What Is Truth? – John 18:15-40

There is an insightful article on GotQuestions.com about Pilate’s question of Jesus, “What is truth.”  The article shows the way truth was controverted in the illegalities of the trials convened for Jesus.  Then it describes a correct view of what truth is.  Pilate needed this discussion, but was not ready to hear it. 

Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple.  That disciple was known to the high priest and went in with Jesus to the courtyard of the high priest.  But Peter stood at the door.  So the disciple known to the high priest went out and told the doorkeeper to bring Peter in.  Then the servant girl of the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of the disciples of this man?”  Peter answered, “I am not.”  Because it was cold, the servants and attendants made a charcoal fire and stood warming themselves.  And Peter was with them standing and warming himself.

Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.  Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world, I have always taught in the synagogue and the temple, where all the Jews gather and I have not spoken in secret.  Why do you question me?  Ask those who have heard what I said to them.  See, they know what I said.”  When he said this, one of the attendants standing there struck Jesus, saying, “Is this how you answer the high priest?”  Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness to the evil.  But if I’ve spoken well, why do you hit me?”  So Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself.  Someone said to him, “Aren’t you also one of his disciples?”  He denied it and said, “I am not.”  One of the servants of the high priest, who was related to the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”  Again Peter denied it, and immediately the rooster crowed.

They led Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium.  They themselves didn’t enter the praetorium, lest they be defiled and become unable to eat the Passover.  So Pilate came outside to them and he spoke, “What charge do you bring against this man?”  They responded, “If he wasn’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t bring him to you.”  So Pilate said to them, “Take him and judge him according to your law.”  The Jews said, “It isn’t lawful for us to kill anyone.”  This was to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken to signify with what kind of death he was about to die.

Pilate went back into the praetorium and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own or have others spoken about me?”  Pilate responded, “Am I a Jew?  Your nation and the high priests delivered you to me.  What have you done?”  Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.  If my kingdom was of this world

my servants would have fought to keep me from being delivered over to the Jews.  But now my kingdom is not from here.”  So Pilate said, “Then you are a king?”  Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.  For this reason I was born and came into the world, in order that I might testify to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”  Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”

Having said this he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt with him.  But you have a custom that I release to you one prisoner at Passover.  Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”  But they shouted, “Not this one but Barabbas.”  Barabbas was a robber.  (John 18:15-40)

John (most believe that is who is referenced here) is somehow known to the high priest so he is allowed inside the courtyard of his home, but he has to get permission for Peter to come in.  For all Peter’s boldness to follow Jesus to this point, however, when identified as a spiritual follower of Jesus he denies it.  When he denies it a third time the rooster crows and though John hasn’t recorded in his Gospel Jesus’ prediction to Peter that he would deny him, it is known from the other Gospels, and John assumes the readers know this.

Jesus is badly treated by Annas, the retired high priest who still wields a lot of power.  But Jesus simply points out the absurdity of the questions being asked.  They want him to accuse himself.  Annas sends Jesus to his son-in-law’s house, Caiaphas, who takes him to the Roman governor, Pilate, because they want to impose the death penalty but Rome keeps this action limited to their authority.  Pilate can’t find a reason to execute Jesus and is obviously frustrated by what he considers a Jewish issue not impinging on the Roman court.  Under pressure to please the Jews (Matthew 27, Luke 23) he agrees to execute Jesus in fulfillment of Jesus’ prediction of how he would die, by crucifixion.

Pilate asks the Way, the Truth and the Life what truth is.  He is obviously not expecting an answer.  But oh, if he had been willing to listen.  As others have remarked, no one ever spoke like this man.  Jesus is king of a kingdom not from this world and not operating like human kingdoms do, with violence like Rome and the Jews are using to establish power.  Jesus’ kingdom is established first on truth, the truth of who God is and what He requires of us.  And because we have been unable to meet these requirements, Jesus is ready to die to pay for our guilt.

Discussion Questions

1. When have you pretended that you didn’t know someone and why?
2. Why do you think Peter pretended not to be Jesus’ disciple?
3. Why do you think Annas and Caiaphas wanted to question Jesus?
4. What do you learn about Jesus, the kingdom, and truth from the conversation Pilate had with Jesus?
5. What is the irony of Barabbas, a robber, being released in place of Jesus?
6. What is your greatest concern about being identified as a follower of Jesus?