Sermon Tone Analysis
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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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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