Pilate to Jesus, "What is truth?"

Why did Jesus come to earth?

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 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.” John 18:33-36 ESV

My question is answered in the next verse,

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.” John 18:37 ESV

Jesus said that His earthly purpose was to bear witness to the TRUTH.

Then Pilate asked,

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” John 18:38 ESV

If you research Pilate's question in the Scriptures, you will find that Truth is revealed in the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, the Bible, even as God himself. This, of course, leads me to these verses,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 ESVAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ESV

Art...

"Art must create a specific emotional link between artist and audience, one that 'infects' the viewer." - Tolstoy

Some of my favorite paintings:

Girl with a Pearl Earring - Vermeer

Starry Night Over the Rhone - Van Gogh

 The Luncheon of the Boating Party - Renoir

 La Moulin de la Galette - Renoir

 The Head of Christ - A Series - Rembrandt

 From the Lake - O'Keefe

 Study of a Figure Outdoors (Facing Left) - Monet

 The Kiss of Judas - Caravaggio

 Doubting Thomas - Caravaggio

They come in Threes...

[9:1] And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” [The Transfiguration] [2] And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, [3] and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. [4] And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. [5] And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” [6] For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. [7] And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” [8] And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. [9] And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. [10] So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. [11] And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” [12] And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? [13] But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:1-13 ESV) Also see Matthew 17:1-8 and Luke 9:28-36 for their writings on the Transfiguration.

Jesus said that some of them listening to Him would not taste death until after they see the kingdom of God?  Well, three of them got to see the kingdom very shortly thereafter, and yes, before they died. Peter, James and John were witnesses to the Transfiguration. They saw Jesus in His glory, along with two of His kingdom, Moses and Elijah. Then in verse 11, the disciples want to know why the scribes say that Elijah must come before God's people are taken up to heaven? This question comes from these Old Testament verses, [4] “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. [5] “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. [6] And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:4-6 ESV) Jesus tells them that Elijah HAS already come again, and Luke explains this here, [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, [17] and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:16; Luke 1:17 ESV) Jesus and Luke are talking about John the Baptist, being in the spirit and power of Elijah come back to earth to prepare the way for Jesus as Messiah. After the verses noted above from Malachi in the Old Testament, there is a 400 year silence from God, and then the New Testament begins with Matthew.  Awesome!!

After studying this, my mind wanders back to the appearance of three to Abraham, in an earlier Bible study that I did: http://boundaryhomestead.blogspot.com/2010/12/abraham-saw-three.html.

I'm sitting here, scratching my head in wonder...what do you think?

What did Jesus look like?

Above is the image of Jesus that I grew up with. My Mom's picture of Jesus was hung on her living room wall (and now it hangs on mine), impressed into my mind from a very young age. The portrait is known as The Head of Christ or The Sallman Head. It was painted by an American artist, Warner Sallman, who gave Jesus long flowing-light colored hair, a light complexion, and blue eyes. Although it is a calming, soothing portrait, I don't think this is how Jesus looked.

Some people believe the Shroud of Turin (above) is the image of Christ mysteriously imposed onto His burial shroud. It will never be verified that this is the actual shroud, nor does carbon dating of the material equate to the time-period of Jesus. The man shown in the image has long, shoulder length hair. His forehead is scarred from the crown of thorns worn at crucifixion, and blood drippings are left from the wounds.

The Christ Pantocrator icon of St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai is most certainly based on the Shroud of Turin.

These overlays of the Shroud with the Christ Pantocrator affirm the depiction of what the artist thinks the man on the Shroud looked like in life. This is the Eastern Orthodox Christian view of Christ.


