What is Truth?

John 18:37-38

By Ysrael De la Cruz

It was Denzel Washington who challenged journalist to tell the truth instead of doing their best to be first. “If you don’t watch the news, you’re uninformed. If you do watch it, you’re misinformed.”

We all seek the truth; we want to know the truth and nothing but the truth of what we read or hear on the news.  Is it possible to find truth or know the truth in this world filled with so much deception and lies? Truth is out there amid the propaganda, and the deception. We pursue it and want to know it. After a doctor’s exam, you want to know the truth of what is going on with you.  After being falsely accused by others, you want the truth of that case.

What is truth? 

This question has puzzled many for thousands of years.  Some believe it is subjective, based on the circumstances and the individual’s feelings.  We have people in our society who do not believe in absolute truth but think that all truth is relative.  What is truth?

A Roman governor asked Jesus this question.  Jesus was brought before him to be examined.  This Roman leader wanted to know the truth about charges brought against Jesus and wanted to give Jesus an opportunity to defend himself.  John informs us about the dialogue between Pontius Pilate and Jesus.  Pilate asked Jesus if he was a king; also, what was it that he did that brought before him. Jesus told Pilate the reason he came to the world.

He was born to be a king and he came to the world to testify or bear witness to the truth.

“Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

What is truth?

It is interesting that Pilate asked Jesus this question. Then he went back to report that based on his examination, he thought Jesus was innocent. “I find no basis for a charge against him.” (v.38)  He too was led to the fact that Jesus was innocent of charge after listening to Jesus.

What is truth?

-reality, certainly, straightforwardness.

The Bible defines truth as that which is constant and unchanging.

The Bible teaches us that grace and truth came into the world through Jesus Christ.  John 1:17

Jesus challenged those who believed in him saying that they will know the truth and will be set free by the truth. (John 8:31)

Jesus called himself the Way, the Truth and the Life. John 14:6  He is the truth (that which is constant and unchanging in this world).  Jesus is the personification of absolute truth.  This is why he told Pilate that everyone who is on the side of truth listens to him.

Truth is a quality fundamental to the very nature of God.  God is the God of all truth.  What he says is truth, in fact, God cannot lie.  Jesus did not only speak the truth; he is the ultimate expression of truth.

The Holy Spirit is known as the Spirit of truth (John 14:17)

The Holy Spirit will guide his people into all truth (John 16:13)

-Jesus asked the Father to sanctify his people by the truth.  God’s word is the truth. (John 17:17)

Paul talked about the message of God to humanity is truth, but people have exchanged the truth for a lie by worshiping creation rather than the Creator. (Rom.1:25)

Paul talks about in the book of Galatians that the gospel of Jesus is the truth, which some people also attempt to distort.

God wants to save the whole world and wants them to come to the knowledge of the truth.  1 Tim.2:4

The church is called in 1 Timothy 3:15 the church is called the pillar and foundation of the truth.  The church is God’s agency of truth in the world to proclaim the message of truth so that everyone would be saved.

Satan is the archenemy of the truth.  He doesn’t stand for truth; deception is in his nature.  He is in this world to distort or twist God’s truth, so that people don’t come to Christ.  Jesus warned that in latter days many will be deceived because they will listen to him rather than to Jesus.   The reason we have so much chaos in the world and a sin problem is because we listened to Satan’s lies.  He deceived Adam and Eve and continues to deceive many today with his schemes and deception.

Jesus said that everyone on the side of truth listens to him. Hears him, seeks him.

To follow Jesus is to follow the truth; to know Jesus is to know the truth. It is his truth, his word that sets us apart in this world of deception.  My friends, you have been set freed and redeemed by Jesus, the Truth.

On of Jesus’ name in the book of Revelation is Faithful and True. Rev.3:14; 19:11