The King of Truth
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There is nothing more controversial in our world than the claim to know the truth.
And I would say there is nothing more courageous in our world than for those who know the truth to speak the truth.
This idea of truth has emerged as a prominent theme in the last few chapters of John’s gospel.
In John 14 6 Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life
Jesus refers to the Spirit as the Spirit of truth in 15.26
In 16.13 Jesus says the spirit of truth will guide you into all truth
In 17.17 Jesus prays, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth”
Yet this truth theme has also been contested with lies and deceit.
Judas has became possessed by the Father of lies.
Peter lies three times about knowing Jesus
The High Priests and the Jews lie about Jesus and bear false testimony.
Truth and lies have become one of the major battle fields in Johns gospel.
John invites us to read the story and enter into the drama of wondering who will tell the truth, who will deceive and lie?
What will win out? truth or lie? light or darkness? Christ or chaos?
By the time we get to our passage this morning we find that those who were on the side of the truth have fallen prey to the lies
And now, Jesus alone stands for the truth.
Context:
When we last left Jesus in John’s gospel he was being ushered away from the Caiaphas’ house right as the sun was beginning to come up.
Peter was not standing with John, but rather he had found himself a new community around the charcoal fire in the high priest’s courtyard.
Annas the high priest had been interrogating Jesus in the high priest palace.
They had set up an illegal rigged trial, and when Jesus calls them on it one of his servants struck Jesus in the face…
All the while peter was standing in the courtyard warming himself and denying that he even knew Jesus.
They finally brought Jesus out to send him away and as that is happening the rooster crowed.
And after the rooster crowed Peter realized what he had done. He had denied Jesus 3 times just like Jesus said he would.
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
So they take him from the Jewish high priest’s house, to the Roman governor’s headquarters. They move from the jewish trial, now seeking the Roman’s condemnation as well.
Now, there is some dark irony here in this verse.
And the irony comes in the fact that the Jews are exercising great scruples in avoiding ceremonial uncleanness, by not going into the governor’s headquarters (gentile home)
while not being at all concerned about burdening themselves with the moral guilt of condemning an innocent man to death.... not just an innocent man, but the one whom the law was pointing.
This verse tells us a fascinating story…
Here were people who paid attention to the minute details of religion while their hearts were far from God.
you see, their religion states that if you go into the home of a gentile you become unclean (Mishnah)
So they were very careful to keep the rules of their religious even though their hearts were full of hatred and unbelief.
When we read the Scriptures, especially the Old Testament prophets, we are told over and over again that God hates faithless religion.
These Jews went through all the motions, maintained all the rituals, and kept themselves totally clean while they crucified the Son of God.
Of course, we can look back from our vantage point and say what hypocrites these people were...
but my friends, this story is not so we can judge sinners 2000 years ago… but this story is a mirror so we might see ourselves in this same crowd.
we need to look at them and see ourselves, because we crucify the Son of God afresh every time we honor Him with our lips while our hearts are far from Him.
This story is our story… because this is what fallen humanity is like. This is what fallen humanity does.
Religion without faith is a wickedly evil thing.
And God hates it.
So the Jews stand outside of Pilates headquarters, unwilling to enter so that they might maintain their purity so that they can enjoy the passover feasts.
So rather than going inside, Pilate comes out to meet the mob.
So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
Now we have to remember, Pilate and the Jews do not like each other. at all.
Pilate sees a group of Jews outside wanting him to pass judgement… so Pilate does what he was supposed to do.
He wants to know the charges
What did he do wrong? Why are you hear bothering me so early this morning.
I’m sure Pilate was thinking what a waist of time this is and how he doesn’t want to deal with another theological debate the Jews are having.
The Jews then respond with some attitude of their own in verse 30
They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
As to say, we don’t want to be here any more than you. But this is your job, only you can hand down the punishment we want for this evil doer.
And thats why we are here!
Notice that the Jews didn’t put forward any real charge against Jesus.. only saying that he was “doing evil”
This again is a stunning verse.
We have been going through the gospel of John for over 2 years… we have walked with Jesus from the first days of his ministry to the last.
We have seen Jesus provide for the needs of the poor, we have seen him extend grace to those who seem undeserving, we have seen Jesus be the perfect embodiment of love, peace, goodness, kindness, self control, and charity.
Jesus has transformed the lives of individuals and communities… he has set the captive free and given hope to the hopeless.
And these religious leaders are accusing Jesus, the Son of God, of doing evil
Let those who are free of unclean spirits,
the sick who are well,
the lepers who are cleansed,
the deaf who hear,
the mute who speak,
the blind who see,
the dead who have been raised
the foolish made wise
let them be asked and let them respond whether Jesus is a criminal.
Christ spoke prophetically through David in Psalm 35… saying
Psalm 35:12 (ESV)
They repay me evil for good
Jesus lived faithful and perfect before God and man, and they repay him evil for good.
