of isolation in different parts of the world, cooking has become a popular thing to do.
And so with this picture, what impression does this picture of food give you?
How do you decide if this food tastes good?
And how do we know if this is good for us to eat?
So that is something that you bear in mind.
Afterwards, during the discussion, we talk about this.
So in 1984, Time Magazine made a feature report on the bad effects of cholesterol.
But then 30 years later, Time Magazine changed its mind and advised its readers to eat butter.
So that is the change in opinion.
And last year, the United States Department of Agriculture released a list of foods that
are most likely to meet our daily nutrition needs.
So they tested a thousand different types of foods.
And they selected the top 100 most nutritious food.
So we can look at the bottom three of the first 100.
There are sweet potato, figs and ginger.
And then we go to the top three.
So these are almond, surimoyah, there's custard apple and ocean perch.
Now, interestingly, if we go to number 10 to eight, they are snapper, beet greens and pork fat.
Can you believe that pork fat ranks number eight out of 1000 most nutritious foods?
It is more nutritious than snapper.
Now I'm not making a statement about what we should eat.
This is just a simple exercise to help us to think how we usually form our opinions.
We make up our minds usually based on experiential truth and traditional truth.
So experience truth is what we learn by experience and what we see, what we hear, what we touch.
Traditional truth is what we learn from our cultures and social norms, what our parents told us,
what our teachers told us, our friends and our society.
Okay.
So these two aspects of truth, how we learn how to form our opinions about things,
but they're not necessarily accurate if we rely on them only.
We would know that and I know that from my own experience.
As I see patients and make decisions day to day,
and I just find that when I judge people just on the surface,
it's so often that I make mistakes in what I see or presume to be.
So we need a third aspect of truth to help us.
That is the revealed truth.
Truth that is not because we experience or been taught to us or from society,
but from even a higher authority.
That is just like this, just now about the pop facts that we would not learn from our own experience or
our culture, but the scientists somehow found that.
Okay.
So that is the revealed truth.
So first of all, I would like to consider about experiential truth.
So experiential truth, traditional truth, and revealed truth.
So experiential truth, we consider about what Pilate think or thought about Jesus.
So when Pilate asked the question whether Jesus was the king of the Jews,
he wasn't asking because he wanted to verify Jesus' pedigree, whether he was already a king.
Actually, I'm sure Pilate would have make up his mind the moment he saw Jesus,
about who Jesus was.
So he would have heard about Jesus before then, that Jesus was born outside of a wet log,
into a carpenter's home family, this poor family, growing up in the insignificant town of Lazarus.
And he, Jesus had a band of uneducated and uncultured followers from the north.
And also he would have heard that Jesus was not in a good term with the Jewish leadership.
So that's what he heard.
But what did he see now when Jesus appeared before him?
When Jesus would be disheveled or unkempt, because Jesus had spent the whole night without sleeping,
and no washing up.
And Jesus' hands were bound.
And also from the Bible, we know that Jesus had no form or majesty that Pilate would even care to look at him,
or had no beauty that Pilate would esteem him.
So just from what Pilate hear and see about Jesus, he already make up his mind who Jesus was.
So why did Pilate ask the question then?
I think Pilate just did not know what to do with Jesus.
His experience with Jesus told him that Jesus was a nobody.
This could be the most ridiculous case that Pilate was asked to make a ruling on.
Pilate, do you know how he would explain to Caesar why he would crucify a nobody?
However, Pilate's experience with the Jewish leaders told him that if he did not cooperate with them,
he would lose their support.
So in his reply to Pilate, Jesus was neither angry nor fearful.
Jesus wanted Pilate to think about his question.
Did Pilate somehow perceive the kingship of Jesus?
Or did he just repeat what other people told him?
Pilate's opinion about Jesus?
The way we consider pork fat is like the way Pilate was considering Jesus.
Once we have decided, we make our mind pork fat is bad for our health,
it is very difficult to change his opinion.
And we all know that if we are aware of how we make our minds about things.
And it's very difficult for us to change.
Even if the circumstances tell us that we could be wrong, sometimes we are so stubborn,
we just don't want to change.
