The King of the Jews

Transcript

GR 409
9/23/1981
The King of the Jews
JOHN 18:28-38
Gil Rugh

John chapter 18 in your Bibles. John's gospel and the 18th chapter. In the most significant event in all of Scripture, we're in the midst of that consideration—the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the subsequent resurrection. Everything in Scripture builds to this point. Subsequent Scripture in the epistles will look back to what was accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I used to wonder why we had four gospels, four accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. I can appreciate that each one of them has their own special emphasis on the life and ministry and person of Jesus Christ. I think at the heart of God's purposes in giving us four accounts of the life of Christ, rather than one account blending them all together, is that four times we build to the crucifixion of the Son of God. Four times His life and ministry are covered, culminating in that awesome climax of the crucifixion of the Son of God on the cross and the subsequent resurrection. No other event in all of history even comes close in significance to the death and resurrection of the Son of God. Our being here today, our salvation, all of it is based on this one event. So it's important that we understand what is happening here. It's important that we have an appreciation of what is transpiring, of the details that God has seen fit to have recorded. Many things could have been said, but here we have God's account of the most significant event that has ever occurred.

Now we have looked at some of the trials of Jesus Christ. We noted that there were six trials that He would experience in preparation for His crucifixion. Three before the Jews, and three which would be civil or Roman trials. We've looked at the three Jewish trials, beginning with Annas, then to Caiaphas, then before the whole Sanhedrin. Caiaphas being the official high priest, Annas being his father-in-law being the power in Israel himself having been high priest on a previous occasion, then the Sanhedrin the governing group in the nation Israel. They have come to their conclusion that Jesus Christ deserves to be crucified, but the Jews do not have the authority to carry out His execution. So now they are delivering Him to the Romans so that the Romans might give their stamp of approval on the decision that they have made, and thus Jesus is brought before Pilate. And that’s the situation before us in verse 28. There are going to be three trials that take place in this context, and we'll be looking at them in the next few weeks.

Here before Pilate, and then there will be a break that we don't have recorded in the Gospel of John—after verse 38, Jesus will be sent to Herod for Herod's evaluation and then Herod will send Him back to Pilate. The account picks up again in verse 39 of John 18 for Pilate's final decision and the passing of judgment.

We've had the account of Peter's denial that has been worked in here. In the midst of all this with the situation before the Jews. Now as Christ has been brought to the presence of Pilate, Peter has denied the Lord, denied that he knew Him, denied that he followed Him and gone out to weep bitterly.

Then verse 28, "They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium." The Praetorium would be the place of Pilate's residence. In all probability, right in the temple. In the garrison that was established there, Pilate would probably be residing there during his stay in Jerusalem. His official headquarters were in Caesarea, but he has come to Jerusalem to be here for the feast, this significant event, to be in charge of things to see that things don't get out of hand. He would not be there to observe the feast because he himself is not a Jew, but such a significant within his domain necessitates his presence and oversight.

"It was early..." Sometime around 5:00 in the morning in all probability. This timeline would denote somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning, so somewhere around 4:00 or 5:00 AM would be the time of day. "They themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover." Now here you see a note on the scrupulous character of these Jews. These are not the average, run-of-the-mill hooligans or bums of the street. These are people with religious scruples, with religious convictions, and they are concerned that they cannot go into the Praetorium because it is a Gentile residence. And to go into the residence of a Gentile would bring defilement upon them, and if they experienced defilement they would be ineligible to eat of the Passover. Now we're going to talk about the day of crucifixion of Jesus Christ in subsequent study, and whether Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples or did not. But just note here that the Jews are under such conviction that if they entered into the residence of Pilate they would experience a ceremonial defilement. There are many explanations for it, perhaps because leaven would be in the house of Pilate. Perhaps because of some of the superstitions the Jews noted with derision, that the Gentiles washed their abortions down the drain so their homes were defiled by those bodies. Various explanations, but at any rate, the Jews were convinced that to enter in to this Gentile residence would ceremonially defile them.

