Standing Up For Truth

Setting the Stage

Illustration: The Bystander Affect.

Let’s set the scene for this story.

Background of John: The gospel of John was in many ways focused on affirming the deity of Jesus Christ as God incarnate. The view accepted today is that a Jew wrote the gospel of John with the intention of reaching a Jewish audience. In particular, you see verses like John 9:22, 12:42 , and 16:3. Have a distinct focus on how following Jesus relates to the Jewish traditions and how the Jewish leaders react to the new followers of Jesus. In addition, the Greek word Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios), which refers to Jews, shows up more time in this gospel than in the other three gospels. The purpose of this book is very likely to demonstrate the deity of Christ to the Jews.

Back Ground for Chapter Eighteen

Within Chapter Eighteen Jesus is taken by the Jewish authorities and put on trial by the unofficial high priest Annas and the official High priest Caiaphas. Jesus now appears before Pilate after the Jews have tried Him. Jesus will eventually be crucified in chapter nineteen, but I believe the purpose for these events that John is recording leading up to Jesus’ death are included for a purpose.

Let us now dive into the story so we can understand what John is communicating and some lessons for ourselves.

John 18:28 “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.”

The Praetorium- The official residence of a Roman governor. The word originally referred to the building or tent that served as the headquarters for military generals, governors, and traveling officials. The place of business for Pilate.

The Jews ironically as they were seeking to kill a man did not want to be defiled by a gentile house (the governors palace) so they remained outside while Pilate deliberated about Jesus.

It was also early in the morning -Roman officials began meeting the public (especially their clients) at daybreak; “early” is no exaggeration (IVP)

The priestly aristocracy, who controlled Judea for the Romans, would be able to secure an audience with him on short notice. Clamoring before Pilate in large numbers was usually effective, because a riot was the last thing he wanted. Normally the governor lived in Caesarea, but during the great feasts it was prudent for him to come to Jerusalem in case a riot or insurrection took place. Passover was particularly dangerous because emotions ran high as the Jews remembered their deliverance from bondage. So Pilate is away on business and one of his main focuses is keeping riots down which sets up the perfect opportunity for the Jews to manipulate him. (IVP, BKC).

John 18:29 “Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?””

Now Pilate goes out and inquires probably seeking to keep the crowd happy.

John 18:30 “They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.””

This moment for me reminds me of a guy who has a bad car and he is trying to sell it to his friends saying, “you know I wouldn't sell you a piece of junk”

The Jews in sense were trying to prove how seriously they took justice by making this statement.

John 18:31 “Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,””

The Jews have already tried to kill Jesus twice before in

1. John 8:59 “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” and

2. John 10:31 “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.” The Jews were not above killing a someone, bit they wanted Pilate to do their dirty work. (NIC NT).

It is not lawful” are more often used of what is allowed or forbidden by the law of Moses than by Roman law (NIC NT).

the Jewish chief priests have condemned themselves, validating at last Jesus’ judgments on them long before at the Tent festival: “Has Moses not given you the law? And none of you does the law? Why are you seeking to kill me?” (Jhn 7:19), and “If you are Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are seeking to kill me” (Jhn 8:39-40). It is indeed “not lawful … to kill anyone,” but they have plotted from the beginning to kill not just “anyone,” but even worse, “a man who has spoken to you the truth which I heard from God. This Abraham did not do” (Jhn 8:40). Their lawlessness is now condemned again, this time from their own lips.

John 18:32 “that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.”

Jesus had predicted that He would be “lifted up” that is crucified in John 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,” and John 12:32–33 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.”

John 18:33–34 “Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?””

Pilate loved to mock the Jews by saying that Jesus was the “King of the Jews.” Pilate went on to write on the cross and to address the people in chapter 19 by repeatedly calling Jesus the “King of the Jews.”

John 18:35 “Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?””

Pilate denies having any knowledge of these events by telling Jesus that He would not know because he not a Jew.

Jesus’ own people handed him over just like was predicted in John 1.

John 18:36 “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.””

It is important to not misunderstand what Jesus is saying here.It is important here to avoid a common misunderstanding. That Jesus’ kingship is not “from this world” [Gr. ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.] does not mean that it is merely “spiritual” in the sense of being inward or subjective. It is not simply Christ reigning in the hearts of individuals. The phrase does not so much define the nature of Jesus’ kingship as locate its origin. It is not “from” this present world, just as Jesus himself is not “from this world” (Jhn 8:23). Rather, he is “from above” (Jhn 8:23), or “from heaven” (Jhn 3:13; Jhn 6:33, Jhn 6:41, Jhn 6:50, Jhn 6:51, Jhn 6:58) 7 times, and he now wants the reader to know that the same is true of his “kingship.”

Jesus’ kingdom is from Heaven,but not confined to heaven.

One day Jesus will rule from the earth again.

Jesus’ kingdom is not focused on winning the earthy war but rather in winning the heaven focused spiritual war.

John 18:37 “Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.””

One commentary defines Jesus’ kingdom as “a kingdom of truth which overshadows all kingdoms” (BKC)

When Jesus both speaks the Word of God and does the will of God He is testifying of the truth. The truth is God and by extension Christ.

Those who understand what truth is listen and obey what Jesus commands and teaches.

alḗtheia; gen. alētheías, fem. noun from alēthḗs (G227), true. Truth, reality; the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, the veritable essence of matter (Word Study).

John 18:38–40 “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 fault in Him at all.” “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.”

Lessons From the Story

I. The mistakes of Pontius Pilate.

a. Pilate wasn’t truly concerned with the truth or Jesus or the Jews but rather singularly focused on his Job.

b. Pilate knows Jesus is innocent yet he chooses to let Jesus be killed to keep the peace.

II. The Jews so driven by one thing are willing to commit two great moral mistakes.

a. They were willing to break their own Law to kill Jesus

b. The Jew were willing to let a robber who is a danger to their society free.

c. The Jews manipulate Pilate.

i. In Speech

ii. By taking advantage of the situation.

III. The use of bad things to complete God’s will.

a. Sometimes God uses evil people to accomplish His ends.

i. at the same time He used the perfect faithfulness of Jesus to complete the same end in a positive way.

ii. We don’t always understand why certain things happen but the lesson from the book of Job is seen woven throughout this story.

Conclusion

i. It is important for believers to not only stand up to truth bit to listen to truth.

If either Pilate or the Jews would have done the right thing an innocent man would not have died.

ii. It is important for believer to not be so focused on an end that we ignore the morality of the means.

The Jews were focused on their hatred of Jesus and Pilate was focused solely on his job.

iii. It is important for believers to trust that God has a plan even when bad things are happening.

(Note to self) Have a closing prayer.

Do closing Prayer