity have led multitudes right back into the same problems Pilate faced. How could anyone today one expect an answer from them?
Conclusion. Pilate’s cynical, sarcastic, or despondent question is now repeated by countless millions here and all over the world. Few even seek for absolute truth regarding the origin, purpose and destiny of life. The truth about why we are here and what our role is in this creation have receded against the background of the selfish pursuit of pleasure. Truth has become relative, changing from person to person and event to event. This is the reality that confronts those who still believe the answer to Pilate’s question is “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6)
God created His creation with all this in mind. He made it so vast and complicated that no matter how far into the darkness one might find themselves, still, “they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27). “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divine nature so that they are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:18-23). All who see His everlasting power and divine nature in this creation can easily answer Pilate’s question. While all who “knew God, did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful,” and “became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” can never answer it. If we don’t begin with God who was infinitely wise enough to create our vast home, there is no one to answer Pilate’s question.
Pilate stood in the presence of the only one who could answer this question. It was Jesus who prompted the question and hoped to answer it when He said: “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.” Through the miracles He had already performed and the resurrection He was about to exhibit, Jesus completely validated His own words of truth: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 18:35-38; 8:31-32). Pilate had the rest of his life to consider these things and perhaps grope after and find the answer.
Pilate’s problem centered on “those who suppress the truth.” Pilate was a Roman, and Rome, deeply influenced by Greece, had a plethora of contradictory idols and philosophies. There was no central truth to bind them together. The gods of Rome and Greece with all the weaknesses, selfishness and ignorance of the men who created them could not shed any light on it. Thus Pilate was so blinded in the midst of a maze of complete darkness that he could not ever comprehend that there was an answer. When he came to Judea, he might have been influenced by the “tutor to bring to Christ” (Gal. 3:24), but the terrible examples of the Jewish leaders he interacted offered no hope that they might have any answer. The divisions and sects of the Jews hopelessly contradicted one another. While the Pharisees proclaimed a resurrection and life after death, the Sadducees used the same law to prove there was no resurrection and that angels and even man’s eternal spirit were myths. If those who claimed to believe the law could not agree among themselves, how could an outsider be expected to think they had the truth?
With such contradictory messages how could Pilate expect they might have any answers? His interactions with them revealed a hypocrisy and corruption that must have sickened and disgusted him: “they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Mt. 23:4). Their hypocrisy was so evident that when they brought Jesus to him as an evil doer, “he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.” (Mk. 15:10). As Paul later charged the Jews, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Rom. 2:24). Hence as the only person who had the answer to His question stood before him, the wickedness and darkness of his world left him so lost he could find no reason to think Jesus would know. After word of Jesus’ body no longer being in the tomb and the teachings of the gospel affirming His resurrection, we have no information on Pilate’s response. He is never heard from again. His greatest legacy is the question he posed and not waiting for an answer.
Until recently, many in America knew the answer to Pilate’s question. God was so much a part of our culture that He was mentioned in the Declaration of Independence: “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” and “in God we trust” has been engraved on our coins, and printed on our paper money for over 150 years. With an understanding and acceptance of this fundamental truth revolving around the Creator, absolute truth was fixed and certain. Upon that foundation, science, philosophy, law and religion had a single answer to Pilate’s question.
Without God as the source of His creation, there is no one left with the authority, knowledge and understanding to reveal absolute truth. Today, as we witness that foundation crumbling around us, fewer and fewer people even pose the question, let alone know the answer. There is little doubt that this began with the teaching of evolution in the schools. For multitudes, evolution has removed God from His creation just as completely as idolatry did in the days of Pilate. With no other purpose than the selfish enjoyment of life, the sexual revolution of the 60's became possible and the explosion of divorce, single parent households and abortion quickly followed. Along with it came an open contempt of all authority. Not only was God and the Bible rejected, but so also were the police, those who defended the country, and those who made and enforced its laws.
Even the “mainstream” denominations were caught up in this trend and were soon subdued. No longer were the Scriptures seen as inspired and their authority became less and less important. In this environment, churches rejected Jesus’ teachings on divorce, morality, and truth. They now fill the same role as the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees did in the days of Pilate. Their open hypocrisy and lack of unity have led multitudes right back into the same problems Pilate faced. How could anyone today one expect an answer from them?
Conclusion. Pilate’s cynical, sarcastic, or despondent question is now repeated by countless millions here and all over the world. Few even seek for absolute truth regarding the origin, purpose and destiny of life. The truth about why we are here and what our role is in this creation have receded against the background of the selfish pursuit of pleasure. Truth has become relative, changing from person to person and event to event. This is the reality that confronts those who still believe the answer to Pilate’s question is “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6)