Behold the Sovereign Savior
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsJesus was sovereignly orchestrating His own trial to yield a guilty verdict so that crucifixion would be His punishment and Savior might be His title forever.
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Transcript
TITLE: Behold the Sovereign Savior
TEXT: Jn 18.28-40, Jesus Before Pilate
Good morning, church family. As always it is a pleasure to be here leading us in the exposition of the Word of God this morning. Please join with me back in John 18 this morning.
This is my last time preaching for a little while since we will be welcoming another little one into our home soon. Please be praying for Drew, he will be leading us in the beginning of John 19 next week which is somewhat of a Part 2 of today’s message.
LAST WEEK: John 18.15-27, Peter Denies Jesus
Firstly, I would like to apologize for spoiling last’s week’s message by bringing up Peter’s denial during our announcements time. I’ll keep a closer watch on what I say during announcements moving forward.
But yes… our LORD’s prophesy was fulfilled in Peter’s failure. Back in John 13, Peter declared that He would lay down His life for Jesus. And with somewhat of a reality check, Jesus declares…
Jesus’ Prophesy
38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
We saw the contrast of Jesus’ response to His betrayer and captors in the garden “I AM” with the fearful, cowardly response of Peter as he comforted himself by the fire with Jesus’ captors… “I am not”.
The rooster crowed, and Peter was overcome with shame. Luke 23 says the Peter wept bitterly.
And Joe already spoiled this so I can too… this would not Peter’s end! His failure did not define him! Our Lord would restore him, fill Him with His Spirit, and equip Him to speak mightily for the sake of Christ for years to come.
THIS WEEK: John 18.28-40, Jesus Before Pilate
INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you either asked to yourself to audibly to someone else - Who is in charge here?
I think this question can be asked and answered in multiple different ways. Sometimes you find yourself on the phone with a customer service representative, and it does not even need to be asked - You know this person is not in charge. Which sometimes leads to the question - “Can I speak to your supervisor?”
Please connect me to the person who is truly in charge here, the person who really has authority to change things. I need someone who can make things happen!
Jesus on Trial
In case you missed last week, Jesus is physically bound and on trial before the Jewish religious leaders. First, He was questioned by Annas and then by Caiphas. He is pronounced guilty, and now He is being led before the leaders of Rome for their judgment.
The natural person when asked the question “Who is in charge here?” would examine this situation and likely say anyone but Jesus.
My encouragement to you this morning is to watch closely as we walk through this text together along with the other Gospel accounts. What I am hoping you see is this - This trial, just like every other second of His earthly ministry, was unfolding just as God the Father intended.
More specifically here before Pilate, His purpose of bearing witness to TRUTH was still occuring in the narrative of His coming crucifixion.
MAIN IDEA
As Jesus stood before His accusers and earthly judge, He boldly declared the purpose of His coming - TRUTH. This is the Truth - Christ is King, and everyone who is of the truth bears witness to the same.
Outline:
Remember the Truth of His Sovereignty (v.28-32)
Remember the Truth of Your Calling (v.33-38a)
Remember the Truth of Man’s Nature (v.38b-40)
PRAYER
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Remember the Truth of His Sovereignty (v.28-32)
Remember the Truth of His Sovereignty (v.28-32)
John 18:28–32 “28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”
Synoptic Gospels - Matt 26.1-2, Mk 15.1-5, Lk 23.1-5
The narrative of Jesus’ trial continues for us this morning. Though we do not see it here as fully in John’s Gospel, Jesus’ trial before the Jewish leaders had already occured and His mistreatment by His captors had already begun before He was brought before the Romans.
The Mocking Soldiers
63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.
Jesus Before the Jewish Council
66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer.
69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
They had already determined Him to be guilty! And now, they bring Jesus to the governor’s headquarters, also known as the PRAETORIUM - originally designated the commander’s (praetor’s) tent in a military camp and later was applied to the official residence of the Roman governors in various cities in the provinces (Logos Factbook)
The Roman Governor in this province - PONTIUS PILATE.
Who was Pontius Pilate?
PONTIUS PILATE (Πόντιος Πιλᾶτος, Pontios Pilatos). Roman governor of Judaea from AD 26–36/37. Appears in the Gospel narratives at the trial of Jesus. Responsible, with the Jews present, for having Jesus crucified.
The Pilate Stone
For the longest time, Pontius Pilate was nowhere found in historical records as governor over Judea until the Pilate Stone was found in 1961. It confirmed the Gospel accounts and the historical writings of Josephus and Philo.
Found in the ancient Roman theater at Caesarea Maritima, Israel, it served as a dedication plaque for a building or some other structure called the Tiberium, which was in honor of Emperor Tiberius.
It reads “To the Divine Augusti [this] Tiberieum, Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, has dedicated [this].”