I believe Jesus looked closer to this portrait by Rembrandt, but he probably would've wore more close cropped hair (Rembrandt was a student of Caravaggio's works, see the 'Doubting Thomas' Jesus below this portrait, they are very similar in looks):

or, by far my favorite, maybe like Caravaggio's 'Doubting Thomas' Jesus, with the Jewish curls on the side of his head:

or maybe just like this:

Jesus was Jewish and of middle-eastern descent. He grew up in rugged territory and walked under the hot sun everywhere he went. He was a carpenter by trade, he worked hard, and he probably had a sturdy physique due to that line of work. Since he was middle-eastern it is a good bet that he would have had darker skin and most likely dark, curly hair. He probably did not have long hair, as Paul the Apostle writes, [14] Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, [15] but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. (1 Corinthians 11:14-15 ESV) The prophet Isaiah said this about Jesus, the Messiah to come, he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2 ESV) So, Jesus was an ordinary looking, every day Jewish guy...as far as looks go. It was His character that was Divinely wonderful, it was His very being and essence that shined. When a person looked at Him, what did they see? Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:6-7 ESV)

No one knows what Jesus physically looked like when he was on the earth. There is little reference to his looks in the Bible. The beauty of Jesus is his Word and Hope, one passage being, [16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:16-21 ESV)

He came into this world to testify to the Truth, John 18:37. What hope have you? Self is not the answer...I know the broken self.

Go Steelers!!!

That was a bad luck wish.  Actually, I want the Pack to win!

Part 2: Their fringes are long and their phylacteries are big - Jesus...

In Part 1 of this study, it was learned what phylacteries were, http://boundaryhomestead.blogspot.com/2011/01/their-fringes-are-long.html.

What are the fringes that Jesus spoke of in the verse below?:
[5] They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, (Matthew 23:5 ESV)


Fringes were tassels woven with blue cord that hung from the four corners of a Jewish man's outer garment. These were worn as reminders to follow God's commandments and to stay holy in the Word. The idea for these tassels are found in the following Bible verses:

[37] The LORD said to Moses, [38] “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. [39] And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. [40] So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. [41] I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Numbers 15:37-41 ESV)

[12] “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself. (Deuteronomy 22:12 ESV)

Even today, fringes are worn by the observant Orthodox Jewish man. The Jewish name for the fringes is 'Tzitzit'.

Tzitzit or Fringes on the prayer shawl of a Jewish man.


The point of Jesus' criticism of the Pharisee's "long fringes" was that they were more obvious in long length on their garments, so that everyone could see how holy and observant they were. Everything about the Pharisees was in showing others how religious they were, in very bold and highly visible ways. We know that Jesus wore "fringes" based on the following verses, [20] And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, [21] for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” (Matthew 9:20-21 ESV) and this verse, She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. (Luke 8:44 ESV)

Mind-your-head-Jim: Its Never Been About Me - Gal 2:20

This is good stuff from a friend's blog, I felt the need to share it.

Mind-your-head-Jim: Its Never Been About Me - Gal 2:20: "In our Home Friendship Group last week we talked about being a disciple of Christ. And as the facilitator observed even though one might thi..."

Part 1: Their fringes are long and their phylacteries big - Jesus...

[23:1] Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, [2] “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, [3] so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. [4] They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. [5] They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, [6] and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [7] and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. [8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [10] Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. [11] The greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:1-11 ESV)


I love to break down Scripture. There is so much being said in the above selection from Matthew. In verse 5 Jesus talks about phylacteries and fringes. What exactly is he talking about?

In the following verses we learn about phylacteries.
And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:9 ESV)

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

(Deuteronomy 6:8 ESV)

You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

(Deuteronomy 11:18 ESV)

The above three references, I think, are actually about how you should live your life as evidence that you follow the Lord. That your life, and how you live it will become evident to other people. In an earlier study I talked about the inner change of the heart, the hidden change inside of you that only God can see. That this inner-change is actually very important in that the initial hidden change begins your road to Heaven. Then when you grow in your Christian life, the way that you live your life will be evident to others. What you read in the Bible, what you learn from Christ, what you put in your heart, your Christian values will become evident to others. This is a natural growth when becoming Christian, and then living in Christ, by Christ, thru Christ, for Christ. But the Jewish tradition with phylacteries was a sign for others to know that you follow the God of the Holy Scriptures, and a reminder to the wearer about the above verses. Phylacteries were small leather cases that contained scripture written on small pieces of parchment. The leather cases were worn on the Pharisees' left arm and on their forehead to show literal obeying of the above three Bible verses. Even today, some Orthodox Jews wear them, mainly during prayer time. Did Jesus wear them? Well, He was the ultimate Jew, so He may have. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that He did. When He chastised the Pharisees in Matt 23:5, He says that they wore "broad" (or big) phylacteries, for all to see. Jesus may have worn a small, traditional version, who knows?

