The Concept of Truth - Pastor Tony Evans
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor.[f] His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. 29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” 30 “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. 31 “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. 32 (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.[g]) 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. 34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” 37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” 38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” 40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
• Why can’t you be your own truth? Our truth gets distorted by our own sin.
• We cannot be the arbiter of truth. Why can’t we be the standard for truth? - because we are finite and limited by our humanity.
• We are living in a world of lies.
• We are being bombarded by lies.
• The world we live in now is a liar’s paradise.
• Jesus came down from heaven to give testimony to the Truth.
• There is only one perfect source of Truth, and that is God.
• If you want to get rid of Truth, you have to get rid of God.
• Truth is what God says it is, not what is a popular opinion.
•When you live your life, you must live it as a person of the Truth.
Discussion Questions:
• Truth is an absolute standard by which reality is measured. – Agree/Disagree?
• Truth sits outside of you. Agree/Disagree?
• Truth transcends emotions; how you feel does not determine whether it’s true. Agree/Disagree?
• Truth is deeper than facts. Truth includes facts, but you can have facts and not know the truth. Agree/Disagree?
• We live in a world of lies and are constantly being bombarded with lies. Can you think of a few ways this happens? What are some examples? (Marketing, advertising, sales, TV commercials etc. – You’ll look good in these clothes – buy these clothes. A better car will advance your career and make people like you – buy this car… etc.)
• What will be the standard of your determining Truth? – will it be your feelings, morals, or Jesus Christ?
• What are ways we can determine truth?
