John 18:28-40 What is the Truth April 23, 2023

John 18 Verses 28 to 40 What Is the Truth April 23, 2023

Class Presentation Notes AAA

Background Scripture:

· Matthew 16:13-14 (NASB) 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some sayJohn the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."

· Isaiah 53:5-6 (NASB) 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

Main Idea: Jesus was sinless and innocent, which qualified Him as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.

Study Aim: To understand that one source of absolute truth is the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

Create Interest:

· Just as his kingdom is a different type of kingdom, Jesus is a different type of king (18:37–38). Jesus’s royalty rests in the uniqueness of his authority, as one who bears witness to the truth. The truth Jesus proclaims comes from God (John 8:40).

· Often truth is viewed as relative, as something that can be controlled. You can spin the truth to benefit your cause. But truth is fixed. It flows from the lips of God, who Himself never changes. Jesus came to reveal God’s truth. We can’t spin it; we must submit to it. Truth is the instrument God uses to call men and women into his kingdom. Every person is born into slavery, held captive to sin, and deceived by Satan, the father of lies. His lies fill this world. His biggest lie is that we can find happiness apart from God. “If you can win his love, you’ll find happiness.” “If you’re successful at your job, you’ll find happiness.” “If you buy that boat, you’ll find happiness.” “If your family’s healthy, you’ll find happiness.” “If you’re invited into the inner circle, you’ll find happiness.” We’re like the Olympic sprinter from the movie Chariots of Fire. Before running the 100-meter dash, he laments, “Contentment! I’m 24 and I’ve never known it. I’m forever in pursuit, and I don’t even know what it is I’m chasing” (quoted in Keller, Counterfeit Gods, 73).[1]

· As Jesus is on trial, let’s see how he shared what is the Truth.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· The trials of the Lord Jesus Christ are history’s most egregious miscarriage of justice.

o In them the friend of sinners (Luke 7:34) faced the hatred of sinners;

o the Judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25) was arraigned before petty human judges;

o the exalted Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8) was humiliated by being mocked, spit upon, and beaten;

o the Holy and Righteous one (Acts 3:14) was treated as a vile sinner;

o the One who is the truth (John 14:6) was impugned by evil liars.

· In Scripture we see shining forth out of the satanic darkness of His trials is the absolute innocence of Jesus Christ. The evil efforts of His accusers are turned upside down so as to actually confirm His blamelessness.

o During His earthly ministry, He challenged His opponents, “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?” (John 8:46; cf. 14:30). In the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesied concerning Him,

§ His grave was assigned with wicked men,

Yet He was with a rich man in His death,

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. (Isa. 53:9)

o The angel who foretold His birth called Him “the holy Child” (Luke 1:35);

o His betrayer lamented that he had “sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matt. 27:4);

o one of the criminals crucified with Him declared of Him, “This man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41);

o and the Roman centurion in charge at His execution said of Him, “Certainly this man was innocent” (v. 47).

o Paul said that He “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21);

o the writer of Hebrews affirmed that He “has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15), and is “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners” (7:26);

o and Peter wrote that He “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

· John did not record the second and third phases of the Lord’s religious trial, though he mentioned that Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas (18:24). The Sanhedrin had met at Caiaphas’s house during the night (Matt. 26:57–68) and decided that Jesus should die (Matt. 26:66). Then in a nod to legality (since Jewish law did not permit capital trials to be held at night), the Sanhedrin reconvened after daybreak and formally pronounced sentence (Matt. 27:1).

· John picked up the story at that point, noting that they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, Pilate’s headquarters (probably either at Fort Antonius or Herod’s palace) where he stayed when he visited Jerusalem (Pilate’s permanent headquarters were in Caesarea).

· The Jewish leaders’ motive for bringing Jesus before Pilate was obvious. Out of envy, jealousy, and hatred, they had been plotting to kill Him for a long time (cf. 5:18; 7:1; 11:53). Their murderous designs had been frustrated until now because “His hour had not yet come” (7:30; 8:20).

· At last, in God’s timing, with the help of the traitor Judas Iscariot, they had managed to seize Jesus. After giving Him a sham trial, they had sentenced Him to death. But having done so, they were powerless to carry out that sentence; the Romans did not permit them to execute anyone (18:31). That was standard Roman policy in the territories they ruled; they did not want nationalists executing those who were loyal to Rome.[2]

Bible Study:

John 18:28 (NASB) 28 Then they *led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

· Jesus was led into the hall of judgment. It was early morning. Note the Jews did not enter, for the hall was a Gentile judgment hall and it was the Sabbath of the Passover season. To enter the judgment hall would have polluted and contaminated them ceremonially. Probably there is not anywhere to be found among men another such instance of petty regard to the mere ceremonies of the law and attempting to keep from pollution, at the same time that their hearts were filled with malice, and they were meditating the most enormous of all crimes.[3]

o They would have been disallowed from participating in Passover. It was a trifling, superficial concern in light of the trial for a man’s life, especially the life of God’s own Son.