So unless the Holy Spirit convict Pilate's opinion about Jesus based on his experience
would remain unchanged regardless of what Jesus said.
So now this may be a good time for us to pause and think about our own opinions about God,
about other people, about ourselves.
Is it possible that we could be wrong all these years about things?
And I think it is always a good thing for us to think about this, about how we form our opinions.
So the next aspect of truth, I would like us to consider a traditional truth.
Pilate did not ask Jesus, sorry, Pilate did not answer Jesus' question kindly.
Jesus asked him how he formed his opinion.
He was a bit annoying.
So he said, how I form my opinion is not the point.
I'm not one of you people and I don't care what the Jews believe.
The point is that your people have handed you over to me.
What have you done to upset the Jewish traditions?
And in his kindness, Jesus explained to Pilate that he,
Jesus did not conform to the traditions of the world.
Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world.
If my kingdom were of the world, my servants would have been fighting that I might not be delivered to the Jews.
I was born and come to this world for this purpose, to bear witness to the truth.
I think if I could paraphrase it, this is what Jesus was telling Pilate.
He said, Pilate, my kingdom is nothing like yours.
Your kingdom is a kingdom of poverty, a kingdom without glory.
In your kingdom, everyone craves for richness and glory.
In your kingdom, you compete with one another for richness and glory.
Your self-esteem is based on your achievements and appearance.
You are a governor, yet your heart is still restless.
You fear Caesar may remove you from this position if you do not cooperate with the Jewish leaders.
You fear your lieutenants, lieutenants may betray you.
My kingdom is not like this.
My kingdom is rich and glorious.
I do not need to wear impressive clothes.
I do not even need to have an attractive face.
All the external appearance will not add to my richness and glory.
I am rich and glorious.
I do not need my people to fight for me.
In fact, I fight for my people.
And my people will be given this richness and glory that they would no longer compete with one another,
but would love one another.
So Jesus was explaining that his kingdom is nothing like the kingdom of this world.
Remember during the time of Samuel in the Old Testament,
God was very angry when the Israelites asked to have a king like the nations around them.
God did promise the Israelites that they would have a king.
Then why did God become so angry when the Israelites asked for it?
It's just because they wanted a king like the nations around them.
And that's exactly what God didn't want to have.
They want to have a kingdom like the rest of the world.
God set aside the Israelites to have a kingdom that is different.
And so God was angry at the time when they asked for that king.
So if we integrate life based on traditions and cultures, we want to be strong and powerful so as to live comfortably.
Just like the Israelites, they want to be strong.
They want to be strong.
They want to have army, the armed force and to be well known.
So when we do that, we want to be strong and powerful.
So when we do that, we will compete for supporters and resources.
The Jewish leaders plotted to get rid of Jesus because of the fear of losing supporters.
Pilate is now cooperating with the Jewish leaders to crucify an innocent person because of his fear of losing their support.
So what are you going to do?
Wilk defend on idea from define someone that these world is important orfor their teachers do?
That's a great tip for us to learn how toson and flourish.
I can talk on
do it and it's good to
think about that.
So we
can now, we'll come
back to the original question, what is
true? So Pilate
then asked Jesus, what is true?
So without
waiting for Jesus to reply,
he walked away.
Pilate was not
asking if there is such a thing as true.
Pilate was saying, who
cares if there is such a thing as true?
Pilate was
telling Jesus, I know you're innocent,
I know you're framed
by the Jews,
but it is in my own interest
that I cooperate with the Jews.
I have the power to decide
your life and death. How can truth
help you?
We do live in a world where
truth is not important.
Though we said it's
important, but when
you come to
things that
will give us
benefits,
or we would
then sacrifice
this truth,
children
would quickly learn that
you do not usually get what
you want by telling the truth.
Sometimes it's our
good intention
that we do not tell the truth,
as we
think that
some truth
may hurt
the hearer.
So because of the
manipulation
of truth
and cover up truth,
it is difficult for
the court to communicate.
We just
second guess one another
and see whether people are
actually
telling the truth.
So if someone tells you,
you look
handsome or pretty
today,
you may respond
with thank you,
but in
your heart,
you might be
thinking something else.
