Thanks to gravity we can walk the ground. Up is up and down is down, as simple as that. However, climbing into a rocket and pushing through Earth’s atmosphere, we experience things very differently. Where is up and down after the loss of gravity? Our human experience is tied to our personal point of view.

Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect of Judea around A.D. 26-37 and is most famous for presiding over the trial of Jesus. Before the trial Pilate tested the waters and asked Jesus: “Are you a king”, to which He replied (John 18:36-37):

“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’

‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate.

Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’”

It became clear to Pilate that Jesus neither had a political agenda nor posed a threat to Rome. But then the interrogation quickly got personal when Jesus reached out to him and said: “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” In other words: “Which side are you on? Are you listening to me?” Pontius Pilate’s reaction was that of a cynic. “What is truth?” he asked. Not expecting an answer, he turned around and left Jesus.

So, what is truth?  

Truth is no opinion. It is human that our point of view evolves. What we believe to be true today may no longer hold true tomorrow. Pilate’s sarcasm would then be justified. Truth however does not change overnight. Unimpressed by shifting times and unimagined by human minds truth stands forever. We don’t dream up truth; truth just is; it is alive and breathing and has the name of God written all over it.

When Jesus walked this earth, He left indelible footprints. He said about Himself (John 14:6):

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Truth cannot be scientifically proven, but the results of truth-finding are very tangible. We learn the truth when we believe in Jesus. Embracing Him will change us for the better, or to use His terminology: truth will sanctify us. We will never be the same.