“ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, ‘He is not guilty of any crime.’”
John 18:38 (NLT)
Pilate wanted a simple answer. He wanted something concrete—a charge, a crime, a reason. The religious leaders couldn’t give him one. Jesus didn’t defend Himself either. Instead, He revealed something much deeper. His kingdom wasn’t from this world. If it were, His followers would fight. But His authority didn’t come from power or force—it came from truth.
When Pilate pressed further and asked if Jesus was a king, Jesus explained why He came into the world: to testify to the truth. And then He said something revealing—those who love the truth recognize His voice. Truth, according to Jesus, isn’t discovered through interrogation. It’s recognized through relationship.
Pilate’s response is striking. “What is truth?” he asks—and then he walks away. He doesn’t wait for an answer. To him, truth was a concept, a “what,” something to debate or dismiss. Yet standing right in front of him was Truth in the flesh. Jesus wasn’t offering information. He was offering Himself.
Scripture makes this unmistakably clear. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He promises the Holy Spirit, whom He calls the Spirit of Truth, to guide us into all truth. Truth is not something we define. It’s Someone we know. When truth becomes a “what,” it shifts with culture. When truth is a “who,” it remains unchanging.
This is why truth cannot be separated from love. Those who know God recognize His voice. Those who walk with Jesus begin to reflect Him. As we yield to the Holy Spirit and love one another, we are transformed—becoming steady, consistent witnesses of light and hope in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
Pilate walked away from the question. We don’t have to. Truth is not hiding. He’s already revealed Himself. We discover the truth by abiding in His presence and being available for Him to teach us.