JOHN 18:37-38:  “Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.  For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”…”

OBSERVATION:  Today is “Good Friday”.  To the world this name seems to be an oxymoron.  It is the day when Christians commemorate the last day of Jesus life leading to His crucifixion on the cross.  It is a difficult day.  It is a somber day.  And yet – it is a “Good” day!

This day can only be seen and understood by those who are “of the truth”.  When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, Jesus replied – “My kingdom is not of this world.  If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”  Pilate pressed Him again – “So you are a king?”  Jesus replied – “You say that I am a king.”  Then Jesus revealed to Pilate the reason He came – “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.”  Pilate’s reply is one that has been the focal point of many movies made about the life of Jesus.  Pilate replied with disdain – “What is truth?”

Today, this is the question that still divides the world from the Kingdom of God.  Jesus did not come to bear witness to a code of ethics or a list of teachings.  Jesus came to bear witness to the one true God, to the Father, to Himself, through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said – “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life.”  Jesus came to reveal the nature and glory of God.  To those who receive Him, who are “of the truth”, they hear His voice, they see Him as King.  To those who reject Jesus, who are “of the lie”, they listen to the voice of the prince of this world.  Those who are not of the truth continue to reply with disdain – “What is truth?”

Jesus said if we want to find life we must first lose it.  We must lay down our stubborn pride, our selfishness, and our doubt in order to embrace truth and enter into the Kingdom of God.  When we embrace Jesus as the “Truth” something wonderful happens.  A day that to the world looks like a day of gloom, death, and defeat – becomes a day of light, life, and victory!  Our eyes are opened to understand the cosmic struggle that Jesus was entering into, and the victory that He achieved when He died on the cross.  We do not have to wait for Easter Sunday to celebrate.  We know that when He proclaimed “IT IS FINISHED” – our victory was secured.  The resurrection no doubt validated Jesus’ claim, but the victory was won on the cross!  This is why we rejoice today.  This is why today is “Good Friday”!

Lord, thank You for paying the ultimate price to redeem me.  Thank You for taking my sin, my shame, my punishment on the cross.  Open my eyes to see and understand that – “IT IS FINISHED”.  Open my heart fully to Your Truth.  I give you praise on this Friday, this – “GOOD FRIDAY”.  May all who open their hearts to You in faith understand the blessed truth – Today is a “Good” day!  In Jesus Name!