Truth on Trial

Christ’s Strength of Witness (vv 19-23)

The religious leaders had thrown everything they could at Jesus, to no avail.

Now the bring Jesus for examination before the high priest.

While Peter was denying Christ, Jesus was testifying of the truth.

The only way that you and I can stand upon the truth is when we stand in the power of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10–14 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

When you know you belong to God and understand His purpose in your life, when your life is built on the truth you have the strength to stand.

Christ’s Sovereignty over the World (vv 28-36)

Are you the king of the Jews?

Christ is King, and the origin of his kingdom is from eternity. It is a heavenly kingdom, it is a spiritual kingdom, it is a present kingdom, it will have a future earthly reign. But now, the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:20-21)

You cannot overthrow the rule of Christ because His kingdom has been decreed and established in heaven. Psalm 2

When everything seems to be going wrong, when evil seems to be winning the day, remember who sits upon the throne! (Psalm 110)

Christ the Source of Truth (vv 37-38)

The kingdom of God is the kingdom of truth. Truth originate from God himself.

His truth brings NEW LIFE

Ephesians 4:17–24 ESV

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

His truth bring FREEDOM

John 8:31–36 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Pilate could not find fault in Jesus, but his pride would not allow him to accept Christ as truth.

The world turns from the truth of Christ into darkness.

“Would you have me kill your king? We have no king but Caesar!”

A people that reject the truth of God embrace bondage and servitude to human masters.