What is Truth? (S15 Episode25)

Our trial, and the case against Christ, begins in earnest this Sunday. We enter the trial scene as Pilate is interrogating Jesus. Frustrated by Jesus’ demeanor before him, a question slips from Pilate’s lips. Ann Wroe calls it a question “too strange to have been invented.” In the middle of his dialogue with Jesus, Pilate blurts out, half to himself, “what is truth?” Did he mutter it scornfully? Was his question sincere? Did Pilate ask the question pensively or impatiently? And what does truth have to do with whether Jesus is a king or not?

The quizzical thing to me is that once uttered, the question disappears, and the story simply carries on. The weight of Pilate’s question is just left hanging in the air with no response or resolution. And it is here that I want to hit the pause button and have us imaginatively enter this courtroom drama.

What if there had been dialogue about Pilate’s question? What if, in trying Jesus for being a rival king, a team of prosecutors and defense lawyers had taken up that question, each side making their respective case? What would it be like to use “truth” as part of the case against Christ?

So, into the courtroom we go. The trial team of lawyers are ready, witnesses have been called. And so, I hope you will join us this Sunday, as quasi jurists, ready to hear the case against Christ as we explore, What is Truth?