Now you see something here of the contradiction that exists among these Jews. That they are in the midst of plotting the murder of an innocent man, of plotting the murder of the Son of God Himself, the King of Israel. They are not concerned about that defilement. They are concerned about the ceremonial defilement they will experience by entering a Gentile residence.

Turn over to the Book of Luke quickly. Luke's gospel and the 11th chapter. Jesus spoke to this subject when He addressed the Pharisee in his own home. Verse 39, "But the Lord said to him, 'Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.'" Look over in verse 44. "Woe to you@ for you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it." In other words, they are like a grave that has been covered over. You walk over it and you don't realize you're walking over a dead body. You don't realize you're walking over the remains. To the Jews this would be very pointed because of the defilement associated with a dead body. Jesus says you are totally concerned with external matters where on the inside you are defiled before God. You are unclean before God. The Jews concern, as religious and as meticulous as they were in their religious system, was totally external. And lest we be too hard on the Jews, that is exactly how people carry on their religious activity today—much more concerned with the ritual and the ceremony than they are of their own inner condition before God. Much more concerned about whether you have been baptized or confirmed or gone through certain religious activities than they are whether you have experienced spiritual cleansing on the inside. Many of those are like the Pharisees who are so meticulous in observing certain religious observances, are very offended when you speak to them about the sinful condition of their hearts. That they are defiled before God on the inside, and no amount of religious ceremony and ritual can bring about that cleansing. It's an inner cleansing that is needed. Isn't it amazing that we who so vile, so sinful, can be so religious, so concerned about form on the outside.

Come back to John 18. The Jews had a religion of ceremony, a religion of ritual. The ritual was fine, nothing wrong with ritual in and of itself. What was wrong was there was no inner life behind it. "They did not want to be defiled, but might eat the Passover." So in verse 29 Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" The man Pontius Pilate has become infamous solely on the basis of this incident. He ruled in this region of Palestine beginning in 26 AD, was governor of this region until 35 AD when he was finally removed by Tiberias at the complaint of the people because of brutally murdering a number of people in a religious context. On a number of occasions he had antagonized the Jews. He had been reported to Caesar, and his position there was rather tedious. We'll talk a little bit more about his authority and the area he ruled when we talk about Herod, because they are men who had conflict because they ruled side by side in adjacent regions. And both were jealous for their power. But he is the man in authority, governing this region. He is the man who represents the Romans, who has the sole right to mete out capital punishment. The Romans had delegated to the Jews much authority and much power, but not the power of capital punishment. The Romans reserved that for themselves.

So Pilate comes out to meet them in deference to their convictions that they will not come into the Praetorium. "What accusation do you bring against this man?" He is not surprised that they are appearing before him at this early hour. He would have had to give the permission for the Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus Christ, so he is expecting their coming. Now he comes out and asks them for their accusation.

Note their answer. It skirts the issue. "They answered and said to him, 'If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.'" Now note. They do not tell Pilate what the accusation is. They simply say that if He was not a bad guy, if He did not do evil, we would not turn Him over to you. Pilate responds in kind. Pilate's a strange character. He responds in verse 31, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." In other words, the issue is very simple. If you want me to judge Him, you tell me what the charge is. If you don't want to tell me, you take Him and judge Him according to your law. That is very consistent with Roman law. Roman law demanded that the person being tried be confronted by his accusers and the charge be presented by the accusers. Pilate is simply demanding that they function according to Roman law if they want Roman judgment.

The Jews are put out by this. They are expecting Pilate to simply okay their decision. To come out and to say that whatever you have said concerning this man is acceptable to the Romans. But he won't do it. "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "'We are not permitted to put any one to death,' that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die." The Jews did not have the power of capital punishment. Now in this context, verse 32 gives an explanation. "In order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke signifying by what kind of death He was about to die." Jesus had repeatedly prophesied that He would be crucified. Now if the Jews had carried out capital punishment, it would have been by stoning. In the Book of Acts the Jews take the law into their own hands, and they execute Stephen by stoning. This did happen on occasion, even though they did not have the authority. They did sometimes take things into their own hands. But, I think there is an added dimension here among the Jewish leaders. They could have whipped up the mob quickly to a frenzy and had Jesus stoned. But I think even in the mind of a man like Caiaphas, there is a desire that this be carried out officially with the authority not only of the Jews but also of the Romans. And that this man be executed in such a manner that He will be demonstrated to be under the curse of God so there can be no question among those who would follow Him that He was an evil man, worthy of death.

