Love: Real Truth!

Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.

I Corinthians 13:6 BSB

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The Prefect was tired. It wasn’t because his wife had kept him up all night. She had. But he was tired of dealing with these Jews. It was his job and duty to Rome. He knew this. If this man before him was guilty, he was a treasonous rebel. He didn’t look very powerful. But one can never be too certain. He sighed. “So, you’re a king then?”

‘You say that I am. My purpose, my reason for being born is to reveal the truth. Those who know this truth will listen, hear, and believe.”

Pilate scoffed “What is truth?” Without waiting for an answer he turned and walked out of the room. This meeting was over before it had begun. The only truth he knew was his duty and it waited for him just outside the doors. Someone would be crucified. Whether for treason or thievery, the people would decide. Better to lay the burden upon them.

What is Truth?

Pilate didn’t wait to hear the answer. Jesus had just told him “everyone who belongs to the truth will listen to my voice.” _{(John 18:37 )} He’d already shared this truth with his disciples many times over the last three years. “Abide in Me and I in you…abide in my love.” _{(John 15:4-11)} “My sheep know my voice...” _{(John 10)}

If you ask ten people to tell you the truth, you may get ten different answers. Often, one’s perception skews the response. Some believe truth is relative, fluid. But Jesus said this:

I am the way, the TRUTH, and the Life…”

John 14:6

Truth, to the people of this day, was a bit more conceptual. It was not merely a proven fact based upon empiracle data or verifiable research, but an idea. It was a question of reality vs. illusion. And could even be a secret of the gods uncovered for mankind. _(Strong’s)

So, when Pilate asked “What is Truth?”, perhaps he was asking, “Are you and the things you teach for real or just an illusion?” Maybe in his heart of hearts he wondered if LOVE such as this existed. Was he a mad man? Was he a man of honor willing to die for his concept of the truth? Or was he what he said he was-a king from another realm, choosing to lay down his life because of his love for his people. Was he a god revealing some divine secret to the people?

What is the Secret?

Jesus came that we may know it, know HIM! Not only know, but to become a part of it-become a part of who He is. He came to call us to himself, to redeem us, ransom us, lay His life down so we may truly live. He came to call us to repentance, and so we may have abundant life. He came to pull us from the darkness and into the light. He came to bring us into His kingdom. He came to reveal the Father.

And who is the Father? This my friends is a deep question. The disciples asked Jesus to show them the Father. He told them, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” _{John 14:9} I believe the apostle John gave us a beautiful picture of the Father.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God , and the Word WAS God…IN Him was life, and the life was the light of men….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, a glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth…For from His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. _{(John 1: 1-4, 14, 16)}

And this is the message that we have heard from Him…God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” _{I John 1:5-9; 4:16}

Here is the Reality, the Real Truth:

God is faithful and just. He does not lie. He is light and truth. He is Love.

And here is the truth about love: Love rejoices (partners with, participates in and identifies) with the reality of who He is. Here love thrives! Yet love is not disposed to evil (injustice, unrighteousness, or the violation of God’s standards.)

Love holds us to a greater standard-the standard of THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!

Love is not a free pass to do as you want, when you want, or how you want. Love is righteous and full of justice tempered with mercy and grace. It doesn’t dishonor others, ourselves, or our God. It is patient and kind. Giving of itself, unselfish. Love is forgiving. Love serves, love is faithful. It lays its life down for others. It always, protects, always trusts, always hopes, always believes.

The truth is, Love, should we choose to align ourselves with it (With Him), NEVER FAILS!

For further Study:

• I Corinthian 13
• I John
• John 4