Briefing: There are many police departments around the world that claim to be on the side of truth. Isn’t truth part of law enforcement’s job, to find the truth of a matter? Does that put us on the side of truth?

Dispatch (Assignment): Read John 18:28-40.

On the Street: I grew up watching reruns of Superman. In the opening of every show, the narrator would say, “Truth, Justice, and the American way.” Looking back, it is hard to believe such profound words came from a comic book series instead a grand historical document like the constitution.

The truth seems to get harder and harder to see and hear. We live in a time when issues are clouded, truth is distorted and people want political correctness to rule supreme. I see a line being drawn in the sand. You either stand for the truth or you don’t.

Growing up, I recall most of Americans claimed to be Christian. Being a Christian in this country was easy, and sometimes advantageous. Back then there was a small percentage of the population that were truly righteous Christians who were following Christ. There was an even smaller percentage that were against Christians and their beliefs. What was different than now is there was this huge percentage in the middle that were lukewarm. This lukewarm majority has slowly been put in an uncomfortable position of picking a side. Unfortunately, it seems the vast majority of them find it harder to stand up for something they were never really a part of to begin with.

In this section, Jesus gets questioned by Pilate as to who He is. Pilate wants to do the right thing but like the lukewarm church-goers of the 70-80s, it is easier to go with the crowd than to take a stand. Jesus tells Pilate, “I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate asks the same question I see Americans asking themselves every day, “What is truth?” As Christians, we know the answer to this question. My question is, are we sharing the truth or letting these people go down in flames? Who do you know that needs the truth of Jesus Christ?

Investigational Resources: There were three criminal or Roman trials. John’s gospel only covers the first and last but combines them into one narrative. The first trial before Pilate is found in Matthew 27:11-26, Mark 15:2-5, Luke 23:1-5, and John 18:28-19:16. The second criminal trial was before Herod Antipas and is only found in Luke 23:6-12. The last trial was back in front of Pilate. It can be found in Mark 15:6-15 and is also included in the other Gospels’ accounts of the first trial before Pilate.

Officer Safety Principle: We have an obligation to share the truth of Jesus. The great commission tells us to go and preach the good news to everyone.

from The Gospel of John Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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