“It’s a Choice: Truth or Expedience” 2012

Psalm 86:7-13 John 18:33-38

Psalm 86:7-13 (NRSV)

In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me. 8There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. 12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

John 18:33-38

33Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.

In my early 20’s, a Sunday School teacher I admired in my youth

ran for a seat in Virginia State Senate,

which was my introduction to real world politics.

I sat in on an election strategy meeting one time,

with his campaign manager and other staff advisors

who were all discussing how to get around

some poorly phrased comments he had made;

that his opponents and the Washington Post

had spun and misrepresented into a political gaffe.

But rather than staying true to his convictions

that had led him to run to run for office in the first place,

or trying to explain the truth of what he believed ---

- the conversation was focused on how to change & spin things

in some way that the voters might be willing to believe,

and might work to manipulate the truth to his advantage.

Integrity & truth were definitely not a part of the conversation.

Listening to their discussion, I felt a deep disappointment

that the truth and integrity, of a man I had long admired,

were not even to be a considered in the world of politics.

Their sole concern was how to win the election, expediency;

and it seemed that truth and integrity just didn’t matter.

Truth is not whatever works, the most convenient & expedient way,

or whatever most easily achieves one’s advantage or desires.

** You can’t cut corners with truth, character or integrity.

My real world experience with politics, of expediency over truth,

flavors the way I read and understand the John 18 passage,

when the Roman governor asks Jesus, "What is Truth?"

Actually, Pilate was asking the right question.

It’s an important question, one that deserves a good answer…

… but neither Pilate nor the religious leaders

really wanted anything to do with the truth…

… and it wasn't so much that they missed seeing the truth,

as much as, they just didn't care about the truth.

The religious leaders were very committed to their religion.

They studied the Scriptures, hung out at the Temple,

and they were scrupulous in the extreme about following

all the rules, rituals & traditions of their religion.

Part of the conflict and their rejection of Jesus was because

he wouldn't play along with their rituals and rules

and posed a serious threat to their religious system.

That perspective is made clear in Mark 14:55~64

Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him. … All of them condemned him as deserving death.

For all their scruples and Bible study, these religious leaders,

were quite willing to lie and deceive,

and even give false testimony and manipulate the truth,

if that's what it took to get what they wanted & win.

In the next scene, the next morning, according to: John 18:28-29

Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.

The same religious leaders, so concerned about religious purity

that they wouldn't even enter Pilate's headquarters,

yet had no problem with lying and subverting the truth

in order to bring about the murder of an innocent man.

And knowing that the Roman governor’s chief responsibility

was to ensure the flow of tax money and tribute to Rome,

and had little interest in their affairs of religion…

… they spun, lied and falsified their accusations against Jesus,

to something they knew would attract Pilate’s attention.

Luke 23:2

They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king."

For all their scrupulous adherence to religion and rules,

they were more than willing to lie & rely upon false witnesses,

and trump up false accusations in order to involve Rome.

They willingly abandoned any claims of integrity or truthfulness

so it would work out their way and accomplish their plans.

Do we see & recognize the terrible danger in that way of thinking?

We can be so set and intent on our plans, accomplishing our agenda

that for the sake of expediency or saving time and effort,

we may shade the truth, manipulate things our way a bit…

* … when we fear that truth and integrity might be too costly,

or get in the way of something we desire or want badly.

The religious leaders who accused Jesus before Pilate

were committed to serving God, preserving their religion,

and perhaps convinced themselves they were doing the right thing.

But as soon as they crossed the line of truth and integrity

they were stepping way outside the will and ways of God,

and begun their slide down the slope of expediency

that led to the brutal murder of Jesus Christ.

If I have to be sneaky, dishonest, untruthful or manipulative,

if my methods are questionable, corrupt or need to be hidden,

then how can I possibly be serving within God’s will & purpose

* - how could God bless anything that emerges from corruption?

We know that God looks on the inside, at our relationships, and

cares just as much about our motivations and the methods we use,

as He does about the results or the good deeds we intend.

On just the basis of truth, honor and integrity,

the religious leaders were already in the wrong,

opposed to God’s ways, before the trial had even begun.

John 18:33

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

That seems like a reasonable and simple enough question,

but the truth depended on what Pilate means by the word, king.

* If Pilate meant “king”, as in a leader trying to overthrow Rome,

then "no", Jesus was not that political sort of a king.

* But if Pilate asked from the Jewish or theological perspective,

then "yes" Jesus was the anointed one, the Messiah sent by God.

Pilate was asking if Jesus posed a threat to Rome.

“are you leading a rebellion ? Are you the King of the Jews?"