· The notice makes it clear that the Passover meal has not yet taken place, confirming what the reader already knows, that Jesus’ last meal with his disciples was not the Passover meal.[4]

Thoughts to soak on:

· Too often men (religionists) attack others, arguing over their religion and church and its plans, over ceremonies, rituals, rules, regulations, and practices. They forget the meat of the truth: love, joy, peace, care, understanding, and ministry.

o John 13:33-34 (NASB) 33 "Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 18:29-32 (NASB) 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and *said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" 30 They answered and said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you." 31 So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

· Vs. 29: The first movement of Pilate was to Jesus’ accusers—to hear their charges.

o The religionists were full of hatred and pride. They rejected and hated Jesus, and they set themselves up as His judges. They assumed the right to judge, feeling their verdict and judgment should not be questioned.

o In Luke the earlier hearing is clearly defined as a meeting of the Sanhedrin (22:66), and the charge in that scene would be akin to blasphemy (Luke 22:70–71; cf. Matt 26:65). But then Luke says the whole Sanhedrin came over to Pilate, and there they introduced the entire situation with a shift in the charge to treasonable offenses (Luke 23:1–2).

· Vs. 30: In John the story seems to be crafted by the evangelist in stages so that the reader is engaged by the movement of the story. Pilate in this Gospel asked for the charge. The immediate response is not a statement of the charge but an accusation of Jesus being a criminal or literally “one who does evil.”[5]

· Describing His death, Jesus says, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he” (8:28). He says it even more explicitly in chapter 12: “ ‘As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate what kind of death He was about to die” (12:32–33).

· Why are the Romans involved in Jesus’s death? Why is Jesus brought before Pilate? Because Jesus chose to die by crucifixion. He prophesied beforehand He would be lifted up in death, and this night He stood before Pilate so that His prophecy would be fulfilled (18:28–32).

o Every decision had been orchestrated by Jesus, including the choice of a cross. He wrote every note of that evening’s symphony and conducted every measure in perfect harmony with His sovereign will.[6]

Thoughts to soak on:

· People may reject and hate Christ; they may judge Christ not worthy to be the Lord of their lives. They may try to get rid of Christ by pushing Him away and having nothing to do with Him. But they cannot change the fact: Christ still came to love and save men, and in the final analysis, men will be judged by Christ.

o John 3:16 (NASB) 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

o John 8:24 (NASB) 24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He,you will die in your sins."

o John 12:48-50 (NASB) 48 "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49 "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 "I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."

· Pilate tried to evade his responsibility.

o We are often called upon to take a stand for Christ. It is our duty. Yet how many of us fear ridicule, abuse, and rejection and end up evading our responsibility?

· The hearts of the religionists were closed; this was their problem.

o They were mentioning death even before the trial. Religionists reject Jesus because they do not want to hear Him; they do not want anything to do with the demands He puts upon their lives. The only Lord they want is the lord of self.

· The Jews had to force the Romans to crucify Jesus, for the Jews were not allowed to execute a criminal on the Sabbath or on feast days. From God’s perspective, it had been prophesied that the Christ was to be crucified, and crucifixion was the method of execution used by the Romans. Therefore, events had to be providentially shifted so there could be a Roman execution by crucifixion (see Jn. 3:14; 8:28; 12:32; Lu. 9:22–23).

o Acts 28:27 (NASB) 27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'

o James 4:3-4 (NASB) 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

John 18:33-37 (NASB) Is Jesus a King? 33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?" 35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctlythat I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

· These verses form the second trial scene: Pilate and Jesus. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Up until this point in the narrative no formal charge has been mentioned. Pilate’s question ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ presumed that ‘the Jews’ had brought the charge of treason against Jesus, i.e., they represented Him as a rival to Caesar[7]

o The Lord was finally crucified under this accusation, as is witnessed by the inscription attached to the cross. However, even though He was the Messiah, He never took a throne while here on earth, and refused to be made a king by force (6:15). It will be God Himself who will establish His King upon His holy hill of Zion (Ps 2:6).[8]

· In response to Pilate’ question in Vs. 33, Jesus challenged Pilate to think through the issue himself. (Vs. 34)

o A person is personally responsible for his verdict about Jesus. Everyone now has to make a choice, for Jesus claims to be the Son of God, the only Savior of the world. We have to give our verdict: He either is or is not the King of the Jews.[9]

§ John 1:11-12 (NASB) 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

· Vs. 35: Pilate is concerned to find out if there is any criminal activity involved from Rome’s viewpoint. Jesus concedes that he is head of a kingdom, but not one which Rome need fear as a political rival. If it were he would be supported at that very moment by the military action of his ‘servants’. Some see here a possible reference to angelic servants ‘from another place’, i.e.from the heavenly realm from which Jesus himself had come (cf. Mt. 26:53).