Look back in Deuteronomy 21. After giving the instructions regarding stoning, there are exceptional cases for hanging in the Old Testament. Verse 22 of Deuteronomy 21. "And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged in accursed of God)..." Now that has become significant. The Jews never practice crucifixion. The hanging here would have been hanging by the neck, but the significance of being hung on the tree is driven home. That there is a special curse to one who dies by being hung on a tree.

Look over in the Book of Galatians, chapter 3. The point attached to this in the New Testament is that Jesus Christ Himself has become a curse on our behalf. Galatians 3, verse 13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, (Deuteronomy 21:23) ’Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."' The Book of Deuteronomy, 1500 years before Christ, has laid the foundation that the Son of God not only would be executed but He would be executed by being hung on a tree as a curse, bearing our curse, our punishment, our judgment in His body in that manner. This is the manner Jesus said He would die.

Look in Matthew chapter 20, verse 19. Verse 18, Jesus is speaking to the disciples, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered up to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death." Note here the pattern. Delivered up to the religious leaders so they condemn Him to death, and note the next step. "...and will deliver Him up to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up." Jesus knew clearly the order that would be followed. First, the trials before the Jews. Then the Jews would turn Him over to the Gentiles so that He might be crucified at their hands. He spoke of this repeatedly in the Gospel of John. You turn back to John chapter 3, verse 14. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." And as we’ve observed as we’ve gone through the Gospel of John, being lifted up is a technical term referring to crucifixion. Where a person was laid on the ground, nailed on a cross, and then that cross was lifted up and planted in a hole in the ground. So to be lifted up was a term of being crucified.

Look over in John’s gospel, chapter 12, verse 31 and 32. "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out. And I if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." Lifted up from the earth, "...but He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die." So when we come over to chapter 18, the Jews speak that they are not permitted to put any one to death in order that the word of Jesus might be
fulfilled, this is a prophecy coming about—That Jesus spoke that He would be
crucified at the hands of the Gentiles. But under the authority of the Jews. They are the ones who take responsibility for this action as we will see.

Alright. They go on, verse 33. Pilate realizes this is a serious matter that these Jews are in earnest about this man's crucifixion. They are seeking execution at the hands of the Romans. "Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus." So now it's Pilate and Jesus. His Jewish accusers are on the outside because they will not come into the Gentile dwelling "And he said to Him, 'You are the King of the Jews?'" Emphasis in the way this is worded on the You. It gets the emphasis. "YOU are the King of the Jews?"
I think Pilate is aware of what is transpiring here, that he is not confronting a man who is a threat to Roman rule and power. There is no indication that he is confronting a man who is attempting to set up a kingdom in opposition to the Romans. "YOU are the King of the Jews?" "Jesus answered him, 'Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?'" In other words, Jesus is seeking to clarify the source of this statement. Is this insight that you have? And we'd say, How would you expect Pilate to know that? Well, Jesus has been carrying on a spiritual ministry. He gives Pilate the opportunity to respond to Jesus Christ, to the claims that Christ has made. Now Pilate deals with this in a rather derisive way. "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You up to me; what have You done?" In other words, let's get down to business here. I don't recognize You as King; I don't see anything kingly about You. I'm not even one of your own people. Your own
people turned You over to me. You expect me to see something kingly in You?
When your own people have turned You over to me for execution? "What have You done?" What is the issue here? Now Jesus does respond to the question of Pilate, YOU are a King? Yes, I am a King. Verse 36. "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews..." Note that he doesn't say so that I might not be delivered up to the Romans, but that I might not be delivered up to the Jews. Jesus puts the responsibility here on the Jews where Pilate has placed it. "The Jews turned You over to me." This is a Jewish action, "'...but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.' Pilate therefore said to Him, 'So You are a king?'" That clarifies the issue. You are agreeing that You are a king? "Jesus answered, 'You say correctly that I am a king."' And I take it that gets the idea. You see correctly is in italics, but it is inserted to give you the sense and that's the idea. "You say that I am a king." Some have attempted to play this down by saying Jesus said 'I didn't say that you said that.' That's not the idea here. Jesus is saying, You said, and then He goes on to express it. "For this I have been born, for this I came into the world, to be King, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Now note what Christ has said here. He has acknowledged that He is a king. He was born for the purpose of kingship. But, His kingdom does not have its source and origin in this world. He says in verse 36, "My kingdom is not of this world" or literally, 'out of this world.' Its source and origin is not in this earth. It is a heavenly kingdom, with a heavenly origin. It is a kingdom to be established by God, so it will not be set up and ruled according to human ideas and ideals, it will not take an earthly army to establish the Kingdom of Christ. And this kingdom is first established by the gathering together of a people who are loyal to the King. So it is comprised of those, at the end of verse 37, "everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." This is an important section. Some have taken these verses to mean there is not going to be any earthly rule and reign of Jesus Christ, that the only realm in which He is king is a spiritual realm. He is king in the hearts of believers. That is true, but that is not the total extent. But the beginning point is first the people over which He will rule are assembled—those who believe in Him. So He is king today, ruling over a people. Those of us who have come to believe in Jesus Christ, who are those who hear the truth, listen to the truth, obey the truth, are the subjects of the King, Jesus Christ. That’s what Jesus is emphasizing here. It’s not primarily physical. Primarily spiritual. It is primarily a kingdom over which the Son of God rules over those who are His subjects, who have come to believe in Him.