My friends, we need to remember that this sort repayment, this sort of of slanderous speech and vitriol is not unique to the enemies of the gospel in Jesus day. But this is how we too are repayed when we seek to live faithfully in our day.
To live your life in allegiance to King Jesus, is to live a life that is at odds with the world.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
My friends, to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God will put you in the hot seat with the world.
And sadly, it will put you in the hot seat with many religious people as well.
But this must not discourage you, for the world and the religious leaders are the ones who persecuted both Jesus and the prophets.
So we should consider it a blessing when we are persecuted for righteousness sake.
So the Jews try to convince Pilate that Jesus deserves judgement, yet the only charge they bring against him is the lie that he has been doing evil.
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
Here we see the true motives of the jews revealed.
They are not looking for Jesus to be punished or put on trial as a false teacher. The are not looking for some sort of admission or settlement.
The Jews are blood thirsty. They want Jesus dead.
However, they did not have the authority to sentence Jesus to death on their own.
Israel was under Roman rule. Only Rome had the authority to wield the sword in this way.
Pilate tells them to take care of the issue themselves, not knowing how insidious Israel’s plans were.
So the Jews protest to what Pilate says by saying, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
Could you imagine being Mary or Martha hearing these words come out of the mouths of your religious leaders and authorities.
I could only imagine how these words would have struck the ears of Peter and John and the other disciples. Or Mary, Jesus mother.
These words would have been like a nightmare.
The narrative continues to get darker and more demonic each step of the way.
When you think common sense would emerge, it only gets more horrifying and haunting.
The Jews, the covenant people of God, are demanding that YHWH himself be put to death.
The people of Israel had done many horrible things throughout their history.
Israel had abandoned God and his covenant many times
They whored after demonic deities
They sacrficed their children
They worshiped false gods
They had done so many things throughout their history, but this is by far the deepest and darkest expression of their depravity.
They took hold of the promised messiah, the promised prophet and king, the took hold of God in the flesh and are now actively trying to kill him.
These words may have been a surprise to his discipels… but Jesus knew this was coming… he knew that this was the path
This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry he had spoken clearly to his disciples concerning what would take place in the last days of his life.
So Pilate hears the Jews request
at first, Pilate doesn’t really want to be bothered with these jewish matters… He wants them to take care of this issue themselves according to their own law.
However, when the Jews push for execution.. Pilate is forced to deal with it.
So Pilate goes back inside, and calls Jesus to come in to have a more private conversation. Away from the emotional hostility of the Jews outside.
Pilate, both incredulous and annoyed with the Jews begin to interrogate Jesus
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
There is a scoffing tone to this question.
The greek emphasizes the the pronoun “you” as emphatic… as to say,
“you! are you the king of the jews?
Pilate cuts right to the chase.
He will not put up with any insurrection… and the Jews knew that.
So he asks Jesus.
“You! you are the king of the Jews?”
Pilate, though incredulous, and full of scorn for Jesus, is asking the most profound question he could ever ask… Are you the King?
Jesus hears this question and responds as to put Pilate on the spot…
Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
Jesus becomes the interrogator.
And now it is Pilate who is on trial before the true authority… before the true judge of heaven and earth.
This question pushes Pilate to explain his question about Jesus’ kingship.
Do you say this on your own accord?
Or did other say it to you about me?
Because if someone said it to Pilate about Jesus, then its hear-say.
Jesus understood the rules of evidence, and he knew hear-say conviction were prohibited.
Pilate’s response is like that of a scornful politician.
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”
Am I a Jew?
This is said with utter contempt and disdain.
Pilate wants to distance himself from the Jews.
“What do I care! your own people have handed you over to me.”
Pilate makes it very clear that he does not recognize any claim to kingship in Christ.
Which is at the heart of the gospel.
Jesus could have remained silent at this point. He could have recoiled away from the topic of kingship… however he does no such thing…
But rather, he makes the good confession, the same good confession that Paul encourages Timothy to stand firm in, and that good confession is that Christ is King!
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.”
This is one of those verses that is often taken to mean something that it doesn’t mean.
Jesus words here are often misunderstood to mean that Jesus’ kingdom is absent from this world.
Or that it is not a real tangible kingdom, but instead its a kingdom in a different realm.
But this is not what Jesus said, nor is it what he means.
He did not say that His dominion and authority did not include this world or that His realm was some transcendent spiritual Neverland.
This was the same Jesus who announced, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matt. 28:18).
He told Pilate: “My kingdom is not like your kingdom.
My kingdom is not built on violence, on blood, on war. That’s the way the kingdoms of this world function.
My kingdom is not a world-like kingdom.”
This is Jesus message. He is the rightful King, and he has all authority in heaven AND ON EARTH.
