Spiritual Warfare: Chapter 1 - What is Truth?
- Robert (Bob) Morita
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Spiritual Warfare in the 21st Century
John 18:28-38
28Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” 30“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” 31Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. 33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
What is truth? Pilate’s rhetorical question is the main question we all need to ask ourselves. The answer to that question shapes our understanding of the purpose and meaning for our lives. It defines what we believe is true and what we believe is myth. All the choices we make in life are dependent upon how we answer that question.
For Pilate, the truth is that he was the Prefect of Judea. He was responsible for maintaining order, administering justice and managing the collection of taxes. He was the supreme authority of Judea empowered by the Roman Empire. For Pilate, that was the only thing that was real and important – that and whatever pleasures of life his title and position afforded him. For him, the Jewish religion was merely superstition, and their squabbles therein were just a petty annoyance that he would prefer not to have to adjudicate. For Pilate, that was the extent of the truth and Jesus’ truth was nonsense.
But what does Jesus tell us about the truth? Jesus told his disciples that he is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus told those who believed him that if they continued to obey his words, they would be his disciples and they would know the truth and the truth would set them free (John 8:30-32). In his discourse before Pilate, Jesus says he is a king, over a kingdom that is not of this world and that everyone on the side of the truth listens to him – these would be his disciples and citizens of his kingdom. This truth was not in or available to Pilate. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and tried to free him, but in his truth, he was limited to the realities of his political situation. Afraid of creating a riot and the potential loss of his position and title, Pilate acquiesced to the Jewish leadership and ordered the execution of an innocent man. Pilate, even though he was the supreme leader of all of Judea with the authority to execute or release Jesus and knowing Jesus was innocent was not able to provide justice that his own conscience dictated. Pilate’s hope was in the glory of the Roman empire and that hope drove him into spiritual blindness and into slavery before the principalities that ruled Rome from the heavenly realm (Eph 6:12). He was a slave to his truth. Pilate was blind to the truth of who Jesus was even though Jesus spoke to the truth. For Pilate, he did not have a choice to not execute Jesus. His decision was based entirely on maintaining his title, power and stature in the glory of Rome without any understanding of the eternal ramifications of that decision.
Pilot’s problem is not so different from our problem. We may have an intellectual understanding of Jesus but is that enough? Jesus calls us into discipleship and a disciple’s goal is to become like their master. In his letter to the Church at Ephesus, Paul says this:
Eph 1:17-21
17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
To know Jesus better we need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to open the eyes of our heart. To know Jesus and believe in him creates a hope in us that changes our entire perspective in how we live in a desperate and decaying world. Through Jesus, we can live in the realty of being a son or daughter of the King of the real but invisible Kingdom of God wherein Jesus is the supreme authority.
The truth is we live in both a real material world and a real invisible world. Both are part of God’s creation through Jesus (Col 1:16-17). Pilate’s truth was not wrong, but most certainly incomplete. The philosophers of our age filled with all the wisdom this world has to offer but apart from Jesus are influenced and even controlled by powers and principalities (demonic princes) of the invisible world (1Cor 1:20-25, 1Cor 3:19-20, Eph 6:12, James 3:15-17).
When the eyes of our heart are covered in darkness, we only see the material world. We are vulnerable to our own fears of the unknown and uncertain future. We are like Elisha’s servant who was filled with fear when seeing his town surrounded by the chariots of King Aram’s army bent on capturing the prophet. But after Elisha prayed for the eyes of his servant to be opened, he saw the chariots of fire – the angelic hosts that filled the hills surrounding them (2Kings 6:8-17).
In describing the spiritual condition of the Israelites, the apostle Paul says that a veil covers their heart so that even when reading scriptures (the Mosaic Covenant), they do not recognize Jesus. The same is true of humanity today. Scriptures, both the Old Testament and New Testament, point to Jesus. The scriptures describe the broken and sinful condition of our hearts, and it is only when we turn away from the pursuit of our sinful passions and turn towards and face into Jesus, are the veils removed. But when we do that, when we fix our eyes upon him, we reflect his glory. God’s glory transforms us as it exposes the darkness within us and through repentance we become like him and that is the goal of discipleship (2 Cor 3:14-18).
Herein lies the frontlines of spiritual warfare. If the veil that covers our hearts is not removed, we are subject to and enslaved by the powers and principalities of darkness. God's glory will reveal the darkness that is within us and sadly, some choose to turn away from Jesus so that the darkness within is not exposed. When that happens, we are like Pilate and we will not even know that we have choices that have eternal ramifications – that is the basis of slavery, not having any choices. We are like Elisha’s servant, seeing only the armies (metaphorical problems) that surround us. But God’s desire and his will for us is to be set free from powers and principalities of this world and become like Jesus. Following Jesus as his disciples and as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1-2) transforms us so that we are no longer conformed to the world’s values and culture. Discipleship renews our mind so that we can have the mind of Christ (1Cor 2:16) – disciples of Jesus who see, think and act like him. We love unconditionally and sacrificially just as he did. But that kind of love is not possible apart from Jesus. It is that kind of radical love that the world even though it is blinded by a veil, will notice. It is his glory that shines through the veil and if anyone respond to it by facing into it, the veil is removed. It is only that kind of love that transforms the world.
Reflection Questions:
1. If you were Pilate, what would you have done?
2. Take time today in solitude and silence and work through the following:
o Are you facing any decisions today that you do not feel like you have any real choices? If you are, invite Jesus into your situation. Remind yourself that in all things you are partnered with Jesus. We are never alone. Seek his counsel and allow his peace to guide your decision.
o Invite the Holy Spirit to show you previous decisions you’ve made that shaped you both internally (character traits) or externally (socially and financially). What if anything, would you have done differently? Did these choices lead you into becoming more like Jesus or more worldly?
If there are any decisions that you regret, ask the Holy Spirit to redeem you and the choices you’ve made so that whatever your present situation, internally or externally partner with Jesus so that you will reflect the glory of God (Read Luke 19:1-10).
Prayer:
Dear Father, open the eyes of my heart that I may see you and know you better. Show me that you see me and know me. I confess that I have been blind and have taken paths that led me further away from you. Help me break free from the powers and principalities of this present darkness, the worldly distractions and my lustful cravings for it. Forgive me for choosing myth and superstition rather than keeping my eyes set upon you. Thank you Father, that you still love me, bless me, accept me and forgive me even through my rebellion. Father, I turn my face towards you and seek you. May my life reflect your glory.
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