"What is Truth?" John 18:28-38
Notes
Transcript
Read John 18:28-38
Introduction
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you attempt to help someone but instead of accepting your help, they reject your assistance in a rather aggressive manner?
I remember one instance when I was a teenager and riding in the car with my mom and dad when we came upon a car accident. It was a one car accident and had just happened-a car had missed a turn and hit a huge tree head one. I remember smoke was pouring out of the car and a fire had started. My dad stopped car, told my mom and I stay in the car, and he ran and dragged the driver out of the burning car. It was obvious the driver was under the influence, but instead of cooperating and allowing my dad to rescue him, he fought my dad the whole time my dad was trying to help him-struggling to reject his assistance, but my dad pulled him away from the fire despite the man’s resistance.
When people are wrapped up in their current circumstances, often they cannot see past real time situations and they resist any type of help because they are so intent on either doing it themselves or resistant to surrendering to the change that needs to occur in their lives and so they lash out in anger toward those who are attempting to help them.
The truth is Jesus came as our rescuer, but some reject Him.
1 Timothy 1:15
Paul confirmed the mission of our Rescuer, “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.
There is no debate as to why Jesus came.
... yet there are many who will reject His works and fight against the redemption He brings.
Last week we left off at the end of chapter 17 as Jesus was praying for Himself, for His disciples, and for all believers. If you did not have a chance to read chapters 12-17 of the Gospel of John this week, I encourage to do so. These chapters provide a background to the week leading to the crucifixion.
I. Submission (18:1-3)
Chapter 18 begins with Jesus and His disciples going to a garden.
· The Gospel of John does not provide the name of this garden, but we know from the other Gospels this area is named Gethsemane.
The events in Chapter 18 take place the night before the Passover and everyone who journeyed to Jerusalem were required to stay within the city limits the night before the Passover feast.
The garden area would have been a familiar place to Jesus and His disciples near the slopes of the Mount of Olives. This causes us to pause and ask the question, why would He go to such a familiar place when His life was in jeopardy and on top of this, one of His disciples, Judas, would betray Him and knew where He would be as He led the Romans and chief priests and pharisees to Jesus.
We must understand...Jesus was not hiding; He was preparing for the hour that had come.
Mark Chapter 14 tells us Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him a little further into the garden away from the other disciples who He instructed to pray.
Scripture tells us Jesus was deeply troubled and stressed and grieved to the point of death. Jesus went away from them and falling to the ground prayed to the Father that if it were possible, that this hour might pass from Him.
Mark 14:36 CSB
“And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
We are told He did this three times-having found his disciples sleeping each time before returning to pray and petition the Father to take the cup from Him.
· What is this cup?
The cup is the wrath of God.
God’s wrath is the right and righteous response to sin, which is eternal separation from God and death.
Jesus knew what He was about to endure. Luke tells us the weight of this was so much for Jesus that an angel from heaven came and strengthened/ministered to Jesus.
· But He kept praying more fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground which indicated the amount of stress and anguish Jesus was experiencing.
Was Jesus wrong for asking God to take the cup of wrath from Him?
· Absolutely not.
· Have you ever been in a place of turmoil, and you ask God to make it go away?
The question is not wrong-the condition of the heart generating the question is what must be examined.
Let’s be honest, there may have been times we have asked God to intervene in some manner because it would benefit us personally at the expense of someone else.
· In the moment we may not recognize how it would impact someone else negatively, but either way the focus was on ourselves.
· Our questions may also come from a heart that is questioning God’s wisdom, which brings into question His omniscience-all knowing.
We must remember that Jesus, while fully man, is still fully God and never gives this up.
· He cannot sin-therefore His questions and His heart are always pure.
Jesus never questions the wisdom of God in His plan of redemption.
· John Calvin said, “...Jesus admits honestly His dread of what is to come upon Him — divine affliction for the sins of His people. Jesus trembles in Gethsemane “because he [has] before his eyes the dreadful tribunal of God, and the Judge himself armed with inconceivable vengeance; and because our sins, the load of which [is] laid upon him, [presses] him down with their enormous weight.”
While none of us will ever experience what Jesus experienced in the garden nor will anyone ever know the physical and spiritual anguish He endured on the cross, Jesus is the example of total surrender to the will of God over and in our lives.