· Vs. 36: Jesus proclaimed himself to be a spiritual king. A spiritual king does not rule by material force, a fact that Christ had demonstrated in Gethsemane when he reproved Peter’s sword and healed Malchus’ ear.

o Jesus’ answer threw Pilate into an agonizing quandary. If Jesus had proclaimed himself an earthly king, Pilate’s decision would have been easy—execution. But a spiritual king? Politically, Jesus was guilty of nothing. And spiritually—what if Claudia was right?

o What a contrast—Jesus the spiritual king and Pilate the material king. Two completely different approaches to life were thus revealed:

§ One would do anything to receive power, honor, and glory. The other gave up His glory.

§ One valued only what he could touch, taste, and feel. The other lived and taught that we are not to lay up for ourselves riches upon this earth.

§ One ruled by material manipulation. The other lamented, “You are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill” (John 6:67).

§ One was arrayed in royal robes. The other had “no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him” (Isaiah 53:2).

o On that crucifixion day, life was not as it appeared. Christ was in control, not Pilate.

o Vs. 36: Jesus’ disassociating the origin of his kingdom from ‘this world’ should not be taken as implying that the kingdom of Christ has no political concerns, or that its righteousness is not to be applied in the political arena. Even a cursory reading of the Sermon on the Mount would eliminate that error. Jesus’ point here is that His authority is not derived from, nor dependent upon, political agency.[10]

· In verse 37 we read Christ’s kingly confession:

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

o Christ was born to establish a new kind of kingdom. He cried, “For this I came into the world.” This is the “truth” of which he bore witness. Everyone who is “on the side of truth” (those who realize there is a spiritual kingdom and seek it) hears His voice. Christ calls a materialistic world to seek first the kingdom of God.[11]

Thoughts about Jesus’ Kingdom to soak on:

· Neither now nor at any future period will it derive its origin from this world. So far as Christ is King, His royal power and state are not furnished by earthly force, or fleshly ordinances, or physical energies, or material wealth, or imperial armies. The dominion that He will and does wield will be one over hearts and lives; the authority of the Lord Jesus cannot be arrested or overpowered by physical force. The kingdom that sprang directly from heaven must have absolute authority over all the earth, and it will not submit to be put into obscurity. The kingdoms of this world must become the kingdom of the Lord and his Anointed, and He shall reign forever and ever.”

· The influence and authority of Heaven works upon the spirit by truth and righteousness and peace, and thus transforms institutions, permeates society from the ground of the heart, modifies the relations between the members of a household, and transfigures those between a ruler and his subjects, between the master and his slaves, between labor and capital, and between man and man. Whenever it is triumphant, whenever the lives of kings and their peoples are sanctified by supreme obedience to Christ the King, then war will be impossible, all tyrannies and slaveries will be abolished, all malice and violence of monarchs or mobs will be at an end; then the wolfish and the lamblike nature will be at peace[12]

o Please pray about this for our world daily.

More Thoughts to soak on:

· People usually choose to follow the man of power and fame and wealth over the man of love and morality and peace. Just take a moment and think how true this is. The immoral emphasis of films and the violent emphasis of the news alone are prime examples.

· Is there any wonder humanity has never known a world of love and peace and true justice? The problem is the human heart, the problem which Jesus alone can solve.

o John 5:42-44 (NASB) 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?

o Luke 6:44-45 (NASB) 44 "For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45 "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil manout of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

o Romans 10:10 (NASB) 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

· Vs. 36: Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, not of the physical dimension of being. It is of heaven, of the spiritual dimension of being (Mt. 19:23–24; note—Jn. 11:25–27,).

o Romans 14:17 (NASB) 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

o 2 Peter 3:13-14 (NASB) 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

· Revelation 11:15 (NASB) 15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."

John 18:38-40 (NASB) What is Truth? 38 Pilate *said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, "I find no guilt in Him. 39 "But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?" 40 So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber.

· Was Pilate a cynic? Was he simply puzzled? He stood in the presence of the Lord Jesus who was and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

o John tells us later in his Gospel that he has written all these things so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

o Friend, do you ask, “What is truth?” Is He truth to you? Have you faced reality in Him?[13]

· Pilate turned back to the people. He wished to clear Jesus’ name and to declare His innocence. Pilate hoped to satisfy the Jews’ cry for blood by substituting a real criminal and revolutionary for Jesus, but the Jewish leaders were determined to murder Jesus. Therefore, they chose a man of worldly power and fame over the Man of peace, the Son of God Himself.

