Sunday, April 6, 2014

DEVOTION - WHAT IS TRUTH?

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014
14 Days to Resurrection Sunday!
John 18:38 “What is truth?”

SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN18:
 33Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
39But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

REFLECTION:  Jesus spent His entire life answering the question that Pilate asked on our Lord’s last day. “What is truth?”

“What is truth?”  While shepherds watched their flocks outside the village of Bethlehem, the angels answered for Jesus, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”

“What is truth?”  It is a young 12 year old Jesus teaching and questioning the religious intelligentsia of his day, explaining, “I must be about my Father’s business.”

“What is truth?”  It is Jesus calling His disciples along the shores of Galilee, “Follow me.”  They did and they testified, “He was full of grace and truth.”

“What is truth?”  It is Jesus teaching his disciples on the hillside, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God,” “When ye pray be not as the heathen,” “Whoever hears these sayings of mine and doeth them is like a man who built his house on a rock.” (Matthew 5-7).

“What is truth?” It is Jesus standing on the deck of a storm tossed ship saying, “Peace, be still.”

“What is truth?” It is Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, “The hour is come, when the true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23)

“What is truth?”  It is Jesus rescuing a woman about to be stoned for committing adultery and insisting that the one without sin cast the first stone.  And then when all her accusers left, it is Jesus forgiving, “neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

“What is truth?” It is Jesus exposing the pride and defective faith of the Pharisees, “If you were Abraham’s children you do the works of Abraham…ye are of your father the Devil, and the works of your father you will do.” (John 8:44)

“What is truth?” It is Jesus encouraging his disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God believe also in me… I go to prepare a place for you… I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.”  (John 14:1-6).

“What is truth?” It is Jesus praying for his disciples, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

“What is truth?” It is Jesus comforting the grieving sisters outside Bethany, “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me shall never die.”  Then he weeps.  Then He says, “Lazarus come forth!”  And he did.

“What is truth?” It is Jesus promising his disciples that he would be crucified, buried, and rise again on the third day.  And He did.

Truth corresponds to reality.  Truth is absolute.  Truth is knowable. But it is more.

Truth is more than a philosophical construct. It is more than a universal principle.  Truth is a person, and Pilate, Truth is standing before you.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, In a world that is so filled with sleight of hand, false teachers, and deception, we thank you for The Truth!  Thank you for teaching us the truth.  Thank you for showing us the truth.  Thank you for being the Truth.  Thank you for your Word—both incarnate and written.  We pray that our lives would be ordered by your Truth.  May we be people of integrity.  Fill us with the Spirit of Truth we humbly ask.   In the loving name of Jesus, Amen.  “Our Father, &c.”

Photo: SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014 Luke 23:13 “And the same day were Pilate and Herod made friends…” SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 23:1-12 1And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 7And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 8And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 12And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. REFLECTION: Pilate was bothered and conflicted as he wrestled with the question of the ages, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22). He testified, “I find no fault in this man.” Caiphas, the High Priest, could find no good in Him. Perspective matters. Then a way out of his dilemma, certainly a moral dilemma in every aspect, appeared. He heard that Jesus was a Galilean. Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee happened to be in Jerusalem for the Passover. Pilate ordered that Christ be extradicted to Herod’s Court. It was our Lord’s third march on His way to Golgotha--From Gethsemane to the High Priest’s palace, from the High Priest’s to Pilate’s Court, and now to Herod’s residence. This was not the Herod who had ordered the execution of the children in Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth. That was his father. This was the Herod that took his brother’s wife to be his own, imprisoned John the Baptist for decrying his gross immorality, and then ordered the execution of John the Baptist at the request of his salacious step-daughter and her wicked mother. Jesus knew Herod. (He knows all of us.) He called him a “fox.” (Luke 13:32). Dr. Luke tells us that “when Herod saw Jesus he was exceeding glad…he hoped to have seen some miracle” (Luke 23:8) He was not glad because he wanted to hear the truth, nor was he glad because he was ready to receive the truth. Herod just wanted to see a miracle. For him, Christ was nothing more than a magician—a spectacle. Herod soon discovered that Christ would not be used. Herod then determined to ridicule Jesus. (Luke 23:11) How pathetic to witness vice mocking Virtue. It must have cut our Savior’s heart. But Christ stood, wrapped in one of Herod’s shining robes, as Herod and his minions feigned worship. He “opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7). Save your pity for Herod’s eternally lost soul. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. And the Bible says, “the same day were Pilate and Herod made friends.” Spurgeon preached, “As for those two foxes, Pilate and Herod, there were tied, tail to tail, that day by our great Samson!” How often we have witnessed the enemies of Christ united in their purpose to destroy Him. The super-spiritual Jews, the skeptical Pilate, and the superstitious Herod were bound together for one dreadful purpose—that Light of the World would be extinguished. They would succeed, but not ultimately. Praise God. If we could make one application for those who love the Lord Jesus: Might we be as united and fervent in our devotion to our Savior as His enemies are in their defiance. The bands of hatred are strong, but the power of Divine love is stronger. May the world admire and desire the love of our lives. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, The more we see and know of your Son—his life, his love, and his sacrifice in our behalf—the more we are amazed “that God should love a sinner such as I.”We pray that when we are disparaged by the super-spiritual, when we are derided by the skeptical, and when we are despised by the superstitious, that we will, like our Blessed Lord Jesus, possess our souls in that peace that comes only from thy Spirit. May we live this day in the center of your “good, acceptable, and perfect” will. In the strong name of Jesus, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”
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