John 18:33-38 "What is Truth?"

John 18:37   “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate was cynical and responded to Jesus’ statement with a scoffing retort, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) Pilate was more interested in power than truth. He believed in power; he wanted to know if Jesus claimed to be a king. (John 18:33)  Pilate understood the authority of kings, but he was skeptical about anyone’s ability to know the truth. 

Without a desire for truth one cannot come to Jesus, but with a desire for truth one will have the openness of heart to hear the call of the Lord. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18) Jesus made it clear that his purpose was to testify to the truth. (John 18:37) Earlier in the Gospel we read the startling claim of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Since Jesus made it his purpose to witness to the truth, we, too, as followers of Jesus want to be pursuers of truth. Truth opens the door to hearing the Gospel. Scientific, historical, philosophical truth—all truth in all forms—serves the purposes of God.

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Grandchildren. Mr. Happy sometimes surprises me with his wisdom. He seems the old man, and I the preschooler. This week he was working in the back yard with me cleaning up the bird feeder. As we worked I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. We’d been talking about his parents, and I made the observation that they were both doctors and that they helped people. So, “what do you want to do when you grow up?” I asked. He said, “It’s too early to say.” I was impressed with this wisdom beyond his years and immediately responded, “Yes, you’re right; it’s too early to say.” After a moment he broke the subsequent silence and said, “When I grow up I want to be a robber.” Startled, I looked up at him from my work and saw that his eyes were laughing. I laughed, too. Humor and wisdom—that Mr. Happy keeps me joyful.

Mark 13;1-8 A Reflection on Church Buildings

Mark 13:2  “Do you see all these great buildings?”

Mark 13 is an apocalyptic discourse that includes a reference to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. This chapter, also, describes the return of Christ (v. 26) and the passing away of heaven and earth (v. 31). Concerning the end Jesus said that no one knows the time (v. 32). The best preparation, Jesus admonished his disciples, is to watch and pray (v. 34, KJV) and live each day as if it could be the end of days.

Jesus gave this teaching in response to his disciples’ expressed wonder at the grandeur of the temple. Jesus warned that this building—grand as it was—would not endure. Its destruction would be total (v. 2). This destruction of the temple occurred in 70 A.D. when the Romans put down a rebellion in Jerusalem with the destruction of the city.

Jesus described the razing of the temple as “birth pangs” (v. 8 NIV). The temple’s demise was necessary, in part, so that the grandeur of buildings could be replaced by a spiritual kingdom that would spread to all the earth (v. 10). The kingdom of God could not then and cannot now be contained in a building.

Now, as then, buildings can get in the way of kingdom work. Cathedrals are magnificent to visit, but they are too often empty of worshipers. Even more modest buildings can become a drain on resources and siphon attention away from the church’s mission. So, empty cathedrals and run-down church buildings of any size that are devouring resources remind us that the kingdom is made of people not stones; the church is Christ’s body, a spiritual building, not a material one.

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Grandchildren. Singer (my preferred nickname; his siblings call him Squeaker) is now fifteen weeks old and is awakening from his infancy to the world about him. He seems delighted with his discovery. Both Sweetie Pie and Mr. Happy have been able to get him to smile for a long time. Gal and I have had some happy responses from him as well. Last night, however, in response to his mother’s smile he was giggling which made all the rest of us giggle, too. Another milestone, this weekend he turned over for the first time. He is growing!

Mark 12:35-44 Watch Out for Bad Teaching

Mark 12:38   Jesus said, “Watch out . . .’”

As others have observed, the problem with religion is not that people don’t believe but that people will believe anything! Happily, much more good than bad has come to us through religion. Through the Gospel people have come to transforming faith and whole societies have moved to a more just administration of law. Charitable institutions have brought relief to multitudes of the needy. Christianity has lifted culture and government in many good ways. 

At the same time we know that In the name of religion unspeakable atrocities, fraud of the innocent, prejudicial strictures, and lots of pious foolishness have been practiced. Enemies of religion eagerly point to these problems, but honest observers of history will acknowledge that religion has brought good as well as bad.

Because religion can be bad as well as good, Jesus warned us to “watch out.” So, how do we watch out? The classic Protestant answer is to follow the teachings of the Bible for in the Scripture we have the word of God. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Of course, as recorded in Mark 12 Jesus demonstrated through his encounter with the Bible teachers of the first century this need to “watch out” does not go away with the simple call to Bible authority. Some people—unintentionally or mischievously—misinterpret the Bible and cause harm. So Jesus said “watch out” for the teachers. (verse 38)

In this passage from Mark 12 we find some ways that the followers of Jesus can watch out for bad Bible interpretation. One warning centers on behavior. A good Bible teacher will support the teaching with good behavior. (v. 40)

Another warning arises out of the teacher’s attitude. Lack of humility in a teacher will set off internal alarm bells for the thoughtful. (v. 39) Lack of generosity provides a warning, too. (v. 41-44)

Also, Jesus warned against intellectual flatness and lack of imagination. In humility an authentic teacher of the Bible will yield to paradox and mystery. We cannot explain everything. (v. 35-37) The only one with all the answers is God himself, and the authentic teacher will point us to our Lord. Those teachers who insist on having the answer to everything need watching and are best avoided.

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Grandchildren. For Halloween Sweetie Pie was a ghost; with her missing front teeth she was scary. (Until she gave me a big hug) Mr. Happy wore camouflage and looked like a warrior (well, as much as a four year old can). Singer (my current nickname for the youngest) had the scariest costume to me. He dressed as a surgeon—even down to the booties doctors wear in the operating room. “Give me treats or I’ll take your organs!” (His uncle Jason who is a surgeon sent that costume to Singer.) Well, it would be scary, but babies are sweet no matter how they are dressed. What fun to be a grandparent.

Travel. Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice . . . .” Judy and I traveled with friends to Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna and Budapest by river boat this past week. Seeing these parts of Germany, Austria and Hungary was enlightening and pleasant. I will be working through all the thoughts and impressions this travel created for me over the next year. How grateful I am to have the resources to have made this journey. I want to be a good steward of it. Hopefully, some of my prejudices will die with reflections on this travel experience. It was fun, but it was more than just fun.