Jesus was an amazing speaker—not only because of the things He said, but also because of the things He did not say.
The Gospels reveal a master at work. For example, at some point Jesus cobbled together the following thought: ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ But He did not just blurt it out. Instead He worked it into a conversation in a most unlikely way:
“‘I go to prepare a place for you…. You know the way where I am going.’
Thomas said, ‘Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’
Jesus answered, ‘I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:3-6.
What an enigmatic comment. Surely the disciples looked at each other around the circle dumbfounded. Like many things Jesus taught them, it would not make sense until after His resurrection.
Later Pilate interrogates Jesus, trying Him for religious charges Pilate does not understand.
“Jesus says, ‘I have come into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.’
‘What is truth?’ said Pilate.” John 18:37-38.
When the Roman leader lobs the perfect softball question, we expect Jesus to answer, “I AM the truth.” But Jesus says nothing. No truth bomb for the Roman governor.
Why not? Because Pilate spoke not as seeker, but cynic. Pilate’s Roman education rendered him a skeptic. “What is truth?” reads like a rhetorical question, Pilate’s way of saying, “there is no truth,” and Jesus wasted no time on hardened doubters. Unlike the centurion at the cross, Pilate had no faith to build on. Just as He taught us to use restraint with those of persistent unbelief, Jesus will not cast His pearls before swine only to have them trampled. He will not waste words of truth on a man who lacks the heart[1] to receive it.
God, bring us opportunities to share your truth with genuine seekers—and give us wisdom and words that might reach even the skeptics around us.
Read John 14.
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[1] Jesus may also be showing mercy. Pilate will forever be the man who condemned the Son of God to death. Had Jesus spoken more clearly, Pilate would be that much guiltier for rejecting the Truth. Knowing that there are degrees of punishment in hell—and knowing Pilate’s heart was not going to repent—perhaps it was an act of mercy NOT to say, “I am the Truth,” thus increasing Pilate’s sin.
Household Words: 