Almost ( A Tragic Word)

“ALMOST”

(a tragic word)

text: John 18:37-40 & 19: 1-16

I). In our text we begin reading how Pilate asked Jesus “Art not thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus replies thou sayest that I am a King. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice. The hypocrisy of the Jewish people was through their interpretations of the law and the use of it to reach worldly gain and prestige. Jesus came to earth and fulfilled the law. Jesus became the very righteousness of GOD. The very word of GOD was made manifested in the flesh, so all man could see the Glory of GOD and his divine way and plan for man.

JOHN 1: 14 “ AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, ( AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER ,) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.”

He became the truth in a world filled with religious hypocrisy. He became the way, the truth and the life. Pilate was being introduced to the truth and it was looking him straight in the eye. Pilate concentrated on the answer of Jesus and probably pondered it in his mind. The conviction of the truth sitting in his presence, bringing anxiety and remorse. He questions Jesus What is the Truth? Then quickly goes out to before crowd to seek for the release of this man. For never a man spake like this man. For his words were sharper than any two edged sword piercing through to Pilate’s conscience.

II.) Let us back up a little and realize the advents that had led up into this point.

A) The High priest and the Sadherin ( Jews equivalent to our Supreme Court) sought to take Jesus and Kill him for they were envious and feared the reaction of the Jews to this man. For this cause they sat out to take Jesus Christ ( please note this) they feared an uproar of the people if they took him for he was greatly followed. Then out of no where appears Judas the disciple with a plan of betrayal, so for thirty pieces of silver Jesus the savior of the world ( price of a slave) was betrayed unto the high priest and the hypocrisy of their law and court. They sought him out and through the betrayal kiss of Judas he his captured.

Caiaphas was the high priest and greatly influenced by his father in law Annas. They brought Jesus into the home of Caiaphas was he was put on trial by the Sadherin, Annas and the high priest. This was the first trial of Jesus Christ before his own people and the religious sector of the Jewish people. This trial took place under the cover of darkness between the hours of midnight and morning. MARK 14:54-65 reference scriptures that we will not turned today. Caiaphas no doubt feeling the condemnation of the truth ( finds that no part of the true law of GOD had Jesus transgressed against, for he fulfilled every part of true law of GOD) in his very presence gets anxious and questions. ART THOU CHRIST, THE SON OF THE BLESSED? Without noticing that through the spirit of condemnation, no doubt, declares it to be True by his own actions from this point on.

MARK 14: 62 “ AND JESUS SAID, I AM: AND YE SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”

MARK 14: 63 “ THEN THE HIGH PRIEST RENT HIS CLOTHES, AND SAITH, WHAT NEED WE ANY FURTHER WITNESSES ?”

III.) The high priest, Annas and the Sadherin take Jesus Christ to Pilate and accuse him of failure to pay tribute to Caesar and perverting the nations by saying that he himself is Christ the King. LUKE 23:1-4 REFERENCE. VERSE 3 “AND PILATE ASKED HIM SAYING ART NOT THOU THE KING OF THE JEWS? AND HE ANSWERED HIM SAID, THOU SAYEST IT. VERSE 4 “ THEN SAID PILATE TO THE CHIEF PRIEST AND TO THE PEOPLE, I FIND NO FAULT IN THIS MAN.” Pilate must have felt something to make him believe that Jesus Christ was the king of the Jews for him to directly say I find no fault in him. (1) He almost let him go and sent him free but to try and pass this decision from him and stay in a compromising position. He said unto them, you take him and try him and do as you see fit. But they replied it is unlawful for us to put a man to death. I believe with out a doubt they were afraid of him and deep in their hearts they knew he was the SON OF GOD. But condemnation was so strong and fleshly desires they over rode their convictions and turned to Pilate to do their dirty work.