(v.28)
The Jewish leaders delivered Jesus over to Pilate for His judgment on the matter, but they will not enter his headquarters. WHY?
They were concerned about defiling themselves, meaning: μιαίνω (miainō). vb. Describes the act of becoming ritually or morally unclean (Lexham Theological Wordbook)
Since it was Passover week, their own moral cleanness was of paramount importance to them.
Jewish Oral Law
All of this stems not from the God-given OT Law but the Jewish Oral Law.
A Jew that entered a Gentile’s home or dwelling place was considered ceremonially unclean. This was taught orally and passed down by the religious leaders instead of being instituted back in Exodus 12 during the Passover or afterwards in the giving of the Law.
We see similar oral traditions mentioned in Matthew 15 in the discourse between Jesus and the Pharisees.
Why do your disciples…
1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
In addressing the hypocrisy of their position, Jesus goes further to quote the prophet Isaiah here.
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
The Irony
What is ironic here is this - These Jewish leaders were so concerned with defiling themselves before Passover, they went to great lengths to avoid such things and remain “pure”. What they did not see here is that the one they delivered over to Pilate was the only pure, undefiled One present.
While upholding their oral tradition, they failed to see the great defilement that was their treatment of Jesus, the Christ. In the hardness of their hearts, they upheld their man-made tradition while storing up wrath for themselves on the coming day of judgment (Romans 2.5) in their treatment of the Son of God,
So… the Jews hand forth their own judgment of Jesus… while hypocritically safeguarding their observance of Passover.
(v.29-31)
Pilate goes out of the praetorium to meet with these men. Knowing it would likely be less of a headache to just cater to their superstition, the governor goes to them and begins his proceedings.
29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
This is where the great deception and the evil contained within the hearts of the Jewish leaders shines right through.
30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
“Trust us, oh Governor! We would not be wasting your time at such an important point of celebration within our Jewish history if it was not serious!”
The “evil” they assure the governor is taking place is the Greek word - κακός (kakos). adj. morally reprehensible, evil, injurious. Primarily describes things as morally evil; sometimes describes things as harmful or painful. (Lexham Theological Wordbook)
Their claim - Jesus’ ministry is morally evil and causing great harm.
Luke’s Account of Their Accusations
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
A twisting of Jesus’ previous words in - Luke 20:25 “25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.””
What was the Jewish Leaders’ great failure here?
A high prioritization of self, status, and power above the TRUTH.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
The moral evil present was not found in our LORD. Instead it was found in the lies and deceptions of the hearts and words of these Jewish men who sought to side-step their sacred laws and traditions in order to accomplish the death of the only morally pure One that has ever existed.
Pilate’s Response
Pilate’s response here is somewhat clever. He knows that since the Roman occupation of this region, the Jewish leaders no longer had the authority to carry out capital punishment.
In telling them “judge him by your own law”, their true intentions are revealed. It was not lawful for them to carry our such a punishment, but the evil heart always finds a way to accomplish such wickedness.
They used those whom they despised, their oppressors, to do their dirty work for them.
SO the stage is set… the Jewish leaders have unjustly convicted him and delivered him over to Pilate seeking the penalty of death of Jesus’ apparent wicked ministry that is “misleading” the people and keeping them from paying tribute to Caesar. They played their cards well here… BUT… enter verse 32.
The Sovereign Savior
32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
You see if the Jewish leaders had the authority to put Jesus to death, it would have been by stoning. But… the Romans were in charge… and so it would be by crucifixion.
CRUCIFIXION - a form of punishment practiced in the ancient world, particularly during the Roman Empire.
And if by crucifixion, then Jesus would be under the curse of God.
Cursed is the Man
22 “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
You can almost imagine the non-so-subtle rejoicing in the ignorant minds of the Jewish leaders.
The Fulfillment of Jesus’ Words
Little did they know, our great God was already at work in this as well.
The Jewish people were taken over and placed under Roman rule because according to the Prophet Daniel (Dan 2.21), it is the LORD the both removes kings and establishes them. Samuel says it this way - 1 Samuel 2:7 “7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.”
Thus when the Jewish leaders thought such an end would disqualify Jesus’ messianic claims… the LORD was orchestrating it all, fulfilling His own prophecy.
The Gentiles Will Crucify
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
The Son of Man Lifted Up
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
They thought Him to be under the curse of God… and they were right!! Oooh but they did not know that the very God they claimed to know and love was orchestrating such a curse and the crushing of His Son from the beginning of time.
His Cursing for our Righteousness
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
APPLICATION:
Remember the Truth of His Sovereignty
Ben Shapiro’s Perspective
As a devout Jewish man, when asked about his perspective on Jesus, he says after correcting that Jesus was not divine nor a prophet, he says … “Historically, I think he was a Jew that tried to lead a revolt against the Romans and got killed for his trouble.”
