“The Glory of Christ and the Depravity of Man”   •  John 18:28–40

 The topic of our sermon tonight is:  The Glory of Christ and the Depravity of Man

The doctrine of total depravity teaches  that, as a consequence of the Fall of man, every person is born in sin and therefore a slave of sin, and, apart from the grace of God, is utterly unable to choose to follow God or choose to accept salvation as it is freely offered

On April 13, 2001, Luther Casteel walked into JB’s Pub in Elgin, Illinois, with four guns and opened fire. He killed two people and wounded 16 others. At his trial, Casteel was unrepentant. According to the Chicago Tribune, when asked by his attorney if he felt any remorse, Casteel said, "Any feelings I have in that regard, I'll keep between myself and the Lord." He also said, "As ironic as this sounds, I’m a passionate, giving person. I like to think I’m a pretty good person."

Think about the irony. Think about the depravity.

Our Scripture reading from John 18 is also dripping with irony and showing the depravity of man. Luther Casteel is a living representative of millions throughout the ages who expose their depravity through horrific acts and still maintain that they are good people and that they have a good relationship with God. Most might not murder with a gun, but they slaughter the commandments of God on a daily basis. Their most horrific act is that of wasting Jesus Christ and settling for lesser idols. Their claim, "When I die I’m going to heaven because (like Casteel) I’m a quite a good person."

Tonight we’ll look at the glory of Christ against the depravity of man who when exercising his free-will always elevates self and rejects the Messiah. Tonight we’ll learn that the depravity of man: Needs religion, hates Jesus, doubts Jesus, compels worldliness, denies truth and replaces Jesus.

1. THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN craves RELIGION (vs. 28)

Let us begin in verse 28. " 28 Then they (the Jewish leaders) 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."

Point number one, "The Depravity of Man Craves Religion."

After covering the trial with Annas (in the middle of chapter 18), John bypasses the remainder of the religious trials and records the first phase of the civil trial. Early in the morning (probably before 7:00) after concluding His time with Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, Jesus was bound and brought to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. The text states Pilate was situated in his Jerusalem headquarters called the Praetorium. It also states that the Jewish religious leaders did not enter the Gentile Praetorium in fear they would be defiled and unable to take part in the Passover.

Do you also notice how this account pinpoints man’s depravity? Here we have the Jewish leaders going through elaborate precautions to participate in their religious rituals, while they manipulate their own law to murder an innocent man. They are intent on keeping the Passover ceremony, but eager to murder the true Passover Himself.

This account sums up the human heart, enthusiastic for hatred, but lacking substance - enthusiastic for religion, but lacking of true worship. Somebody once said, "Religion is us trying to prove to God how important we are" Man craves religion which wants rules, checklists and external actions (which only feed our pride), while it suppresses the more important matters of the heart, which find favour in the sight of God (which feed His greatness). Oh how easy it is to avoid a certain food, how easy it is attend a certain church, and how easy it is perform a certain ritual while rejecting true belief in Jesus Christ, which involves difficult heart issues such as repentance, such as submission and such as self-denial. How many today are following the Jewish authorities by discarding the demands of Scripture while at the same time devoting themselves to meaningless religiosity. Mark my words, there will be many religious people in hell.

Even as believers we must guard ourselves from such an attitude. Unless we are driven by the Holy Spirit, the flesh is always looking for the lowest common denominator. We settle for complacency. We settle for self-righteousness. We settle for mediocrity. We keep the outer shell of religion, but on the inside our hearts grow cold. We lose our "first love" (Rev. 2:4). We may dress well, carry our Bibles and debate doctrines, but as humans we are quick to get rid of the issues most important to our Lord. We’ve fallen into religion when we disregard those requirements that require sacrifice. Are you growing in personal holiness? Are you serving in a church ministry? Are you praying? Are you spending time with God? Are you actively sharing your faith? Are you personally discipling someone else? Most of all, religion hinders an intimate love relationship with Jesus Christ from which all these disciplines must flow.

We must guard ourselves from becoming religious! Religion, as the Jewish leaders practiced it, takes the easy way out. Religion is man-centered. Religion never experiences the greatness of God. Religion sends people to hell. Religion, as this text will prove, crucified Jesus Christ.

2. THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN hates JESUS (vs. 29-32)

The depravity of man desires religion and the depravity of man also hates Jesus. Let’s look at verse 29 to 32, " 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. " (Jn. 18:29-32).

Though Pilate wanted to hear the formal charge against Jesus, the Jews had already made up their minds. They weren’t concerned about a trial; they simply brought Jesus to Pilate for an execution because as verse 31 states, the Jews were not permitted to exercise capital punishment themselves. Their intentions were plain and simple. They wanted Jesus dead. And because they knew that Pilate would never go for their indictment of blasphemy (Mk. 14:64), they simply put Jesus in a political category that Pilate could understand. In verse 30 they referred to Him generally as an "evildoer." No doubt they wanted Pilate to believe that Jesus was an enemy to Rome, a threat to the peace, a political risk, a Man who even had the audacity to crown Himself King (Jn. 19:12).

How much does the depravity on man hate Jesus and love the darkness? Here we see the Light of the World standing in their midst and all they can think about is deception and murder. Three times in the span of eight verses (18:28; 19:4, 6) we read Pilate, remarking, "I find no guilt in Him." Where is the depravity of man? Against the innocence of Jesus, we see those eagerly bent on eliminating the sinless One.

Unfortunately, the Jewish leaders of the first century aren’t alone. The world is no different today. Most are not as open in their hatred of Jesus. Many may even claim to be His followers. But as we learn elsewhere in the Gospel of John, in Ch 14.15, straight from the mouth of Jesus Himself, our commitment to Him is always based on whether or not we hear His voice and follow His words. "If you love Me (said Jesus), you will keep My commandments"  Anything less, as innocent as it may appear, is hating Jesus and exposes depravity.

3. THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN DOUBTS JESUS (vs. 33-35)

In point number three we’ll see how the depravity of man doubts Jesus as well. We read in verse 33. " 33So 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?” (Jn. 18:33-35)’"

The focus now shifts from the Jewish authorities to the interrogation of Pontius Pilate. It goes from the highest Jewish leaders to the highest Roman leader in the land. In many ways they were on trial before Jesus. The evidence for Christ’s claims was irrefutable, but these men in their doubting disbelief were found guilty in the sight of God.

Pilate’s comments, In particular, are indicative of today’s society. In verse 33 he said, "Are You the King of the Jews?" I can imagine him thinking: Where is Your dignity? Where is Your army? Where is Your royal outfit and crown? All Pilate could see before him was a peasant carpenter, definitely not a royal figure. Pilate was not about to bow down to a King who presented Himself in such a manner. Pilate, like countless others today doubted Jesus. They cannot get beyond His humanity to His holiness. In focusing on His outward appearance (1 Sa. 16:7) and failing to see His character, failing to see majesty and failing to see glory, the earthly ruler rejected the King of kings.

People doubt Jesus because they fail to see who His is and they also doubt Him because they fail to see what He did – that he died on the cross for the salvation of sinners. We live in a doubting world when it comes to things pertaining to the Lord. We must be quick to explain the true Person of Jesus and the works He came to accomplish. Remember, salvation is faith in His Person and works; who He is and what He has done.

4. THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN compels WORLDLINESS (vs. 36)

In the fourth point, the depravity of man also compels worldliness. While Pilate was thinking along the physical realm, Jesus replied in verse 36,

36 “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.”

Throughout this gospel, we have learned that Jesus divides people into two camps: Those in Him and those in the world. Pilate in this account stands as the personification of worldliness, while Jesus stands as the personification of true spirituality. Pilate was focused on things of this world, while Jesus focused on the things above. Pilate was the material king, while Jesus is the spiritual King.

Their two approaches to life were revealed this way:

·         One would do anything to receive power, honor and glory. The other gave up His glory. One was arrayed in royal robes. The other had "no stately form or majesty" (Isa. 53:2).

·         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 ruled by spiritual persuasion.

To which camp do you belong? Depraved man follows after the kingdoms of this world. The Christian follows after Jesus and His "kingdom…not from this world."

5. THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN DENIES TRUTH (vs. 37-38)

Fifth, the depravity of man also denies truth. I read from verse 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." (Jn. 18:37-38).

