The Truth On Trial

John 18:33-40

33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Introduction

The Bible is a historical book. We find several genres in Scripture, but it IS historical. Real people, real events, real history. We find ourselves in our text at the darkest day of human history.

GOOD FRIDAY, as it is called. But how did we get here ->

Two weeks ago, we saw Judas betray The Lord

He handed Him to the Jews, had an illegal trial by night… 6 phases (3 Jewish, 3 Gentile)

The Jews didn’t govern themselves… they had Roman authority over them (Pilate is their governor)

So, to put someone to death, they had to appeal to Rome (Pilate)

Pilate is a self-seeking, self-motivated, politician who had already messed up… He didn’t need this going wrong for him. He was trying to get on the Jewish leaders “good side”.

So Pilate's motive is not “justice” or anything noble, it is simply “How can I kill this man legally and satisfy these Jewish leaders.”

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Jesus’s Innocence