Submitting to the will of God will result in differing stages of pain and anguish, yet we are to rejoice always we have been counted worthy to suffer for His name.
· We must embrace that submission is not always pleasant, and often painful, but it is always worth it.
So, when we think upon the difficulties and resistance we have with submitting the will of God in our lives, let us look to Jesus submitting to the will of the Father, surrendering His life for the glory of God and may we imitate His obedience to glorify God with the life He has given us in Christ Jesus.
The cup Jesus would drink from was necessary because Jesus is the one who came to recue us from our sin.
· Yet people did and still do reject Him as their rescuer-their Savior.
o But this did not deter Jesus from doing what He was sent to do.
o After praying all He could pray, Jesus told His disciples, “The time has come. See the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s go. See my betrayer is near.” Mark 14:41-42.
II. Betrayal (18:4-11)
Verse 4 confirms Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to Him. It is worth noting this entire time the Romans, Chief Priests, and the Pharisees believed they were on control of this situation.
We know they were not.
· Not even Judas escaped the knowledge of Jesus as He knew which disciple would betray Him as He instructed Judas at the Last Supper to do what he was doing quickly.
Nothing happened to Jesus that was not allowed to happen by Jesus.
God’s Word tells us He addressed the crowd of soldiers and religious leaders which included Judas.
· He did not hide in the shadows or plan an escape.
· He initiated the interaction because He knew His hour had come.
· He picked the garden to go and pray because He knew Judas would know where he was and lead the crowd to him.
He asked, “Who is it you are seeking?” They responded Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus responded, “I am He.”, and we are told the crowd fell to the ground.
Jesus used the same phrase He used before to describe Himself…”ego eimi”. I am who I am-pointing to the truth of His deity as the great I Am.
The crowd fell to the ground at this statement.
· Even in denial of who Jesus is, they fell to the ground in His presence.
· Scripture tells us God exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above every name...”so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
It does not matter the opinion and position one takes concerning Jesus!
It does not matter if you believe He is who He says He is or not!
· One’s belief does not change the Truth of who He is, and every person will be brought to their knees by His name!
These soldiers would not arrest Jesus due to His weakness-they would only be able to do to Jesus what Jesus allowed.
Again, Jesus asked them, who is it you are seeking? (18:7).
· Jesus of Nazareth they responded. Jesus said I told you I am He. So, if you are looking for me, let these men go.
Recall what Jesus had prayed to the Father just a short time before, “While I was with them (disciples) I was protecting them by your name that you have given me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction (Judas) so that the scriptures may be fulfilled. (John 17:12)
Jesus protects those God has given Him until the day they will completely fulfill their purpose in Christ.
These disciples would institute the church, be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth, be poured out for the sake of the Gospel and each would be an example of a life surrendered for the glory of God…but that was to come-for now Jesus protected them.
God has a plan and purpose for all that are His.
· If you are His, nothing will separate you from Him and your life will be a testimony to the glory of God.
· He may not have revealed everything to you just yet, but I promise you He is and has been working in you and preparing you just as Jesus had been preparing His disciples.
· He was directing divine protection over their lives and over your life until that day.
We can hold fast to the promise given in Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that He (God) who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
We see in the Gospel of John Peter got a wild hair and cut the ear off one of the high priest’s servants (Malchus).
· We are told Luke Jesus healed the man’s ear.
The action of Peter was not necessary-Peter missed Jesus was in full control and in his flesh, he did what he thought he should do out of fear-His fear clouded his faith.
Jesus rebuked Peter and told him to put the sword away and asks him two questions recrded in the Gospels,
· “Am I not to drink of the cup the Father has given me?
· The Gospel of Matthew includes Jesus declaring to Peter, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father and He will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions (12x6,000=72,000) of angels? (Matthew 26:53)
This is the same cup of wrath Jesus was praying for God to take away.
· He has fully submitted to the will of God.
We can be like Peter and allow our fear to overtake our faith and in doing so, live in that fear instead of resting in God.
· Peter’s fear will be seen again as he denies Jesus three times leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus.
· Peter’s fear kept Him from seeing who Jesus is and what He was doing.
