37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Truth – true, real, actual, not counterfeit or feigned, open, frank, sincere, genuine, honest, factual, transparent, eternal – Jesus came into the world to testify to this. Indeed, He is Truth – not only pointing us to the Father through His life but also providing us access to the Father through His death and resurrection:
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
Our Lord is the Way because He is the Truth and He is the Life. Interestingly, Pilate rephrases his wording from “Are you the king of the Jews” in verse 33 to “You are a king, then!” – King not just of the Jews but of all who are on the side of Truth and listen to Him – even though assuredly Pilate did not mean it that way. Unbeknownst to him, even the unregenerate spoke correctly of our Lord’s position!
Jesus came not as a worldly king but a King over hearts and minds and souls. He did not come to wear a crown – save one of thorns – nor found an earthly monarchy rather to proclaim Truth. All friends of Truth listen to His voice as our Lord witnessed to the Truth. If one is an honest seeker of Truth, one will listen to Jesus. Our Lord entered into this world as a witness of the Truth concerning God, concerning man and concerning the Way of salvation. He came shedding light on this truth which had long been hidden – the doctrine of man and God, salvation, sin and holiness. His followers were not soldiers and warriors rather earnest seekers of the Truth. He did not come to amass armies, build fortified cities or seek storehouses of treasures save the priceless souls of men. He came to serve and not to be served. The God who spoke the world into creation stooped to save it - amazing:
10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10 (NIV)
Lest we forget, Jesus tells us there is great rejoicing in heaven even over one soul who truly repents:
10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 (NIV)
We as His followers are to be likeminded – His position is to be our position. Like our Master we are to be witnesses for God and Truth against sin and ignorance. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers, like our Master, are to warn of danger, direct to a safe harbor, provide hope for those who are lost, give a Word to sustain the weary, break the hard heart and heal the broken one.
“Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness.” C.H. Spurgeon
We must not be afraid to stand without another as Jesus has promised to always be with us –indeed, that is how He ends the Great Commission to us all:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)
“Oh! that I had a trumpet voice to warn you. Oh! while you are dying, while you are sinking into perdition, may I not cry to you; may not these eyes weep for you! Take to heart, I beseech you, the realities of eternity. Oh, turn, turn! Why will you die? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be saved.” Charles H. Spurgeon at Exeter Hall on Sunday morning, February 26, 1869