Now maybe we ought to turn back to chapter 19 of Revelation a moment. First step in His kingdom is the gathering of a people who belong to Him. At a later date, there will be the establishing of an earthly kingdom, but that will not be earthly in origin. It will not be established by earthly means and devices. In Revelation chapter 19, you have the coming of Jesus Christ to earth to establish His earthly kingdom. That time in the future when He will come to rule and reign as King of the earth. Remember, in connection with this, all those who are not believers will be destroyed. So it will be a kingdom at the beginning comprised entirely of those who are under His rule in the heart. But in verse 11 of Revelation 19, "I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war." None other than Jesus Christ. Isn’t that awesome. This One standing before Pilate, being interrogated by what we think of as a minor Roman official, now we see centuries later coming to set up His kingdom. "His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; an- He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ’KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” You see how His kingdom will be established.
He doesn’t need an earthly army to fight for Him. He doesn't need a group of followers who are adept at doing combat in physical matters. When He comes to establish His earthly kingdom, there will be no doubt about it.

To Pilate, there is no threat to the Romans on this occasion. "I am here establishing a kingdom in the hearts of men, which at a subsequent time will be an earthly kingdom as well."

Back in John 18:36, "If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be righting." Pilate could appreciate the thrust of that argument. If Jesus really was an earthly king attempting to set up a kingdom, how would you do it? How had the Romans done it? By the power of military might. We would expect the followers of Jesus Christ would be doing combat, but that's not the case. Preventing Him from being delivered, but they had captured Him with relative ease. "As it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." Now in verse 37, Jesus adds to the dimension of truth here for clarity. "Pilate therefore said to Him, ’So You are a king?' Jesus answered, ’You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.”' Now note. Bearing witness to the truth and being a king Jesus sees as linked together. "I have been born to be a king, I have come into this world..." And you see both emphases here—I've been born, I came into the world, denoting His prior existence. To be a king, to testify to the truth. The connection being by His testimony to the truth, He will establish His kingdom, because it is through the testimony of the truth that people are saved, come to believe in Him, and become subjects of the king. So His kingdom is established, first in the hearts and then on the earth. That’s reverse of how earthly kingdoms are established, where people are beaten into submission and subjection. Jesus Christ works in the hearts to transform from the inside out and then later establishes and earthly kingdom over those.

"To bear witness to the truth...” Christ’s ministry was to testify to the truth. This was repeatedly emphasized. It's important in understanding the truth here. The truth is the message that God has given Him to proclaim. It's the message concerning Himself, the message concerning salvation in Him. It's the message concerning the work of God in and through the Son of God.

