Pilate studied the bloodied and beaten man before him. He wasn't much to look at - especially right now. He had average looks, was of average height, and resembled the average criminal in his torn rages.
But there was a fire in his eyes.
He took a sip of wine before standing up to walk closer to Jesus. There was a cut on his lip, and his right eye was turning black and blue. However, he held Pilate's gaze, the fire never dying.
His curiosity spilled out of him. "Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus didn't look away. "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say this about me to you?"
Pilate blinked, and walked towards the left, trying to determine how to answer him. He stopped and turned on his heel to look at Jesus again. "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"
"My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
"So you are a king?" Despite his appearance right now, Pilate would believe it. There was something about this man, and it screamed truth deeper then he could comprehend. Pilate wanted to know.
Jesus stared straight into this eyes. "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
"What is truth?" He desperately wanted to know.
Based on John 18:33-38
I find it interesting that Pilate asked Jesus what is truth, and then went to tell the Jews that he found no fault in Jesus.
He was looking for truth.
Sure it may have started with him trying to determine if Jesus was a troublemaker or not, but he came to the right conclusion soon enough. This question and answer session turned into Pilate desperately trying to find the truth.
And he could tell just by looking at Jesus that He had the truth.
Guys, have you been looking for the elusive truth? Something to make sense of the world? Something to explain your lot in life? Something to give your existence meaning? Something to give you real and true hope? Are you searching like Pilate was? Despite all the wealth and power Pilate had, his soul still longed for The Truth.
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
There are so many people who are looking for The Truth. They long for The Truth. Their heart's cry echoes Pilate, "What is truth." Guys, The Truth is Jesus. Once you know Him, you are set free. However, don't be like Pilate. Pilate had the truth at his fingertips, but he let it slip through his grasp. In the end, he let the world take The Truth from him, and kill it.
Each and everyone of you can be free. The Truth is waiting for you. Don't let Him go.
V. Joy Palmer
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