ἀλήθεια

“Τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια;” (Pronounced: al-ay’-thi-a)
“What is truth?”

Our culture has an increasingly odd view of truth. Instead of truth being what is right and objectively so, truth has morphed into something subjective. It is frequently categorized by the individual’s feelings or perspective. “Her truth” or “his truth” are valid categories to many in our current society. Often, the truthfulness of a person is weighed more by the passion of their claim than by the validity of their facts. Truthfulness is important to God because it reflects part of his character. God is honest and God is true.

There are many truth claims made in the Scripture, but the most important is the center piece of Scripture. Is Jesus really who he said he was? Pilate tries to discern this himself,

“Pilate said to him (Jesus), ‘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.’

Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:37-38a)

Pilate saw no reasons to disbelieve Jesus, and he was not keen on putting him to death. However, to fulfill the mission he had come for, Jesus had to die. And over 2,000 years ago, he did. The physical embodiment of truth, gave his life for a world that mostly mocked and scorned him in disbelief.

The Passion of Christ’s truth claims are evidenced by the validity of his death, life, and resurrection.
On this Good Friday in 2019, we would do well to ask the question, “Who is truth?”
Jesus said in John 14, “I am the way, the truth (ἀλήθεια), and the life. No man comes to the father, except through me.”

If the truth is Jesus and what he came to bear witness to, perhaps we need to ask what truth we have believed about him? If we believe the truth that Jesus did indeed die on the cross and rise again, we must also believe the truth that eternity awaits all of us.
The end of our lives will come too soon, will we believe the truth, or exchange it for a lie?

Those who have rejected truth, Romans 1:25 says,
“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”

But those who have believed the truth of the gospel, that all have sinned, yet forgiveness is found in the truth that God sent his son to die for us and provide salvation to all who believe. Repent of falsehood and believe the truth of the Gospel.
For all who believe, we understand why such a horrific death, leads us to see this day as a truly Good Friday.