His Kingdom has come, and the kingdoms of the earth are becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
However, the Kingdom of God takes over this earth not with force like the Romans… Not with guns and threat of violence.
The kingdom of God takes over this world as the church continues to advance its mission.
The kingdom of God continues to grow and stretch every time a faithful church is planted,
every time a sinner repents and believes in the gospel,
every time a meal is shared with a neighbor,
every time our voices sing out songs of praise
every time you faithfully go to work, or change a diaper, or cook a meal, or do your homework, God’s kingdom advances.
Whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, we are to do all to the glory of God.
And as the good news of Christ’s kingdom continues to make its way into the world, we see the world transformed.
We see his kingdom coming, his will being done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The gospel of the Kingdom of Christ, is such a transformative and glorious message, because it infuses purpose and dignity into every single aspect of life.
If Christ is on the throne, if he is the true King over heaven and earth, than everything matters.
From chores at home, to planting churches.
From your investment portfolio to changing the oil in your car.
If Christ is King, than your primary vocation is to be a faithful citizen of his kingdom, thus every work and every task is a good work for the King and his kingdom.
Jesus presents this revolutionary and scandalous message of the gospel to Pilate… he lets Pilate know that he is up to something that is far greater than Rome or Israel…
However, Pilate did not take time to deal with the substance of Jesus’ words.
He just wanted to know if Jesus considered himself a king or not.
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.”
Jesus answers Pilate’s question with an unambiguous YES.
Though the english translation of, “you say that I am a king” seems ambiguous, the force of the phrase in greek is to say, YES, I am a king.
The NIV translates this phrase, ‘You are right in saying I am a king”
Jesus then goes on to describe his mission as King and the nature of his reign.
“For this purpose i was born and for this purpose i have come into the world…”
Not to dominate with legions of solders,
not to shed blood with weapons of warfare,
not to tear down empires with fire,
not to rule with the iron fist of military force…
But instead, jesus comes wielding a weapon far more dangerous than bombs, far sharper than swords, for more effective than bullets.
Christ’s kingdom takes dominion of this world with TRUTH
Christ bears witness tot he truth..
and gathering an army of men women and children who will likewise bear witness to the truth.
And let me tell you what, the truth is the most terrifying thing to a world that loves darkness and lies.
The truth is powerful enough to exalt the humble and tear down prideful
The truth can topple empires and raise from the ashes a reformation and a great awakening.
This is the nature of Jesus Kingly reign.
His kingship cannot be isolated to geographical territory, nor is it offered to one ethnicity, one race, one gender, one socio economic class…
Jesus is saying that his kingdom and his kingship extends to everyone who is of the truth.
Everyone who seeks the truth seeks the King, for the King is the truth, and his kingdom is one that is built upon the truth.
Pilate than scoffs at Jesus and says, “what is truth?”
John 18:38 (ESV)
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
What is Truth?
Ah this is the same thing we hear today… what is truth?
Our world shares the same cynicism that Pilate had toward Jesus’s revelation of the truth.
We live in a day where truth is slain in the streets.
Truth is dismissed as intolerant and backwards in our schools
Ignored in our legislations
And mocked when proclaimed from those who are of the Kingdom of God.
We live in a world that hates the truth. tries to redefine the truth, and pervert the truth,
To our world, Truth has become a feeling or a desire
Truth is seen as subjective and relative rather than objective.
in other words, our world want to find truth inside of ourselves rather than outside of ourselves.
And if truth is not seen as objective, then Pilates question is the right question… What is truth?
Our world is asking this same question
My friends, our world is in desperate need of the truth. For only the truth can set you free.
The true truth of Christ is the truth that is able to both condemn the sin and set the sinner free
The true truth corresponds to and testifies toward reality.
The true truth leads us to Christ who is the very source and substance, the rhythm and rhyme, the very essence or originator of truth.
The Greek term for truth, ἀλήθεια means a correct perspective on reality.
The Romans used the word veritas as meaning an accurate accounting of the facts.
The Hebrew Bible, the OT, understands truth as being God’s faithfulness to his covenant.
Jesus intended the meaning to be the revelation of God’s covenant character as fully shown in his own life and ministry.
Pilate asked, What is truth?
The truth was standing right in front of him.
The world asks, what is truth.
May we be, as the body of Christ, the truth that stand right in front of them.
My friends,
We must we never stop seeking the truth, speaking the truth, singing the truth, feeling the truth, sharing the truth, living in the truth, eating, sleeping, drinking the truth.
When the world cuts us, may we bleed truth.
The truth will be mocked, the world will twist together crowns of thrones to place on the heads of those who cling to the truth without relent.
May we be the first in line to pick up our crosses and follow Christ.
May we have the courage to embark upon the adventure of living into the truth in world possessed by lies.
For this is the life of freedom, this is the life of joy, this is the life of meaning and purpose. This is the life of true adventure.
Lets pray.