· Vs. 39-40: Pilate’s weakness of character is seen from the conflict between his judgment about the innocence of Jesus and his proposition to the Jews. In the question Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews,’ Pilate purposely used the title king, no doubt to show his contempt for the Jews. The word used to describe Barabbas is “lēstēs” ‘robber’, but it had come to include political terrorists, hence the niv’s reference to rebellion. A violent man was preferred to the king of truth.[14]

Thoughts to soak on:

· The denouncement of such a misconception of Jesus’ mission is lucid (e.g., Matthew 26:55; Mark 14:48; Luke 22:52; cf. Acts 5:36, 37). The soldiers did not need swords to take Jesus as they would a violent insurrectionist. Elsewhere we are given clues that Jesus’ kingdom is neither earthly nor political. The hierarchy, however, accused Him of “subverting our nation” (Luke 23:2, NIV), “inciting … rebellion” (Luke 23:14, NIV).

o Do we see evidence of this kind of theatrics in our world today when one party in charge wants to discredit a person of another party?

· The description of Barabbas in John as a (robber/lēstēs is telling. Here we see evidence that Barabbas—described as “in prison with the insurrectionists” by Mark (15:7), was actually a political prisoner, a Zealot-type bandit rather than a common thief (cf. Mark 15:7; John 18:40). Jesus himself rejected all such violent false messiahs (John 10:1). The people, however, chose such a one in the person of Barabbas instead of the true Messiah, Jesus.

· The irony continues in that Jesus was crucified between two lēstai who were “under the same sentence” as He (Luke 23:40, NIV; cf. the charges 23:2, 14). The religious leadership is characterized as having completely misinterpreted Jesus’ mission and purpose to establish God’s kingdom—the rule of God in the lives of men and women. They themselves are the real lēstai (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46) who have forced the holy temple of God to become a “den” for their own merchandising, i.e., plundering of God’s people (cf. John 10:1). The true believer will recognize the “thieves and robbers” who would try to lead the children of God away (John 10:8). These invaders bring death and destruction; only Jesus brings life (John 10:10).[15]

· Man chooses the path of power and fame, wealth and possessions. He rejects the path of peace if it means the sacrifice of self and possessions.

o Therefore, man never knows peace—not personal peace or world peace. The only way to peace is to surrender to the Prince of Peace.

· Note how the people (the world) rejected Pilate’s offer to release Jesus. God twisted the world’s choice and made His Son the substitute for every man, even for those who were rejecting Him in this horrible scene.

o Isaiah 48:22 (NASB) 22 "There is no peace for the wicked," says the LORD.

o Isaiah 59:8 (NASB) 8 They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, Whoever treads on them does not know peace.

o Romans 5:1 (NASB) 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

o Colossians 1:19-20 (NASB) 19 For it was the Father'sgood pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

As we wrap this study, let’s look at the Truth😊………………………………

Truth is linked with the Deity of Christ

· Matthew 14:32-33 (NASB) 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"

· This is the first appearance of truth in the New Testament. It’s linked with Christ’s deity. Christ is God. He personifies truth.

Truth is linked with the Details of fellowship with God.

· The word “truth” appears in Psalms more than any other book in the Bible. It is used around forty times. The first appearance of truth in the book of Psalms is in Psalm 15.

o Psalm 15:1-2 (NASB) 1 O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

§ God’s truth has answers to man’s need of the dilemma of sin, of the need of dependable direction, and the need of knowing details for fellowship with God. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” The Bible gives the answer.

The Scriptures are truth.

· John 17:17-18 (NASB) 17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

· Psalm 119:159-160 (NASB) 159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness. 160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

The Spirit of God is truth.

· 1 John 5:5-6 (NASB) 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

The Sovereign God of the universe is true.

· John 3:33 (NASB) 33 "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true..

The Savior, Jesus Christ, is truth.

· 1 John 5:20 (NASB) 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

· John 14:6 (NASB) 6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me..

The Lord and His Word are reliable, dependable, honorable, indestructible, infallible, believable, and credible because they are true*.[16]

Grace and Peace to all who read these notes. If anything touched your heart please share that with others.

[1]Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 364. [2]John F. MacArthur Jr., John 12–21, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2008), 324–325. [3]Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Luke & John, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 364. [4]J. Ramsey Michaels, The Gospel of John, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 915. [5]Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 238–239. [6]Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 356. [7]Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 353. [8]John Heading, John, What the Bible Teaches (John Ritchie Ltd., 2000), 297. [9]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Gospel according to John, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004), 364-366. [10]Bruce Milne, The Message of John: Here Is Your King!: With Study Guide, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 266. [11]R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 424–425. [12]H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., St. John, vol. 2, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 394. [13]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Gospels (John 11-21), electronic ed., vol. 39 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 148. [14]Donald Guthrie, “John,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1061. [15]Thoralf Gilbrant, “Λῃστής,” The New Testament Greek-English Dictionary, The Complete Biblical Library (WORDsearch, 1991). [16]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from John, vol. 2, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2006), 288–289.