Social media is a great way to stay up to date of the goings on of those you know. It is also a platform for telling stories. And a place where debate can happen that includes many people and organizations from many perspectives. But a place to find “truth”, that is something that is questionable.
Jesus was arrested and put on “trial” for reportedly claiming to be the “King of the Jews” and doing evil or working outside the confines of the religious law. The charges are not up for debate as that is exactly what Pilate was told and what Jesus was was questioned about in John 18:33-40.
“33So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ 34Jesus answered, ‘Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?’ 35Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?’” – John 18:33-35 (ESV)
I am not studying this with the idea of debating what was said or the circumstances or anything other than this. Pilate was seeking the truth. I have to give him credit in this regard, he did not take the word of the people and questioned Jesus on his own to get to the truth. At this point, Pilate was not satisfied with condemning a man because the people said so. He was diligent in looking for the truth and getting to the bottom of things. And after he had sufficiently gathered the information from Jesus, he rendered his findings to the people.
“37Then 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.’ 38Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’ After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, ‘I find no guilt in him.’” – John 18:37-38 (ESV)
Now, I am stopping here with as again I am mention that at this point, Pilate was doing the right thing. He had done his work of digging into the facts and questioning the correct people to find out what really happened. He had sought the truth and found it, but only through his truly seeking.
I opened this morning with a quick blurb about social media and I want to come back to that for a moment. I believe that there is too much in that platform that is shared, claimed, “reported”, and/or displayed that requires more understanding before it can be passed off as truth. Jesus may have healed someone on the Sabbath, but he was working the construct of God’s law, not the law of man. Something may have happened or been done, and the context of the action may be completely different than that which is seen in the media. It is up to us to seek the truth and not allow ourselves to be distracted by the reports and statement of others.
Jesus is Truth and therefore I should be seeking Him. When I am seeking Him, I am seeking the Truth and not leaving it up to someone else to dictate my beliefs.
What do you see that may/may not be the truth? Are you accepting of everything that you read or hear or see as the truth? Are you actively seeking the Truth each and every day?
Trevor's Thoughts 