Context No. 2464 of 4322 · John

John 18:33-40: in context

33Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered him, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?” 35Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Pilate questions Jesus privately: are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answers that his kingdom is not of this world, or his servants would fight; then he says he was born and came into the world to testify to the truth, and that everyone who is of the truth hears his voice. Pilate replies with a question that has echoed ever since, What is truth? and without waiting for an answer, walks back outside.

That is the tragedy in miniature. Truth himself is standing an arm's length away, and Pilate asks the right question and then turns on his heel before it can be answered. He is close enough to touch the answer and too distracted, too cynical, or too afraid to stay for it. Jesus said those who are of the truth hear his voice; Pilate hears it and steps away. It is possible to come very near to Christ, to ask the deep question aloud, and still miss him by refusing to wait for the reply.

Do I ask after truth and then walk away before receiving the answer, or do I stay long enough to hear his voice?

Sources

John 18:37: For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.
John 18:38: Pilate said to him, What is truth? When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews.
John 18:36: My Kingdom is not of this world.