2017-09-24 Luke 23:1-5, 13-16 MISJUDGING JESUS (2): PILATE

MISJUDGING JESUS (2): PILATE (Luke 23:1-5, 13-16) September 24, 2017 Read Lu 23:1-5, 13-16 – Misjudging Jesus. Today we look at Pilate who shows when we misjudge Jesus we reject truth, and when we reject truth we condemn ourselves. Relativism aside: truth matters. It matters if you have a headache or a brain tumor -- whether your ankle is sprained or broken. And it matters whether Jesus was God or just a disillusioned itinerate preacher. Truth is on hard days. Even 54% of believers don’t believe in absolute truth. No wonder our world is morally bankrupt? David Wells says, "This is the first time that a civilization has existed that does not believe in objective right and wrong. We are traveling blind, stripped of our own moral compass." That was Pilate’s problem. He refused truth when it stood right in front of him. And the end result was catastrophic – personally and culturally. The lead in to our text is the religious elite in Israel, green with envy and hatred, have finally captured Jesus and found Him guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be God. Having so ruled, the whole Sanhedrin now brings him to Pilate. I. The Accusation We need Lu’s condensed account along with Jn’s more expansive one to get the picture here. First quest: Why is Jesus even brought to Pilate? Jn 18:31: “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.” So that’s it. The Jews want the death penalty. But they’re not authorized to impose it. That’s why this lands in Pilate’s lap in the first place. They don’t just want Jesus gone – they want Him dead. That requires Roman approval. But there’s a problem. They need a legal charge. But blasphemy won’t do for the Romans. They couldn’t care less about that. One god more or less in their pantheon makes no difference. They regard Jewish religious issues as none of their concern. Without something against Rome, they won’t hear the case. Thus, v. 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.” That’s their accusation -- trumped up charges not even mentioned in their own overnight trial. These are concocted to incite their Roman overlords. So what are they and are they true? 1 There are 3 charges – one general and 2 supportive. He was “misleading our nation.” “Misleading” (διαστρεφω) used 7 times in the NT. Four of those times translated “twisted” – used in Acts 13:8, 10 to speak of seducing someone away from the truth of the gospel; used here to suggest Jesus was seducing Jews away from loyalty to the empire. Two supporting examples. They claim He forbade paying taxes and proclaimed Himself king -- charges calculated to get Pilate’s attention. Were they true? No Jesus had never advocated rebellion against Rome. And taxes? In Mt 17:27 He paid His own, and when questioned about taxes in Lu 20: 25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Israel’s religious elite sacrificed their own integrity and to rid themselves of the competition – spreading lies to bring Jesus down. And nothing’s changed. People still misrepresent Jesus to bring Him down -- people who say He was not God – people who say He did not die for the sins of others but only for His own well-intentioned but ill-advised stupidity – people who deny that He rose again. Lies about Jesus have always thrived bc of the stakes involved. Thomas Jefferson literally took a razor to his KJ NT, cutting all miracles to create a Jesus in keeping with his deistic worldview The social gospelists of early 20th century defined Jesus as merely a social reformer who could be emulated without shaming oneself by believing in a bodily resurrection and literal second coming. Bruce Barton in The Man Nobody Knows defined Jesus as a business executive who achieved market domination with 12 unlikely suspects so compelling were his organization and motivational skills. Or John A. T. Robinson who claimed Jesus taught anything done in love is okay – the genesis of situation ethics and moral relativism. Lots of untruth about Jesus. But defining Him as someone we’re comfortable with as opposed to the Lord He really is, will not work. Truth matters. Rejection brings condemnation. II. The Examination 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” That’s Lu’s short version of Pilate’s examination wants to make a point. Lu includes the question, “Are you king of the Jews?” bc that’s what Jesus has been accused of. So – good question. But the answer is vague – literally, “You say.” All 4 gospel have the same phrase. That could mean Yes – or it could mean No. It’s vague. But it must be purposely vague. Jesus didn’t do anything unintentionally. So we infer from this that the truth is somewhere in the middle – neither yes nor no. But how could that be? 2 Back to Jn 18: 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?” [Others, of course, had said it]. 