This week we will hear from Pilate himself as he asks the question “What is truth?” and speaks of his lost opportunity on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion.

Despite the cowardice that Pilate displayed in giving in to the religious authorities his role in the proceedings, his story is perhaps one of the most ironic ones in the scriptural record.   Early one Friday morning he was face-to-face with one far greater than he, who he sent to a cross and who, in turn, gave Pilate a reluctant and hateful immortality—  “…he suffered under Pontius Pilate.”

Meda Stamper, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) with a Ph.D. in New Testament from Princeton Theological Seminary reminds us in her commentary on this week’s text that “the word forhanded over [Pilate’s action] is used repeatedly of Judas’ betrayal at Satan’s behest. Now the religious authorities do their part. Pilate wants them to judge Jesus by their own law. Who judges whom and by what law remains at issue throughout their interaction and will come to a head when the religious authorities finally persuade Pilate to crucify [Jesus] on their behalf.”

As you read the text, note how Pilate’s first attempt to interrogate the prisoner is undone when Jesus shifts the dialogue from Pilate’s questions about kingship “of this world” to the question of truth. Insofar as he is a king, it is not of a kingdom Pilate would recognize as such. Any earthly title fails to capture the fullness of the mission of one who is truth itself.

“What is truth?” Pilate asks. The short answer from Jesus would be, “I am.”