We live in an age called Postmodernism. One of the key characteristics of this age is the denial of absolute truth. Truth is relative they say. Any claim that holds there is one truth by which all must abide is viewed as the essence of intolerance. Sin is no longer defined as failing to follow God as He has revealed Himself in the Bible. Sin for the postmodernist is when people claim theirs’ is the only right way.

Jesus makes a horrible postmodernist. He claimed, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (Jn. 14:6). Pilate would have made an excellent Postmodernist when he remarked, "What is truth" (Jn. 18:38)?

Regardless of Pilate’s flippant and sarcastic comments, Jesus made His position clear. In verse 37 He said, ". For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth." According to Jesus there is an absolute truth. As Creator and Lord He defines the parameters of truth, because He Himself is the embodiment of truth. He is "the truth" (Jn. 14:6). Many will reject the truth, but Jesus said at the end of verse 37, "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." His sheep will hear Him and accept what He says (Jn. 10:3, 16, 27).

I believe that Jesus was basically inviting Pilate to accept Him, but when Pilate heard about a claim to absolute truth, like so many other depraved souls, He immediately terminated the interrogation and rejected the One who is "the truth." Martin Luther once said, "Peace, if possible, but the truth at any rate." God’s children crave for truth while those opposed to God reject it.

6. THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN replaces JESUS (vs. 39-40)

Finally, as we move to point 6, we see that the depravity of man also replaces Jesus. Obviously if Jesus is rejected, He is replaced with a lesser substitute. Let’s see who the people chose over Jesus. Reading from verse 39:  Pilate said, "‘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 " (Jn. 18:39-40).

Pilate was in a difficult situation. He already announced the innocence of Jesus (Jn. 18:38), but he knew the leaders and now the crowd wanted Jesus crucified. To crucify Jesus would be an injustice. To release Jesus could have created a riot among people already aggravated with his rule. The solution in his mind was to adopt one of their customs, which was to pardon a criminal at the Passover. Surely he thought they would accept Jesus over a hardened convict.

Unfortunately, he thought wrong. The people repeatedly cried out for Barabbas (Lk. 23:18), a murderer (according to Mark 15:7) who was identified with a bloody revolt. Matthew identifies him as a "notorious prisoner". Or as one commentator put it, the crowd wanted a man officially named Jesus Barabbas, meaning "Jesus, Son of a father" in substitute for Jesus Christ who is Son of the Father. The depraved heart always rejects Jesus for illogical substitutes whether it be a person, a false god or the second rate pleasures of this world. They substitute the Creator of galaxies for a worthless idol.

In addition to the depraved heart and it’s desire to replace Jesus, the depravity of man Needs religion, hates Jesus, doubts Jesus, compels worldliness and denies the truth. But against the backdrop of human depravity, stands the glory of Jesus Christ. Against our sin stands His love, mercy and forgiveness.

Barabbas is the only man in history who can say Jesus took his physical place. Jesus died the physical death he deserved. (Imagine Barabbas in his dirty cell, hearing the lock unlatched from the door, thinking his time had expired. But rather than going to the cross, the guilty murderer was given a complete pardon.) However, all those who believe in Jesus Christ, repent of their sin and submit to His lordship can say that Jesus took their spiritual place. Jesus died the spiritual death we deserved. The depravity of man placed Jesus on the cross. The goodness of God used that death to remove His wrath and atone for our sins.

In speaking of this substitutionary death, Donald Grey Barnhouse confessing his own depravity once said, "For it was I who deserved to die. It was I who deserved that the wrath of God should be poured upon me. I deserved the eternal punishment in the lake of fire. He was delivered up for my offenses. He was handed over to judgment because of my sins. This is why we speak of the substitutionary atonement. Christ was my substitute. He was satisfying the debt of divine justice and holiness. That is why I say that Christianity can be expressed in three phases: I deserved Hell; Jesus took my Hell; there is nothing left for me but His heaven" (Barnhouse, Donald Grey. Romans, v. 2, p. 378).

Are you like the Jewish leaders, Pontius Pilate or even Luther Casteel, the murder I read about in the introduction, trusting in your own self-righteousness or are you trusting in the glorious Jesus Christ to give you His perfect righteousness through His work on the cross?