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.” The issue begins to come into focus. Jesus is a king – but not as charged! He’s not competing with Caesar. He’s king of a vastly superior kingdom – a spiritual kingdom; not of this world, tho it will one day rule this world. He is a King – but not as the Jews implied, and not as Pilate thought from his frame of reference. 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?” “The answer to your question is neither yes nor no. I am a king, yes. But not as you infer. Not with reference to the power of this world. I’ve come from elsewhere to bring truth.” But Pilate has no time for such ramblings. He’s a relativist. Sarcastically he replies, “What is truth?” He’s like a 21st century transplant. See, Pilate’s asking the wrong question -- bc his whole frame of reference is wrong. He thinks only in terms of this world. He has no category for a kingdom that is not Rome or a threat to Rome. That’s why he can’t even ask the right question. He’s only seeing half of reality. Jesus’ kingdom will one day invade Pilate’s world, but it doesn’t start there. Jesus’ kingdom is allinclusive – covering both physical and spiritual realities. So the answer to the question, “Are you a king?” is “No, I am not as an immediate threat to Rome – but Yes, I am the King of kings who will one day rule in the hearts of all my subjects, and in their physical world as well. I am a king like you’ve never seen before, Pilate. That’s the truth. Truth has to go behind the scenes. Unless you go there with me, by faith, you will be left behind.” See, Jesus comes from behind the scenes. He exists simultaneously in this world, and the world to come. There are two realms of existence – physical and spiritual. Reality takes both into account. Pilate can only see one. No wonder he asks, “What is truth?” He was blind to reality behind the veil of physical existence. Such a pity – blind to eternal realities. 3 Pastor Ken was my hero, and Ellen Froslie typed his weekly sermons. Early in my seminary days I was asked preach one Sunday night. My first official sermon. I was overwhelmed when Ellen came to me one day and asked if she could type up my sermon for me – on folded paper – just like Pastor Ken – same kind I still use. It was on Micah 6:8. You can look it up. Ellen and her husband, Bob, later retired and moved to Redding, CA. But Bob soon developed leukemia. We prayed diligently for them. At one point she wrote a letter: “Bob’s leukemia has improved. At last count his bone marrow was normal. But whether it is gone or just in remission, we rejoice in this extra time, and thank God that if the worst happens, it will only be a transfer from here to there.” A couple years later, Bob made that transfer. But do you see that truth matters? Without knowing spiritual reality, Bob and Ellen could not have enjoyed now, and would have had no hope for then. Truth matters. All of it. II Cor 4: 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Pilate couldn’t get that. He couldn’t see what lies beyond. That’s like going thru life with a spiritual eyepatch over one eye. III. The Exoneration This is fascinating. Pilate has no time for Jesus’ truth. His truth is the sword of Rome. BUT – he does know that Jesus is innocent. Isn’t that interesting? His examination falls short of ultimate truth. But he does know Jesus is no threat to Rome. He goes in and out 6 or 7 times trying to convince the Jews. 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” This is not just opinion. This is a legal finding in the terminology of the time. Today we’d say, “Not guilty” -- a rare finding in Roman courtrooms. But the Jews rejected that finding. They wanted Jesus dead – period. 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” The mention of Galilee gave Pilate an idea. Herod Antipas ruled there – and he just happened to be in town for the Feast. So Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, trying to moonwalk out of his dilemma. But back He came, and Pilate reports in 14c: “I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod.” He offered to beat Jesus and let Him go. But the crowd would have none of it. Their violence increased and they cried for Jesus’ crucifixion. So Pilate tried another tack. Custom allowed for release of a prisoner at Feast time. Pilate offered a vicious murderer – Barabbas. 