For What It's Worth by Erin

“Quid est veritas?” (John 18:38). These are the iconic words of Pontius Pilate, meaning “What is truth?”.

Said as a response to Jesus, Pilate is representative for the powers of the world: harsh, cynical and faithless, and ultimately brutal. Not unlike the secular world we live in, especially today. Pilate is responding to what Jesus has just claimed about Himself, namely this, “for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth”, thus Pilate’s question.


Obviously, this is from Jesus’ trial that will ultimately lead to His crucifixion. Jesus spoke His truth to a world sorely in need of what Jesus was there to offer, also much like our world today. Think of what Jesus told his disciples earlier that evening at the last supper: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Good for us to be reminded of these words in a world that offers a variety of options, very often, not truth at all. If Jesus is “truth itself” it should be easy for us to judge the veracity of most anything simply by holding it up against the truth of Christ Himself.

The opposites for truths are such things as falseness, invention, treachery, untruth, misrepresentations, lie. These days it’s been difficult to find the truth, especially when looking at things in our world, the news most especially. But as believers in Jesus Christ, we have a way to navigate through this: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31).
 
We know or judge something by the fruit it produces. If the end result of the world’s truth is harm, death, violence, injustice, or any other rotten fruit, we have our answer. Read and pray with the Gospel of John and allow this beautiful narrative to paint a profound picture of Jesus to use as our way to find the truth, His truth, God’s truth.


May the words of Christ Himself help us to find His clarity and truth for use in our decision making, our discernment and in our lives, keeping us firmly anchored to Jesus, our Savior. Amen! +

Have a great week and may you and your families be well!