The above picture shows a Jewish man wearing phylacteries on his head, and his left upper-arm.

More on this study later...

It's a Seahawk day...

Go Hawks!!  I pick Seattle over the Bears, 24-17. Then home to face the Pack!

Get out of the pool...

[2] Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. [3] In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.* [5] One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. [6] When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” [7] The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” [8] Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” [9] And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. (John 5:2-9 ESV)

Above, the Pool of Bethesda
*5:3 Some early manuscripts insert, wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; [4] for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. But the earliest manuscripts do not include the above italicized end of verse 3 and all of verse 4, therefore, most Bible versions do not include them. The belief, however, is probably conveyed in John 5:7.

The Pool of Bethesda was a sticking point for many years as to whether John's testimony could be trusted, as there was never any evidence of the Pool he wrote about in verse 2. In the late 1950's the site was found and excavated, some 40 feet below ground, and sure enough there were 5 covered porticoes, the 5 colonnades John describes in the verse.

In verse 6 it says that Jesus knew that the man had been there a long time. This is probably due to His divine knowledge, just as he knew Nathaniel by the fig tree (John 1:48), and just as He knew the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:18). But what intrigues me most through this particular study, presented to me today during our pastor's sermon, is the question Jesus asks the invalid. “Do you want to be healed?”  What? Does he want to be healed? What kind of question is that? Of course he wants to be healed, he's been at the healing pool for a long, long time. The man then confirms to Jesus that he does want to be healed. So, Jesus heals him, tells him to pick up his bed and walk. And he does.

But what about that question, "Do you want to be healed?" Our pastor pointed out that sometimes we might get stuck in a "comfortable" rut. We aren't exactly happy with the way things are going, but it would be more trouble to change things. What about the person unhappy in a marriage due to a spouse's unwillingness to change bad habits? The spouse might not ask for the change, just allow bad things to go on. What about the person stuck in a job where they aren't fulfilling what they believe is their (or God's) purpose in life? What about the husband or wife who allows an alcoholic spouse to continue to destroy themselves? What about the wife who allows the continued beating of her, or her children? Sometimes Jesus might just be saying here, come on out, get out of that pool and make a positive change! This certainly makes me do some self reflection...

3. What is Heaven like...

In the first 2 parts of this Bible study I've learned that Heaven is:

1. A separate place apart from the earth.

2. A place where Jesus is, and He is preparing for our arrival.

3. A place for those who live by Jesus here on earth and also believe in Him as Savior.

4. It starts here on earth by us changing our inner heart, our hidden being, by following Jesus and applying Him to our lives. 

[21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV) Oh, oh. Even if we say we follow Jesus, he knows what is in our heart, that hidden, inner being. Remember, that hidden, inner being can lead to Heaven, or in the above case, not.

[32] So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, [33] but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 ESV) Being Christian starts with a change to the inner self, hidden from others, but then becomes evidenced in the way we live. Others must know who we live for, our reason for being, Christ. We must be witnesses for Him to others.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44 ESV) 

[45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, [46] who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46 ESV)

The parables above are not about hiding the treasure found, that treasure being Christ, they are about Heaven being worth more than any treasure we can have here on earth. We cannot fathom the dwelling place of God, nor the reward of living in eternity with Him, thru Christ. Heaven is beyond anything we can relate to on earth.

Remember, John tells us, [1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2 ESV) Jesus was before creation began, unfathomable! Christ tells us that eternal salvation, eternity, is thru Him, unfathomable! Jesus tells us that our Heavenly reward is being in the eternal presence of Him, unfathomable! I want to be there, and I am told by Him that I can, if I believe in Him, if I live my earthly life in Him, and if I live my life as evidence to Him. I hear the call, I do.