We all do that
because of
the way
we treat the truth.
In a way,
Pilot was right.
Some truth
in the end
may not matter.
However,
Pilot
thought that power
was what would matter.
He was wrong here.
What matters
is the truth,
the truth
with a capital T.
So once you know
the truth,
you will be free
as what
David read
just now
from John 8,
31-32.
Jesus said
to the Jews
who had believed him,
if you abide
in my word,
you are truly
my disciples
and you
will know
the truth
and the truth
will set you free.
This truth
was why
Jesus came
to the world.
This truth
is not something
we can learn
from experience
or traditions.
it can only
be revealed
to us.
So we
now come
to this part
of considering
what the
revealed truth is.
So this truth
is the one
that will set us free
and it's written
in the pages
of the Bible.
That's why
Jesus said
if you abide
in my word,
you will be free.
So I will mention
just three important
points of
the truth.
So point one
is that God
reigns.
That is from
Isaiah
chapter 52
verse 7.
How beautiful
upon the mountains
are the feet
of him
who brings
good news,
who publishes
salvation,
who says to
Zion,
your God
reigns.
And as we
are reading
this story
of Jesus,
he is the one
who brings
this good news.
He lives
up this good news.
Your God
reigns.
Point two,
Jesus has
overcome the
world.
John 16
33.
I have
said these
things to
you,
to the
disciples,
that in
me you
may have
peace.
In the
world you
will have
tribulation,
but take
heart,
I have
overcome
the
world.
Point three,
God loves
the world.
John 3
16,
for God so
loved the
world that
he gave
his only
son,
that whoever
believed in
him should
not perish
but have
eternal life.
So I'll
come back
to those
three points.
Point one,
God
reigns.
God is
ruling his
creation.
Looking at
the way
Jesus was
being treated
by the
Jews and
Pilate,
it does
not seem
God was
in charge.
But we
see again
in the
story,
who was
calm and
composed,
and who
was frantic
and irritated.
Even
without
going deeper
into it,
looking at
how different
people react
to the
situation,
you can
see that
Jesus was
in charge.
Throughout
the book
of John,
Apostle
John takes
pain to
point out
the fact
that God
is working
out his
purpose in
the life
of Jesus.
So in
a way,
Jesus was
proclaiming
the truth
even louder
when he
was bound
than when
he was
free,
because of
how he
responded to
the whole
situation.
So because
the good
and great
God is
in charge,
Jesus did
not need
to worry
and he
did not
need to
take charge
of the
situation.
The same
thing as
well for
us.
I don't
need to
be in
charge.
God is
in charge.
I do
not need
to win
every
argument,
even though
I think
my opinion
is more
valid.
I do
not need
to
vindicate
myself,
even though
I believe
that I
misunderstood
and
overlooked.
That's
exactly
what
Jesus
didn't
do.
He
didn't
need
to
do.
If
Pilate
knew
and
believed
in
this
truth,
he
would
have
behaved
differently.
The
second
point is
Jesus
has
overcome
the
world.
So
we
can
consider
that
the
world
is
proud
and
self-centered.
Jesus
has
overcome
this
world.
How
did
Jesus
overcome
the
world?
Jesus
did
not
fight
hatred
with
hatred.
Jesus
did
not
fight
self-centeredness
with
self-centeredness.
Jesus
overcome the
world by
bearing the
hatred of
the world
and the
wrath of
God on
the cross.
Sometimes I
have reservation
with telling
our children
that Jesus
is like the
superhero
in the
mobis.
Jesus
is not
neither
superheroes
who
use
their
superpower
to
overcome
their
enemies.
Jesus
overcomes
his
super
weakness.
Because
Jesus
has
overcome
the
world,
I
no
longer
need
to
conform
to
the
ways
of
this
world.
I
don't
need
to
follow
what
the
world
does
or
tell
me
to
do.
I'm
free
from
needing
to
seek
fairness
for
myself.
I'm
free
from
needing
to
show
others
how
strong
I
am.
It
doesn't
matter
anymore.
Point
three,
God
loves
the
world.
In
response
to
the
world's
hatred
towards
him,
God
loves
the
world.