OR…
We can confess our fear and anguish to God with a heart of surrender and then confidently fulfill the will of the Lord knowing He is in full control of our life.
We can live unsettled in fear and uncertainty, or we can rest in Christ which brings peace that surpasses all understanding.
We can also be confident Jesus does work in and through our fear and experiences to create a greater dependency on Him.
A fear that does not drive a believer away from God is not sinful failure in the life of a follower of Jesus.
It can be part of our sanctification as God continues to conform us into the image of His son.
· We know God worked through Peter’s fear.
· Peter would suffer in great ways for the name of Jesus and the proclamation of the Gospel, eventually being crucified upside down.
We cannot miss this truth - God is sovereign over the affairs of man and in control of all things.
· He is omnipresent and omnipotent and omniscient.
· All knowing, all powerful, everywhere always.
III. Arrest (18:12-24)
As Jesus allowed the soldiers, chief priests, and Jewish officials to tie him up, He was led to a man named Annas.
Annas was the high priest until being removed by a Roman Governor. However, many Jews disregarded meddling by Roman officials and still considered him their high priest. He was also the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest who himself was appointed to the position by the same governor that removed his father-in-law.
Caiaphas is the high priest who prophesied about Jesus and determined it would be better for one man to die for the people, therefore determining the execution of Jesus must take place.
Annas questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings. This was an informal hearing of sorts.
· The entire court process was a sham.
· Annas was attempting to get Jesus to testify against himself which was against Jewish law.
Whatever it took for Jesus to be executed was going to happen.
· The challenge for the Jewish officials was only Rome had the authority to sentence people capital punishment, so the Jewish leaders needed to have a sold reason to persuade the Romans Jesus deserved to die.
Jesus knew Annas was not interested in the truth asking for evidence for false accusations.
· Frustrated, Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas.
· There the high priest and the Sanhedrin-the supreme religious body and judicial court-met.
· They were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death.
· Two finally came forward and said Jesus said He could destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. Jesus refused to respond to the charge.
Isaiah 53:7 CSB
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.
The Jewish leaders were becoming impatient. The process was taking too long. Soon word would spread Jesus had been arrested and there was a danger of the Jews not being able to control the messaging.
In Matthew 26:63 “…The high priest said to Him, “By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!”
Jesus responds, “You have said it.”, which can be translated, it is as you said.
“But I tell you, in the future, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
· This statement clarified his previous statement.
· Not only is He the Messiah, but He is a king and sits in judgement over the chief priests and the pharisees.
· He was declaring He is God.
Upon hearing the words of Jesus, the high priest lost his mind, -or as my son says, went ham!
· Tearing his robes crying out blasphemer!
· The officials finally had what they needed.
· There was no need for a witness…Jesus just said He was God.
· The council determined Jesus deserved death.
o Then he was beaten, spat upon, and slapped him mocking Jesus to prophesy to them and let them know who hit him.
Jesus had not committed blasphemy. Under Jewish law, blasphemy involved using the name of God in a blasphemous way. Jesus had not done that. The high priest committed perjury.
Jesus spoke the truth-the Jewish leaders simply refused to believe the truth.
It is heart breaking to me there will be people who are blinded to the truth of who Jesus is.
· Their hearts have been hardened and they will refuse the one who came to rescue them from their sin.
I came across a song last night where the singer questioned if there was a God and if ther actually was a God, he accepted being judged and damned for eternity.
· The religious leaders putting Jesus on trial may not have used these words exactly, but in rejecting Jesus, this was the reality of their hearts.
o This is the reality of all our hearts apart from new life in Christ.
§ If Jesus had not fulfilled the will of the Father, this is where we would remain-denying the truth of Jesus being dead in our sins.
We are told when daybreak came, Jesus was taken to Pilate the Governor.
· Daybreak is important because courts could pass sentence at night, so they had to wait until morning to pass the sentence of death. Once again-this whole thing was a sham.
The Jews told Pilate Jesus was misleading their nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying He is the Messiah, a king.
· It is worth noting these hypocrites would not enter the governor’s headquarters because if they did, they would defile themselves and be unable to eat the Passover meal.
