Speaking Truth to Power

Speaking Truth to Power • John 18:28-19:16 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. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 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.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. John 18:28-32 ____________________________ 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. 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?” John 18:38-39 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:40 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. John 19:15-16 The Jewish leaders wanted to totally ________________________________________________ …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. Deut 21:23 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” John 18:33-34 The kingdom of God is _____________________________________________________________ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 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.” John 18:35-36 The kingdom of God is _____________________________________________________________ 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.” John 18:37 Jesus is the __________________ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 If you want to speak truth to power, you need to : • ____________________________ And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. • ____________________________ Isaiah 40:8 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:2 Discussion Questions: • When you hear the phrase, “Speaking truth to power”, what comes to mind? How have you seen truth being spoken to power? • Why is it important to know Jesus in order to speak truth? • What are some ways which you are knowing Jesus? Being changed by God’s Word? Taking a stand for Truth? • How has God called you to speak truth to power? How has God called you to respond to his Truth? Additional Resources: A great historical fiction is “Pontius Pilate” by Paul Maier. It gives great background and context to why Pilate acted the way he did, and the pressure he was under to appease both the Jews and Rome.