belongs to the truth listens to my voice”. There is a deep spiritual connection between this human instinct for eternity and the words of Jesus. In response, Pilate asks that famous question “What is truth?” Here is a politician who knows how to ask the question – what is truth? – but he cannot see it when it is in front of him - because he thinks that truth is an intellectual proposition, or a set of ways of working, or a scientific theory you can prove. Whereas truth is what is in the human heart – that which Jesus calls out - the invitation to acknowledge the instinct for eternity.
Pilate knows that this is an important question for politics –‘what is truth?’ – but he wants a superficial immediate quick fix. The demands upon politics to maintain law and order often prevents there seeming to be time to recognise this deeper agenda. This serves to make politics relative, and always temporary, and always behind the curve. We tend to live our lives in this more immediate way too. Paradoxically Jesus is saying that truth is learned in silence, in inner contemplation: it is not a system of theories or organisation.
Individual reflection Spend a few moments in quiet reflecting on the statement that Jesus “came into the world to testify to the truth” – you might want to write this statement in the middle of a piece of paper. Also reflect on the interpretation that Jesus came to offer the invitation to acknowledge the instinct for eternity. Be courageously open with yourself ( you will not have to share this with the group) – what in your life makes you think about and feel this instinct for eternity; the gut feeling and thinking that there is something bigger, deeper, wider and more permanent than what is in the present moment? You might want to write those things down on your piece of paper, around Jesus statement.
Read or listen to these thoughts from Bishop Alastair
Thus, as a consummate politician, skilled in the primary art of surviving in the present and not really engaging with the more intractable issues of ultimate meaning and purpose, Pilate shifts the agenda and says: “I always release someone at this time – do you want Jesus or Barabbas?” He puts the responsibility on somebody else, on the people, not on himself. Should I crucify your king? And here the Jewish people, represented by this tiny, self-serving group commit a terrible blasphemy - because they know David is their
Poor Pilate is in a fix. Here is this man, is he a king? He has used the word king but in a different way. He claims that He is raising an issue about truth; Pilate is not sure what truth is. What do politicians do when they are in a fix? They offer people a choice, you have a referendum, or a review if you don’t know what to do!
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