The Politics Of Truth

“The Politics of Truth”, Based on: John 18:28-38a

11/23/03 (9:30 & 11:00)

Undercurrents…today…Unseen, but very real…beneath surface…

Today: Surface…Heritage Sunday/Spec Off…Under: first live web cast to 55 mil Am & Buckeyes

Text: Surface…Jesus arrested; on trial before priests; handed over to ruling gov’t=Romans & Pilate

Undercurrent: Pilate up to his neck in politics; big troubles with people rioting; innocent man

Pilate has to deal w/ Jesus…as do we…

John 18:28-37a is just a sliver of one of the greatest trial stories ever recorded…

Read Text & Pray…

Jackie Kennedy…

11/22/63… Dallas, TX…No doubt this week you’ve been reminded of the day John F. Kennedy was shot…

We are now 40 years from that day…4 more years than I’ve been alive…

A lot has been said of those moments when the motorcade turned left off Houston Street onto Elm where…

…chaos…cued by bullets that took flight…triggered by evil that took life…

Of those images and details you recall…I’m wondering if you remember…

Jacqueline Kennedy’s words…

When she threw herself over her husband’s bleeding body?

She said: “Oh God no! They have shot my husband.” (PAUSE) Who were “THEY”?

Jackie Kennedy lived in a world of indistinguishable, but very real, hostile forces…

that would harm or kill her husband…this was true…she didn’t make that up…but who were “THEY”

THEY had no names…where did THEY come from…where did THEY live…

why did THEY shoot her husband… Who were “THEY”?

40 years later, many still wonder what the TRUTH is behind that question… Pilate’s question: What is ?

And it has been since that dreadful day, 40 years ago, that TRUTH has become ever-more elusive…

as we live in a world of “THEY”…

A lot of people live in a world of “THEY…” Have you heard of this place? It sounds like this: “They say

· …Lee Harvey Oswald had nothing to do with it…what they say! Who? THEY!

· …in 20 years we’ll have no ozone left…have to live indoors…what they tell me!

· …John Malvo was brainwashed when he shot those people in D.C…what they say!

Have you heard of this world of “THEY”? Do you know anyone who lives in a world of “THEY”?

That world void accountability…where there’s no blame/no credit…no responsibility…

No TRUTH to be found…that becomes even more frightening as it gets closer to home…

· “They say……terrorists are on the move again…gonna attack Battelle…that’s what they say…

· …going to shut down our elementary school…that’s what they say…

· …they’re going to tear down South Campus build a mall…REALLY? Member? What about we?

Sometimes, the world of “THEY” is downright ridiculous… “They say…”

· …Gov’t is going to give tax credit for church attendance…that’s what they say…

· …for $125K, they can freeze your body, and bring you back when technology catches up…

· …Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to be Gov of CA…that’s right…HE IS!

In a world of “THEY”, TRUTH is difficult to find…

Pilate lived in a world of “THEY”…no wonder his last words were: WHAT IS TRUTH?

THEY took Jesus to high priest…then…THEY handed him over to Pilate who asked, “What’s he done?”

THEY said he was a criminal…” “Are you, King of the Jews? That’s what THEY say.”

“Do you ask on your own…or, did THEY tell you that?”

THEY… THEY… THEY… THEY…7 times in 5 verses! WHAT IS TRUTH?

Sometimes, TRUTH is standing before us…and we can’t even see it…just ask Pilate…

Sometimes, TRUTH is right in front of us…but it gets lost in a vague, undefined world of “THEY”

So we ask: WHAT IS TRUTH? I have a couple of thoughts…

There was another sad death on November 22, 1963… C.S. Lewis…well-known Anglican theologian died…

Among his famous works were Screwtape Letters; Great Divorce; Mere Christianity

But probably, most known as the creator of Narnia…land beyond the wardrobe

…where great struggles b/t good & evil, right & wrong played out…

I’ve just been reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to my older 2 kids lately…

…depicting the conflict b/t great lion Aslan (Christ), and White Witch (embodiment of evil)…

I’ve read the book several times before, but this week…thinking about this text…

I was struck by the experience of the 4 children as they hear the name of Aslan for 1st x

Read quote page 68…AT THE SOUND OF ASLAN…SOMETHING JUMPED

Jesus hints at an answer to Pilate’s question…our…: WHAT IS TRUTH…when in his response he says:

“Everyone who belongs to the truth…will hear my voice…” Jesus was saying…

We can hear it…feel it…at times touch it…know it in our soul…TRUTH is palpable…

Like the children in Narnia, hearing the name of Aslan…something jumps inside…

When TRUTH comes to us…we feel/hear/see/touch…something jumps…PALP

“Everyone who belongs to the truth…will hear my voice…”

Something jumped inside me a week ago…my empty stomach…Sheila was out of town with kids: Chipotle.