Church Family, Jesus’ own claims about Himself and his divine orchestrating of ahi’s own death do not leave room for such a perspective.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
With this in mind we must conclude that everything occuring in this narrative of His trial before the Jews and Romans was going perfectly according to His sovereign plan - To become a curse for us so that He might call us His own, take on our sin, give to us His righteousness.
***Quick Note***
With this in mind, Jesus the Sovereign Savior, why do we spend even a moment of our days worrying about what tomorrow may hold?
Whether it be material or spiritual, has our situation somehow slipped outside of the reach and working of His hand?
No…instead remember the TRUTH that nothing is outside of His control. Just as He sovereignly worked out our justification at the cross, He is doing the same in our sanctification at this very moment.
***END***
Remember the Truth of Your Calling (v.33-38a)
Remember the Truth of Your Calling (v.33-38a)
John 18:33–38a “33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
ILLUSTRATION: What do you want to be when you grow up?
This is a common question we are asked while we are growing up. Some give outlandish answers while others give more logical answers, possibly something influenced by what we love or maybe what our parents do.
As you get later in your school years, this question becomes more pressing. If you are pursuing a trade, then it needs to be decided very quickly so you can pursue the proper training.
If you choose the college route, you have a little bit more time to really consider the matter. The fact is this - Some people know exactly what they desire their purpose to be, while others need more time to figure this out.
Unlike us, the Lord Jesus continued discussion with Pilate, and He makes it plain to the Roman governor the purpose of His coming… which is the same purpose that we share as His disciples.
(v.33)
Pilate retreats from the overzealous Jewish religious leaders back into His headquarters, and he calls Jesus to himself.
John’s Gospel account is the only one that records this unique detail, almost as if Pilate sought to get to the bottom of the issue at hand without all of the deceiving Jewish leaders trying to lead him to a certain conclusion.
“Are you King of the Jews?”
Pilate’s question here is assuming a certain answer, more of a confirming question than a question for a position of ignorance.
Pilate was not dumb. He was perfectly aware of what was being proclaimed about Jesus. In Matthew 26, we find some greater insight into the previous trials before Caiphas.
When asked to tell them plainly is He is the Christ, Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man from Daniel 7, and the Jewish leaders’ response says it all.
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.”
Pilate knew the accusations because the entire conversation between the Jewish leaders and Pilate is more than likely not included in John’s Gospel, and yet he pulls Jesus away to inquire privately. Likely out of mistrust for the Jewish leaders, he pulls Jesus into a private meeting to ask more directly - Are you King of the Jews?
Pilate inquires whether Jesus was being accused justly or not.
(v.34)
Jesus responds to Pilate, although indirectly. Somewhat similar to when Jesus asked his disciples “Whom do they people say that I am?”, Jesus asks Pilate if the words and opinions of others are influencing his questioning. Was Pilate just following a legal procedure to fulfill the will of the Jewish leaders, or was he seeking the TRUTH?
Jesus is laying the groundwork for His comments in the following verses.
(v.35)
In Pilate’s response, we can see some level of frustration or irritation. Jesus challenges Pilate’s questioning instead of just giving him what he asked.
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”
Pilate distances himself from the Jewish leaders and their accusations. He reminds Jesus that he is not the one bringing these accusations against Him, but instead he is curious what has brought about such hatred from His own people.
(v.36)
He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him (John 1.11)... WHY??
Because the Incarnate Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of Man did not fit the mold for the Savior that the Jewish people wanted.
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
You see the Jewish people were lying in wait for the throne of David to be re-established, for the might of Israel to be restored as they believed the LORD promised. They likely clung to passages like 2 Samuel 7 and Daniel 7 that promised One that would come and establish an everlasting kingdom.
Now this was true! But… not in the way they understood it. The Kingdom that Christ was establishing would not be an earthly one. Jesus said - My kingdom is not of this world, and if it was you would know! If it was of this world, my people would be fighting to keep me from being captured.
Jesus Rebukes Peter’s Fighting
51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
LEGION - Roman Army term, between 3000-6000 soldiers.
Jesus says - At any moment, the Father would send thousands of angels to my defense. But the origin of His kingdom, a kingdom that will be filled with His people from every nation, tribe and tongue was not a kingdom of this fallen, sin-filled world.
44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
(v.37)
“So you are a king?”
ILLUSTRATION: Right Over Your Head
Sometimes we either say something to someone or something is said to us, and we are simply just not on the same page. The understanding of something goes right over our head, and we press forward thinking we understand the matter at hand, and it is not until later that we find out… We were missing it the entire time.
Pilate jumps past the TRUTH concerning a kingdom outside of the known world and instead just moves forward to confirm - “So you are a king?”
