January 14, 2021.
As Christ stood before Pontius Pilot on trial for His life, the Roman governor put the following question to Him, “What is truth” (John 18:38)? While we cannot be sure whether his question was rhetorical or an appeal to Jesus, the irony of the question was astounding. Before Caesar’s friend stood the One who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).
As we enter 2021, the question we must ask ourselves is simply, Is Christ our truth? Does truth start and end with Him, or have we supplemented “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) with the alternate truths flooding social media, the internet, or cable TV?
Paul claims that each one of us are letters read by all who know us (2 Cor 3:1-2) and Peter notes that we will have to give an account for the hope that is within us (1 Pet 3:15). If our help comes from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Psa 121:2), then we need to be sure that we are truly grounded in the Word made Flesh. We cannot serve two masters (Matt 18:18).
At the time of the first advent the Jews were looking for a Messiah that would lead a victorious uprising against the Romans. Today, many people of faith are looking for the second advent to be the setting up of a political Christian America, yet at His trial Christ clearly said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting” (John 18:36). Are we servants of the Good Shepherd, or has our agenda been hijacked? What can we learn from those who lived at the time of Messiah’s first advent as we anticipate His second?
These are important questions and we must carefully consider our answers and how to apply those answers. For instance, should we react to COVID-19 politically or as Christ would have responded 2,000 years ago? How does He want us to respond today?
Jesus supported the governing authorities by both word and action when He paid tax from the fish’s mouth: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s” (Mark 12:17). In healing those who were sick He insisted that those who believed in His ability to heal, go and show themselves to the priests (Matt 8:4). On both issues Christ could have argued for or against the authorities, but He chose not to, for His kingdom is not of this world. If we are of Christ’s kingdom, while we live in the world, we will not be of the world either.
May we continue to seek wisdom from the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May we exercise brotherly kindness toward one another as we wrestle to find good answers to these questions.
In His Love,
Pastor Michael