What is truth?

"What is truth?" Pilate asked Jesus that question and walked away without waiting for the answer. In John 18:28-40, Dr. Toby Holt examines the trial of Jesus before the Roman governor.

The Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pilate because only Rome could carry out an execution. Pilate questions Him about being a king, and Jesus answers, "My kingdom is not of this world." The two talk past each other — one of eternal truth, the other of politics. Finding no guilt, Pilate offers to release a prisoner, but the crowd demands Barabbas. The guilty goes free; the innocent is condemned.

Questions this study answers:

1. Who was Pilate? The Roman governor of Judea, responsible for order. He found no crime in Jesus but lacked the courage to release Him.

2. Why did the leaders bring Jesus to Pilate? Only Rome could authorize an execution, and a quiet stoning was too risky at Passover. So they needed Pilate's verdict.

3. Why did the crowd choose Barabbas? They chose a guilty criminal over the innocent Jesus. In that exchange we see the gospel: the guilty go free because the innocent takes their place.

"My kingdom is not of this world… but now My kingdom is not from here." — John 18:36 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.