21 but they kept shouting, 4 “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death.” Luke is making a point. At least 3 times Pilate declares Jesus’ innocence. Luke wants us to see He was railroaded from beginning to end. Jesus’ trial wasn’t a trial. It was a lynching. The official Roman verdict was the same as God’s verdict when He notes in I Pet 1:18-19 that we are not ransomed by silver or gold, “19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” Lu hammers the point of Jesus’ innocence bc that’s what enabled Him to die for others. Jesus’ substitutionary death for sin was only valid because He was without sin Himself. His innocence was not only established in the only court that counts – God’s court – but even in the court of Rome, Jesus was judged innocent. Not Guilty was the verdict. He was rightfully exonerated. IV. The Condemnation So – Jesus walked, right? Turned Him loose. No charges. Free to go. Didn’t happen that way, did it? V. 23 – Pilate gave Him over to be crucified. Why? Pilate had the authority to release Him, and Pilate loved to tweak the Jews, and Pilate found Jesus “Not Guilty”, and even Pilate’s wife urged His release: Mt 27:19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” With all that did Pilate not say to the Jews, “He’s not guilty. Get out of my sight.” Why didn’t he do that? Jn 19:12 answers: “ From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” Therein lies a story. Tiberius was a dissolute emperor. By 26 AD he semi-retired to a debauched lifestyle on the island of Capri – leaving administrative details in Rome to Sejanus – head of the Pretorian guard. Pilate was a friend of Sejanus, who appointed him governor of Judea. But, by Jesus’ time, Sejanus was on tenuous grounds with Tiberius -- executed in 31 AD. That put Pilate on shaky ground. The Jewish threat was real! And Pilate wasn’t going down for a Nazarene peasant. Pilate condemned Jesus to buy favor from the Jews, fearing they’d make trouble for him with Caesar. But in condemning Jesus, he actually condemned himself. So do all who choose men over God; image over truth; this life over the next. Years ago a classic study on peer pressure was done. Three lines were drawn on the board. Then 10 kids were brought in and asked to identify which line was longest. The first line the experimenter pointed to was definitely the 2nd longest line. But 9 kids immediately raised their hands. They were actually in 5 cahoots with the experimenter and had been told to vote for the 2nd longest line. The 10th child was actually the test case. In every case the 10th child got a look of disbelief – but more than 75% of the time, even tho it was clear the other 9 were dead wrong, the 10th child voted with the peer group. Such is the power of peer pressure. And such was its power on Pilate. If you want that to be the truth – so be it. But it’s on you, not me. Mt 27:24: “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” But denying truth doesn’t nullify truth. How’d it work out for Pilate? Josephus tells us he was recalled to Rome in disgrace in AD 37 for his bloody overreaction to a disturbance in Samaria. From there, prior to his suicide, Chuck Colson references one tradition that says Pilate sent his last years in the mountains of Switzerland washing his hands constantly. When asked, “Why?” he would reply, “I am washing the blood of Jesus Christ off my hands.” Through all eternity he will be doing that – condemned because he denied the truth. Conc – But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here is truth. Because Jesus was accused without defense, we need not be. I Jn 2:1b-2a: “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation (coverer) for our sins.” He’d have even covered Pilate’s sin if Pilate had asked. Because Jesus was accused, we need not be. And because Jesus was condemned, we need not be. Rom 5:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Not now, not later, not ever. Jesus paid your penalty so that you may never be charged and never condemned. That how much He loves you. That’s the gospel truth. Contrast Pilate with Don Griffin -- diagnosed with cancer in May a few years ago. By Nov, he was gone. But he made the most of his time. An email to his family read: “How simple [the truth] is. I cannot save myself. God, thru the blessed gift of his son Jesus has saved me now. I need only have faith and not even that faith is of my doing, it is also a gift from God. And all along I have known that it is this simple. Therefore how particularly ashamed I am to have not put God at the center of my life….. I am very privileged to have this disease. God could have snatched me away and sent me to hell, do not pass go. Instead he has chosen this way to awaken me and, most important, to give me time to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.” Pilate didn’t get it, but Don did. Truth matters. This is your time. Don’t wait. Come to Him now. Let’s pray. 6