In closing this Heaven study, Heaven is:

1. A separate place apart from the earth.

2. A place where Jesus is, and He is preparing for our arrival.

3. A place for those who live by Jesus here on earth and also believe in Him as Savior.

4. Heaven starts here on earth by us changing our inner heart, our hidden being, by following Jesus and applying Him to our lives.

5. A place for those who truly follow Jesus, He knows what's in our hidden heart.

6. A place for those who are witnesses here on earth for Christ.

7. A treasure beyond any treasure we can attain here on earth.

8. An eternal home, being in the eternal presence of an eternal Jesus, an unfathomable reward, but attainable thru Him!

[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-7 ESV)

2. What is Heaven like...

In my previous post (http://boundaryhomestead.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-heaven-like.html), it was learned that Heaven is:
1. A separate place away from the earth.
2. A place where Jesus is, and He is preparing for our arrival.

In Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus says that Heaven is like the parable of the man who sowed the good wheat seed in his field. And then the enemy came and sowed weeds in the man's wheat field. You could not separate or pull the weeds from the field as the roots of the weed and the wheat were intertwined among each other. The wheat would be killed with the weeds if you pulled the weeds from the field. The bad weeds could only be separated from the good wheat at harvest time, when the weeds were bundled together and thrown into the fire. God will permit the evil to live among the good on earth. The good and evil will be separated at judgment day, when the good will go to Heaven to be with Jesus. Jesus said that He is the sower of the good seed, and the devil is the sower of the bad seed.

In the following verse we hear another version of what Heaven is, He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:33 ESV) The leaven spoken of here is a very small amount of it that is hidden among the very large amount of flour. This little amount of leaven is hidden from view, but fully leavens the large amount of flour when mixed into it. He is saying that Heaven starts with the change on earth of the inner soul/inner heart of us. The insignificance of the tiny, hidden, inner change is actually very important in that it leads to Heaven.

So, we've learned that Heaven is:

1. A separate place apart from the earth.

2. A place where Jesus is, and He is preparing for our arrival.

3. A place for those who live by Jesus here on earth and also believe in Him as Savior.

4. It starts here on earth by us changing our inner heart, our hidden being, by following Jesus and applying Him to our lives. 

More later. I'm going to finish watching the Seahawks and the Saints playoff game. Go Hawks!!!

1. What is heaven like...

I often wonder, what will heaven be like?  We worked hard to grow in Jesus' teachings and then live by His Word. We've run and finished the race...then what? What does the Bible tell us? Matthew 6 tells us in numerous verses that heaven is a place, separate from the earth. Here in this particular verse Jesus tells us that our treasure is safe in heaven, a place very different than our earthly, temporary home, [19]“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV) Is Jesus talking about real, physical treasures here? Working hard in heaven to make money and things? No, the treasure he is talking of is the reward for living in Him, here on earth. The reward will be being in His heavenly presence. The rewards in heaven are beyond what we can comprehend, and they cannot be compared to what are viewed as monetary or physical treasures here on earth. And it all starts at this very moment, living by His commands here and now, not later. To be Christian is to do just that: follow Jesus and then attempt to apply His teachings into our lives. We will try to do that, and sometimes we will fail, as only He was/is perfect. But, as I've said before, the Christian life is a life of multiple do-overs, and with each do-over, we'll get better at it. John 14 also tells us that heaven is a place, it's a place where He will prepare for us, and a place where He waits for us. I love the following verses, [2] In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:2-6 ESV) Heaven is a place where He is, and He prepares a place for us! Cool, He's thinking of me and you...again. Then He tells us how to get there: all we have to do is follow Him, not later, but now. Why do I say this; now, and not later? [44] Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:44 ESV) Jesus is telling us here that the call has been made, and we need to hear it now. We do not know when the end will come, so we must be prepared. Sorry, got a bit off track, back to heaven.

We've learned here that heaven is:
1. A separate place away from the earth.
2. A place where Jesus is, and He is preparing for our arrival.

More later. Gonna watch the Shehawks and the Sheep play football.  O.k., the Seahawks and the Rams. Go Seahawks!!!