Grow Through The Gospels - John 18

Read: John 18

John 18:38 “‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him.’”

John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Think

G.K. Chesterton said, “We shall soon be in a world in which a man may be howled down for saying that two and two make four, in which people will persecute the heresy of calling a triangle a three-sided figure, and hang a man for maddening a mob with the news that grass is green.”

Imagine you're riding along, just turned 16, with your friend who just got their driver’s license. The freedom is exhilarating, right? Then, as you start to pull away, you notice your friend hasn’t put on their seat belt. You remind them, and after some grumbling, they buckle up. They argue it’s unnecessary, just a restriction on their newfound freedom. But that seat belt isn’t just a rule; it’s a lifeline.

A few minutes into your drive, you hear brakes screeching behind you as you approach a stoplight. You glance in the rearview mirror and see a car speeding toward you. There’s no time to react, and the collision is inevitable. The impact is brutal – glass shatters and the car jolts violently. Your heart races as you scream, bracing yourself for the worst. But both of you are held securely by your seat belts. Despite the terror, you’re safe, thanks to those belts.

That experience is a stark lesson about the importance of some truths. Just like the undeniable necessity of a seat belt in a crash, there are truths in life that aren’t subject to personal opinion. Jesus spoke about this kind of truth when he said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). In a world full of shifting perspectives, we crave something unchanging and reliable. Jesus offers us this steadfast truth, an anchor in life’s storms, much like the seat belt that protected you.

Our generation often hears that truth is relative, it’s all about personal perspective. But deep down, we know that some truths are non-negotiable. The Bible presents Jesus not as a set of rules but as a person – the embodiment of truth. This relationship with him provides the freedom and stability we instinctively seek. Just as your seat belt saves you in a crash, knowing Jesus is the key to navigating life’s uncertainties. He is the absolute truth we can depend on, offering not just answers but a relationship that transforms our lives.

Apply

What biblical truths are you resisting? Are you battling some moral code or finding one of God’s principles to be restrictive – like the seatbelt? Embrace these truths and see how they provide security and freedom.

Pray

Lord, help me see the truths I’ve been resisting in my life. Give me the courage to embrace them, even when they feel restrictive. Thank you for the security and freedom your truth provides. Help me to trust in you and follow your teachings wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.