To answer, Jesus wanted to know, what sort of king did he mean? John 18:34

Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

"Are you asking me this from a Roman political perspective,

or from a Jewish religious and theological point of view?"

So Pilate explains and clarifies his question, John 18:35

Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

'Am I a Jew, that I should care about your religious concerns?

And if it is a religious issue, then why did they bring you to me,

why do they see you as a threat, and what have you done?”

Pilate wants to know why they are so upset with Jesus.

So Jesus makes it clear that it’s not about a political revolt,

or that he and his followers are a threat against Rome;

for had they been an actual political movement or rebels,

then they certainly would have fought to defend him.

John 18:36-37

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here. … I came into the world, to testify to the truth."

Now Pilate gets it, that Jesus is not a political threat to Rome.

Then, John 18:38a Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"

This is a cynical question, “what is truth that I could care?”

Pilate doesn’t really want Jesus to explain about truth,

but rather,

confronted by the truth, he shrugs, truth? … whatever

John 18:38b, 19:16

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him. … Then he (Pilate) handed him over to them to be crucified.

Pilate was quite willing to compromise with truth and justice

to avoid the inconvenience of dealing with an angry crowd.

The quickest and easiest way was to go along with the crowd,

and crucify a man he knew to be innocent …

… a prime example of depraved political expediency.

Choosing expediency over truth and integrity,

pressured by the religious leaders and the crowd,

Pilate condemned Jesus to be brutally crucified.

What is truth?

The truth is, the religious leaders lied & spun to murder Jesus.

What is truth?

The truth is, Pilate didn't find Jesus guilty of any crime.

Before the whole crowd Pilate declared Jesus innocent,

yet then condemned him to die as the crowd demanded anyway.

-- in the end, the truth didn't really matter to him.

Pilate acknowledged that he was well aware of the truth,

yet with his lack of character, he could not bring himself

to act with honor, with courage, or with integrity…

… so what difference does that make for us and our living today?

So too, sometimes we choose, not to act on the truth that we know…

… the truth is, we too

can be just like Pilate the religious authorities;

well aware of God's truth,

yet we choose instead compromise and expediency ,

to live the easy lies and deceptions of this world.

As we grow and increasingly know Jesus as our Lord and Savior,

we learn to trust his promises to save, guide and bless us

as we turn more & more of our lives to His grace & mercy.

It is a lifetime process of God’s light shining & healing our darkness & doubt.

Yes, we know we belong to Jesus Christ, and yes, He is our King,

but we don’t always live as though Christ were our King.

Sometimes when we feel pressure from the world and our culture,

& we let fear let fear, complacency and expediency drive us.

We let the trinkets, the worries and desires of this world,

distract us and steal our attention away from God's love.

Sometimes we accept easy shortcuts on truth and integrity,

or accept false ways of whatever we think might work for us,

whatever promises to get us ahead, whatever pays the bills,

whatever delights the eye, whatever feels like success

whatever is necessary to achieve what we want.

In contrast, Jesus said, John 14:6 & 8:32

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life …

you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

But in the quiet secret place where we face honesty of the soul,

I believe we all desperately yearn for truth and integrity,

but living in this world we see precious little of it.

Truth demands a decision, either for or against Jesus Christ.

That decision has the power to transform all else in life,

and that commitment has the power

to redefine every aspect and hope of our lives.

Today is Christ the King Sunday,

when we specifically celebrate his righteous reign as king,

but will Jesus truly rule in our hearts and lives,

our attitudes, goals & motivations out in the world?

Truth is not the broad road to comfort, success or popularity.

Truth doesn't always win the promotion or advancement

or all the things & pleasures that this world values most.

Pilate asked, "What is truth?" à

The truth, is an ongoing process of our relationship with God,

it is our growing into the reign of God & lordship of Christà

as we walk in faith together guided by God's Holy Spirit…

Truth is lived

when we let God's love and mercy guide our affections,

toward a more grateful and whole,

a more hopeful and joyful presence in this world.

On this Christ the King Sunday consider the words

taken from our Presbyterian Declaration of Faith:

We declare that Jesus is Lord.

His resurrection is a decisive victory over the powers that deform and destroy human life.

His Lordship is hidden.

The world appears to be dominated by people and systems that do not acknowledge His rule.

But His Lordship is real.

It demands our loyalty and sets us free from the fear of all lesser lords who threaten us.

We maintain that ultimate sovereignty now belongs to Jesus Christ in every sphere of life.

Jesus is Lord! He has been Lord from the beginning.

He will be Lord at the end. Even now He is Lord.