Pilate The Philosopher
John 18:28-40
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “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.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “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.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Note the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders: they refuse to enter a Gentile residence so as not to render themselves ceremonially unclean as they prepare for the Passover, while at the same time they are conspiring to have an innocent man put to death.
Jesus tells Pilate that his kingship is not from this world. (What we the readers know is that it is from heaven.)
Jesus has often spoken about truth.
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [John 8:31-32]
47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” [John 8:47]
26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [John 10:26-27]
When Pilate asks his cynical question “What is truth?” he shows that he is not part of Jesus and therefore does not hear his voice.
Thought for the Day
In John 18:37, Jesus gives one of the clearest statements in all of the Bible as to why he came: “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.”