Look back in John chapter 3. Several passages here where the emphases on truth is given. A concept that Pilate is unable or unwilling to grapple with, the concept of truth. In John 3:11, Christ speaks to Nicodemus. "Truly, truly,
I say to you, we speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and you do not receive our witness.” What does He say? "I speak concerning God, that which I have seen in His presence, that which I have heard from Him, this is My witness, this is My testimony. This is the truth, the message of God. I came to testify to the truth so that people might believe the truth to become part of My kingdom."

Over in verse 32. "What He has seen and heard, of that He bears witness." Again, that repeated emphasis. What He has seen and heard of the Father, that is what He testifies to. That's the truth we are talking about.

Look over in chapter 8. Now follow along on this. This is at the heart of what Jesus is saying. John chapter 8, verse 28, "Jesus therefore said, 'When you lift up the Son of Man (when you crucify Him) then you will know that I am, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.'" Verse 38, "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father..." That repeated emphasis—My message is the message of My Father.

John chapter 12, verse 49. "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak." Chapter 14, verse 10, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me/ The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works." Look at verse 6 of this same chapter, Jesus has said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." He is the truth, the source of truth, the vehicle for truth, the One in whom we find truth. Over in chapter 17, verse 8. "...for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them, and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You did send Me." Note, He proclaimed the truth to the children. They believed it.

So over in John chapter 18 at the end of verse 37, Jesus said, "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." They identify with the truth. The crucial issue is that those who are really the king’s, really subjects of the king, hear and believe the truth. Now truth becomes the issue here—those who are of the truth hear the voice of Christ. You note the standard set down here by Jesus Christ? I am a king, I came to testify to the truth, and everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. In other words, the dividing line is how a person responds to the person and work of Jesus Christ. What does a person believe regarding Jesus Christ and the Word of God? That tells you whether he is of the truth or not. Doesn’t say how religious he is. He doesn't allow the Jews to become the standard with all their meticulous ceremony and ritual, but the standard is how they respond to the truth. That has not changed today. The standard is the same.

I had a conversation with a man on the phone yesterday who is from another state regarding an individual they are interviewing for pastor in their church.
He was very disturbed and I talked with him a number of months ago. They are interviewing a man now who does not believe in the inspiration of Scripture, but the authority and guideline for us is the community of faith. In other words, we get people together and we talk about the Bible, and whatever we decide becomes the authority. I told him very simply, that man is not of the truth. He has set himself up as the standard, not the truth of God as the standard.

Look back in the Book of Psalms. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the entire Bible and given over totally of the presentation of the Word of God, the truth of God. And in Psalm 119, verse 130—just pick up a few verses here. I would encourage you to read this whole chapter to get the flavor of the emphasis here. Psalm 119, verse 130. "The unfolding of Your words gives light it gives understanding to the simple." The truth brings understanding. The truth brings insight into spiritual matters so that a person who has been going through all kinds of religious form comes to believe the truth of God regarding the Son of God. The first time he really perceives and understands spiritual reality.

Note Verse 155, "Salvation is far from the wicked, “for they are not religious enough, they don't go to church, they've never been baptized, and they don't take communion! Doesn't say any of that, does it. "Salvation is far from the wicked," why? "...for they do not seek Your statutes." Your Word is not their goal. Verse 160, "The sum of Your word is truth." Note that. Sum total, this book the Bible. You could title it "Truth." That's the sum total of the Word of God. "The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting." Every single thing that God has said is of eternal value and significance. That's why the Scripture says, Old and New Testament alike, that even though the heavens and the earth shall pass away, the Word of God abides forever. The truth of God is eternal in significance. It amazes me how many people devote and invest their lives in the temporal, yet here is something that is eternal. Which will never decay, never pass away, and they live their lives in ignorance of the Word of God. They invest their lives in those things which are of temporal character.