Pilate misses the point here! Pilate apparently was in pursuit of TRUTH, and if He really wanted TRUTH, he would listen carefully to Jesus. Here we find that Jesus was more interested in appealing to Pilate than defending Himself, for in His sovereignty He placed Himself in this very situation.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9: John and Acts D. The Trial before Pilate (18:28–19:16)
He made an appeal to Pilate, not for acquittal or mercy, but for recognition of truth.
The Truth of Your Calling
We had laid a lot of ground work in these verses to get to this very verse, to the point and purpose of Jesus’ incarnation, a point which He proclaims clearly to the earthly ruler that would sentence Him to death.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
My kingdom is not of this world, but I have great purpose in coming to this world! The chief end of His coming is to bear witness to TRUTH. And it his bearing witness to TRUTH, His kingdom grows as more and more are declared to be “of the truth”.
(v.38)
Pilate’s Response
38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
APPLICATION: What is Truth?
This will always be a crucial question for humanity. Both then and now, how we answer such a question determines our position in eternity.
The great deceptions of the Evil One today is that TRUTH is subjective, meaning each of us can determine what is true for us. This sounds great! There is great temporal comfort in such an idea since in it our thoughts, words, and actions are always justified since they meet a moral standard that we set for ourselves.
The problem though is this - When considering mankind’s greatest problem of sin and the need for salvation, such a position will lead your comfortably to an eternity separated from God.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Because mankind in its nature distorts what is TRUE, we find ourselves in the same position as those at the end of the Book of Judges - Judges 21:25 “25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
The TRUTH —> GOD, MAN, CHRIST, RESPONSE
Listening to His Voice
Those we are considered of the TRUTH as those that had heard and received the Good News of the GOSPEL.
Listening to the voice of Christ, to the Truth, and believing Him at His Word transforms us. We are not merely hearers of the words, we are doers. Everyone who is “of the truth” listens and obeys.
Your calling today is unto His kingdom! Then as a citizen if the kingdom, your calling is to bear witness to the truth of the kingdom. Contend for the faith!
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Are we contending, standing, striving side-by-side for the faith of the Gospel???
Remember the Truth of Your Calling Today
Remember the Truth of Man’s Nature (v.38b-40)
Remember the Truth of Man’s Nature (v.38b-40)
John 18:38–40 After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.”
Why do we bear witness to the Truth and remember our calling as the church? Because we know the spiritual condition of all who are currently walking the wide path.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
(v.38b-40)
Following his private discussion with our LORD, Pilate goes back outside to deliver His judgement to the waiting Jewish people.
38 After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
Of all that Jesus had been accused of, even keeping the Jewish people from honoring Caesar, Pilate determines that no fault can be found in him. But.… the TRUTH was not enough for him. The people were becoming angered at his judgment. The parallel passage of Matthew 27 tells us that the chief priests and elders were influencing the crowds against Jesus.
In Luke’s Gospel, Pilate pleads with the crowd multiple times, but the crowd was persistent. Instead of standing on TRUTH, Pilate folds for the sake of ease.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9: John and Acts D. The Trial before Pilate (18:28–19:16)
Pilate seized on the opportunity to appeal to the masses and suggested that he would release Jesus if they demanded it.
If they wanted the fulfillment of their bloodlust, Pilate would give it to them. Instead of releasing the man He found not guilt in out of principle, he condemns the innocent and acquits the guilty.
For the sake of custom and tradition, Pilate sets truth aside and gives the masses a pathway unto their transgression.
APPLICATION: Give Us Barabbas
We remember the TRUTH of man’s nature… because in our nature we also cry “Give us Barabbas”.
Apart from Christ, we cry and even demand “Give us our sin!” because we believe that the taste of it is so sweet and pleasing.
This is our greatest problem, and in order for us to appreciate what we are going to begin walking through next week, Jesus’ Crucifixion, we need a proper perspective. And I believe the English preacher John Stott will give us just that.
For there is blood on our hands. Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us (leading us to faith and worship), we have to see it as something done by us (leading us to repentance). Indeed, “only the man who is prepared to own his share in the guilt of the cross,” wrote Canon Peter Green, “may claim his share in its grace.”13
John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)
As believers, we remember this TRUTH so we do not forget our responsibility to bear witness to TRUTH as our Savior did.
We remember this TRUTH so that when we do faithfully proclaim Jesus and His Gospel to one another, to our neighbors, and to the nations… we in turn trust Him to sovereignly build His church with the same mastery as He began it.
We Remember these TRUTHS day… after day… after day… so we do not drift away from the very purpose that we continue to draw breath.
MAIN IDEA
As Jesus stood before His accusers and earthly judge, He boldly declared the purpose of His coming - TRUTH. This is the Truth - Christ is King, and everyone who is of the truth bears witness to the same.