They were ok with a kangaroo court, beating a man, spitting on a man, slapping a man, and going against their own law and did not believe any of this defiled them.
· But going into the governor’s headquarters, would defile someone.
o Self-righteousness breeds legalism to justify one’s actions.
Pilate told the Jews to take Jesus and judge Him according to their law- “don’t waste my time”.
They responded we can’t put him to death, and He is stirring up people with his teaching.
First, their demand for the death penalty fulfilled what Jesus said in John 12:32–33, “As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to Myself.” He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.”
· Roman execution was being nailed to a wooden cross and raised for all to see to die an excruciating death.
Second, the accusations made by the Jews would have concerned Pilate because he had several flare ups regarding riots and uprisings and Rome was growing impatient with him, so he was more willing to cave to the Jewish demands to maintain his position.
Pilate tried to pass the buck.
· In finding Jesus was a Galilean, he sent him to Herod Antipas whose jurisdiction this fell into.
· We are told in the Gospel of Luke Herod was actually very happy to see Jesus.
o He had wanted to see Jesus for a long time because He had heard about him and wanted to Jesus to perform a miracle for his entertainment.
o Jesus refused to speak and Herod, like many today, lost interest when Jesus did not live up his earthly expectations.
o After being mocked, Herod sent him back to Pilate.
IV. The Truth (18:33-38)
Pilate asked Jesus, “You…are you the king of the Jews?
· It was kind of a snarky question-Jesus certainly did not look like a king-he was beaten and bloody, exhausted and had no followers.
· Also, Claudia, Pilate’s wife, had sent him a note to have nothing to do with this righteous man (Jesus) who had tormented her in her dreams. Matthew 27:19
Pilate was determining if Jesus was a threat to His power.
· He did not care if he called himself the king of the Jews as long as he was not a threat to Pilate.
· Jesus responds, it is as you say.
o Notice in 18:34, the interrogation changes-Jesus is now asking Pilate the questions.
o He asked Pilate if He was asking on his own accord, or simply because others had told him.
o If the question was coming from Pilate, it was politically motivated.
o If the question was given to Pilate, it would be coming from the Jews.
Pilate told him he was not a Jew, and his own people handed him over.
· Pilate was a little confused and irritated with the whole thing.
· He asked Jesus, “What have you done? What crime have you committed? Why do they want me to have you executed?
John 18:36 CSB
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
We must remember all authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth.
· He is the King.
· But his kingdom is not one built on war, blood, or violence.
o He was not advocating over throwing Rome.
§ He came to make all things new.
§ He came to conquer sin and death, not governments and nations.
Pilate asked again, “so you are a king then?
John 18:37 (CSB)
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
“I was born for this”.
· The baby conceived by the holy spirit born in a feeding trough to a teenage mother came into the world for this moment.
· He lived to die and be crowned the victorious king for eternity. He is Christus Victor.
1 Corinthians 15:57 CSB
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
Jesus came into this world to testify to the truth and everyone who is of the truth listens to His voice.
Application
We finish this morning with verse 38 and a question asked by Pilate. It is a familiar question still asked today.
“What is truth?”
Some suggest Pilate was just irritated and tired of the conversation which he lost control.
· Others suggest he asked the question in a sarcastic tone.
· Either way, his question was one of defense, but also one of inquiry.
From the foundation of the world, people have sought after truth.
· Our culture today wonders what truth really is with the adherence to relativism and the rejection of absolute truth.
· The world pursues power, prestige, sensuality, fame, and fortune but truth seems to evade us.
· Do we really want to know truth?
Pilate left Jesus before he could provide an answer to his question, but Jesus had already answered his question.
· Pilate did not really want the answer because it would have forced him to give up everything.
Are we willing to give up everything for truth?
· Be honest, do you really want to know the answer to the question “what is truth”?
Pilate was standing face to face with truth and rejected Him.
· We stand before Jesus today, either condemned in our sins or forgiven and restored.
o The only difference is some of us know truth while some of us continue to reject truth.
o Pilate’s rejection of Jesus did not change anything-it did not change who Jesus is or why He came.
Jesus testifies He came to give life to all who will believe in Him.
· Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
What is truth? Jesus came to rescue you.
· I plead with you... do not reject Him.
Pray