Isaiah chapter 8, verse 20. Isaiah condemns people. People search for truth but they don't want truth. Even to the extent of consulting the dead, mediums, astrologers, wizards, necromancers, the like. Verse 19 of Isaiah 8, "When they say to you, 'Consult the mediums and the wizards (the spiritists) who whisper and mutter,' should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?'" That says something, incidentally about all the books that have been written by people who supposedly came back from the dead. You don't go searching among the dead for truth about God, even though they supposedly came back from the dead. That ought to say something to us as Christians about devoting any time at all. We should be consulting the dead about the living? Do I have to go to somebody who supposedly died to find out what God is like? "To the law and to the testimony!" In other words, according to the Word of God, if they do not speak according to this Word, it is because they have no dawn, they have no light. They are without truth. Isn't that a simple standard? I don't have to read somebody's book, I don't have to listen to someone's experiences, no matter if he died ten times. All I have to do is come to the Book, here's the standard. Do they speak according to this Book? No, but have you heard what they've got to say? Doesn't matter what they had to say. You know what this Book says? This is truth! Know what? This will be truth in a hundred, billion years. All the years of eternity which I realize are without years. This will be truth. It's everlasting! It's unchanging.

Come back to John 18. This Book is truth. In John 14 Jesus said "I am the truth." In John 17 He addresses His Father, and He says "Your word is truth." Now be careful. This man I was talking with yesterday about the candidate they are interviewing as a pastor was trying to say you’re exalting the Word of God. We want to exalt Jesus Christ.' That is an impossibility. Because this Book is truth and Jesus Christ is truth, and you know how they blend together? This Book is the testimony concerning Jesus Christ. This Book is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not just the last book, the entire Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is a true testimony of Him who is truth. It is the revelation of the Word of God in written form, even as Jesus Christ was the living Word.

So Christ confronts Pilate and Pilate has been challenged with the truth.
And every one who is of the truth hears My voice. The challenge to Pilate— have you heard the truth, Pilate? Now note Pilate's response. It’s awesome!
Here you have a man who is to act as Judge in the realm of life and death, and note his response. "Pilate said to Him, 'What is truth?"’ He has no concept, no ability. I take it its real perception to a certain extent on Pilate's part, that apart from Jesus Christ, apart from the Word of God, he is without any knowledge or understanding of what is truth! And he realizes it. But instead of seeking it from the One who is truth, he turns and leaves. "What is truth?" Not only a revelation of Pilate's hopelessness and emptiness, but of all who reject Jesus Christ. All who are apart from Him are apart from the truth. They do not hear the truth, they do not understand the truth. They live their lives in the realm of hopelessness and despair.

What is at the heart of your life? What gives your life meaning and purpose? What makes you go every day? What challenges you and keeps you going? Stop and think about that just a moment. What motivates you? Then ask yourself, Does that have eternal value? Your job, your family, your aspirations. All are temporal, all are transitory. But the Word of God abides forever. Is it any wonder we live in a world that is in so much turmoil and confusion? Where the standards change and change and change? Because we have people in authority who are in the position of Pilate. "What is truth?" And if I don’t know what truth is, how do I make decisions? According to the feeling that I have at the moment. According to the tide of public opinion. Amazing what public opinion polls have done for us today. We take a poll and 60% of the people feel this is the way it ought to be, and the majority of those in public office want to adjust. Why? Because truth has become relative, according to how people think. So we must change our laws now, change the way we govern. Why? Because we have Pilate’s haunting question—What is truth? Praise God, we the people of God are those who listen to the truth. We know the truth. We have come to know Him who is life, who is truth, Jesus Christ the Son of God. Jesus said "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Let me ask you, whose voice do you hear? Do you hear the voice of the Son of God? Does the Word of God make any difference to you? Is it of any significance to you that God has spoken and we have a record of that revelation? Has that made a difference in your life? The way you think, the way you live? Do you really listen to the truth? You’ve come this morning, we've looked at the truth of God. Have you listened to it? Do you really know and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? He is truth. He is going to die on a cross under the curse of God because He is bearing your sins and my sins in His body on the tree so that we might believe in Him who is truth and have life, and live our lives then harkening, giving ear, obedience to the truth that has been given. Let's pray together.