God
did
not
command
Jesus
to
come
and
conquer
the
world.
God
did
not
send
Jesus
to
negotiate
with
the
world.
God
gave
Jesus.
He
gave
Jesus
as
a
worthy
sacrifice
to
fulfill
the
righteousness
of
God
Pilate
asked
the
Jews
whom
he
should
release
from
prison
as
a
sign
of
good
will
for
their
Passover.
The
Jews
chose
Barabbas
who
was
guilty
of
robbery
and
insurrection
and
led
Jesus
the
innocent
one
to
take
his
place.
And
this
is
the
meaning
of
Passover
that
the
innocent
Lamb
of
God
died
to
shed
his
blood
so
that
the
guilty
ones
could
be
set
free
and
live.
When
we
can
understand
why
Jesus
was
crucified
and
believe
in
him
we
start
to
understand
life
is not
about
winning.
We are
then free
to lose.
We are
free to
lose our
faith.
We are
free to
lose our
health.
We are
free to
lose our
properties.
We are
then
perishing
in the
fears and
worries of
this world
but a
life that
is anchored
on the
truth
that God
reigns
that
Jesus
overcome
the
world
that
God
loves
the
world.
For
those of
us who
are old
enough
we will
still
remember
the
epidemic
of
smallpox.
The
smallpox
virus
could have
killed up
to a
billion
people
over
his
2,000
years
of
existence
in the
world.
The
way to
prevent
smallpox
was
recognized
about
500
years
ago.
Most
people
rejected
the
vaccination
until
about
100
years
ago.
It took
another
70
years
before
smallpox
was
eradicated.
It took
smallpox
a lot
more
worse
than
the
COVID-19.
It took
a long
time to
stop
this
disease
because
people
thought
it was
foolish
to
inflict
yourself
with
the
cowpox
virus
and
the
medical
establishment
then
rejected
this
method
until
those
who
promoted
vaccination
vaccinated
themselves
and
showed
people
that
they
were
okay.
That's
why it
took a
long
time
for
this
to
happen.
So
would
you
eat
pork
fat?
If
you
see
the
scientists
who
published
this
finding
and
they
started
to eat
pork
fat
for many
years
and didn't
have
any
problem
then we
might
start
eating
pork
fat.
So
the
same
way
it is
difficult
to believe
that Jesus
will achieve
much
by
subjecting
himself
to
these
kangaroo
courts
and
also the
shameful
and painful
death
on the
cross.
Even
Peter
changed
his mind
about
Jesus
and denied
that he
was one
of the
followers
of Jesus
when
it came
to the
point.
But
exactly
because
Jesus
was willing
to die
for what
he stands
for,
we know
that Jesus
was telling
the truth.
Later,
all his
disciples
who deserted
him at that
time,
they were
also willing
to die
for this
truth,
for which
purpose
came to
the world.
Jesus
is the
highest
authority
who has
revealed
to us
that
he has
a kingdom
and this
kingdom
is nothing
like that
of this
world.
He came
to tell
us what
life is
about.
Will we
listen to
his voice?
Pilate
asked,
so you
are king?
Jesus
answered,
you say
that I
am a
king.
Jesus
implied that
if you
admit that
I am
a king,
you will
also recognize
that I
am your
king.
if you
understand
that Jesus
is the
king of
the kingdom
of truth,
why we
will not
submit to
him as
your
king?
I will
pray now
and after
I pray,
we will
sing the
song,
Behold
Our
God.
Father
God,
we
thank you
for
Jesus
being the
light in
this dark
world.
Thank you
for
helping us
to see
this
light.
Father,
may you
help us
those that
have seen
the light
to be
like the
broken
vessel that
would leak
out this
light to
other
people,
that many
more may
see your
glory in
the face
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ.
We want
to worship
you as
our king
and our
God,
the one
who freed
us from
the bondage
of this
world.
may you
help us
to live
a life
that is
worthy of
your
calling
in the
way we
make our
decisions,
we form
opinions about
things and
people.
Lord,
help us
that we
might be
willing to
lose,
willing to
die for
the truth.
Thank you,
Lord,
for we
pray in
Jesus'
name.
Amen.