Have you ever played the game Three Truths and a Lie? It is a great ice-breaker party game which requires one person to come up with three true aspects about himself, but must add one lie to try and trick the audience. It gets very entertaining when the person has a very bizarre truth about himself, that seems unbelievable, and then creates a lie that appears to be feasible. The laughter and sometimes shock that occurs makes this game especially fun and enlightening.
In John chapter eighteen, we see a battle between truth and lies. We find the Truth, Jesus Christ, on trial for telling the truth, while we find one of His best friends, Peter, lying about even knowing Jesus. We find “witnesses” brought before the kangaroo court of the Jewish religious leaders who lie about Jesus and the things He has said. We also find the Roman prefect, Pilate, asking Jesus, “What is truth?”, while ultimately determining that Jesus innocent.
Peter, the dear friend of Jesus, in a moment of fear, lied about knowing Jesus.
The servant girl at the door, said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not” (John 18:17). Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed (John 18:25-27).
Jesus had told Peter the truth, prophesying that he would deny Him. Peter had been given the unique glimpse into his future weakness, and upon denying his Lord and Savior, realized the truth and was devastated. Luke tells us, “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62). His response is what our response should be when we are confronted with our sin. We should be deeply moved by our denial of Jesus, the Truth in our lives, and weep and repent.
The other liars in this story, the religious leaders and the witnesses that perjured themselves, sadly had no remorse and ultimately celebrated their perceived victory over Jesus.
“The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said”” (John 18:19-21).
This boldness enraged an officer, who struck Jesus, for speaking the truth. Yet Jesus remained steadfast in His testimony and the reason He came to earth, to die for sinful man. The very men who were lying about Him, striking Him and ultimately going to crucify Him, He would die for on a Roman cross.
The false trial continues at a new venue, this time before Pontius Pilate, who asked the leaders what it was Jesus had done wrong. They deflected and answered, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you” (John 18:30). Their goal was revealed to Pilate at that moment when they told him that they needed him to authorized the killing of Jesus.
Pilate then had a chance to question Jesus for himself and appears to actually desire to get to the truth. He asked Jesus if He was the “King of the Jews”, to which Jesus basically asked Pilate if he really wanted to know or was asking because it was just what he had heard. Pilate replied that he was merely getting to the bottom of why the Jewish leaders had turned Him over to be tried, asking Him, “What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “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.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” (John 18:36-38).
The Truth stood before Pilate yet he allowed the lying religious leaders to have their way and kill Jesus. He had listened to the lies and the Truth and concluded that there was no guilt in Jesus, but was spineless to stand for the truth.
What have you done with Jesus, the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life? Jesus never spoke a lie. His life was sinless. He can be trusted to speak truth into your life and lead you out of the web of lies that so easily entangle. One only has to respond like Peter, look into Jesus’ eyes, remember the Lord’s words and humbly repent. There is absolute Truth and His name is Jesus. Believe in Him and you will be saved.