INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Over the last few weeks in our REWIND series we have been looking at the events of the final week of Jesus life that ending in His resurrection. Last week Jerry took us to the cross as we examined the crucifixion.
• How did we get Jesus to a crucifixion? Today we rewind a little bit more with our Bible DVR’s to examine part of the trial that Jesus was subjected to in the early morning hours of Friday.
• This all starts with the arrest (which Jerry will address next week) at about 1 am on Friday morning.
• Around 1:30 am we have what is the beginning of 6 trials, three by the Jews and basically 3 by the Romans. Today we are just going to focus on one of the trials and a small part of the last one; both of these trials were heard by the Roman Governor Pilate.
• I have titled this message, “Kangaroo Court the Trial of Jesus.”
• Have you all heard of a Kangaroo court? According to the Merriam-Webster: Dictionary (online) a Kangaroo Court is defined as follows: “a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted”
• My contention is that Jesus was really tried in a Kangaroo Court. I will show that this morning.
• The question at hand was is Jesus who He claimed to be? The religious leaders of the day would not even allow that to be a possibility.
• At SOME point in your life you will put Jesus on trial as you try to decide if He is who He claimed to be. People go through this exercise every day. People have to decide whether at accept Jesus and His claims or reject them.
• The bigger issue I want all of us to consider is this.
• What kind of court will you try Jesus in? Will your court be a legitimate one where witnesses are listened to, evidence is examined and the right verdict is concluded, or will your court be a kangaroo court where the outcome is determined before ANY of the evidence is examined.
• Many if not most people will end up trying Jesus in a Kangaroo Court.
• You will need your bibles opened to John 18:28-40.
• As we examine the trial of Jesus, we will see what kind of court He was subjected to.
• SLIDE #2
• John 18:28–32 (ESV) 28 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. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 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.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
Jesus was tried before a kangaroo court because…
I. The charges were based on an agenda. (28-32)
• What got us to the point in a few words is this, the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and from about 1:30-3 am Friday, Jesus was in the court of Annas, former Jewish High Priest for 16 years - Jesus receives initial physical abuse.
• Then he was taken to the Current Jewish High Priest, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin Court - Jesus bloodied by abuse.
• From 3-5 a.m. He was imprisonment at Caiaphas’ palace. Then from about 5-6 a.m. Jesus was placed before all the Jewish elders, including the High Priest, scribes and whole Sanhedrin. They decide to ask the Roman government to kill Jesus.
• During the “trials” there were no real witnesses to any charges given, there was many false witnesses offered up.
• SLIDE #4
• Mark 14:56 (ESV) 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.
• By this time in Jesus ministry the religious leaders were determined to do ANYTHING it took to put an end to Jesus and His teaching.
• The leader’s agenda was to see that Jesus was killed. They had no interest in justice nor did they have any desire for truth.
• The Jews charged Jesus with blasphemy in Mark 14:60-64, but now they have come to the Roman Governor Pilate for him to try Jesus.
• It is interesting that when Pilate asks what the charge is against the accused, they retorted…
• SLIDE #5
• John 18:30 (ESV) They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
• This is kind of funny, Pilate, if this guy weren’t guilty, we would not have brought Him to you!
• In other words, they really had nothing to charge Him with. They knew that of Jesus spoke, Pilate was not stupid; he would have ascertained that Jesus was guilty of nothing.
• Pilate tells this group to leave him alone and to try Jesus in their own courts. But in verse 31 we see the true colors of the Jewish leaders.
• SLIDE #6
• John 18:31 (ESV) 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.”
• They wanted Jesus dead, they did not want to listen to Him any longer, and they did not want the people to have to listen to Him any longer.
• Their hearts were closed to the truth of God like a steel trap.
• How many times have we in trying to find reasons to reject Jesus, come up with some self-serving or false charges against Jesus.
• Do you know what verse I find the most interesting in this section?
• SLIDE #7
• John 18:28 (ESV) 28 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.
• Is this interesting. These men who were looking to KILL Jesus, these men who offered up false charges based on a self-serving agenda would not enter the headquarters because they did not want to be considered unclean.
• The Law of Moses did not say going into gentile home would make you unclean, but later rabbi’s taught it so it became a law of sorts for the people.
• It is amazing that people would be so religious yet so messed up and evil on the inside. Jesus hits the nail on the head when He speaks
• SLIDE #8
• Luke 11:39 (ESV) 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
• Now that Pilate hears that the Jews want Jesus put to death, Pilate goes in and has a conversation with Jesus.
• Let’s turn together to verses 33-38.
• SLIDE #9
• John 18:33–38a (ESV) 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?” 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.” 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?”
• SLIDE #10
Jesus was tried before a kangaroo court because…
II. The evidence did not support the charges. (33-38a)
• Now here is Jesus chance to end this whole mess, Pilate really does not want to deal with this in the first place.
• Pilate asks Jesus, are you the King of the Jews? When Pilate asks the question he is expecting a negative answer.
• Here is Jesus standing before him alone and looking a bit rough at this point. He looks nothing like any King Pilate has ever seen.
• Now, when Jesus is asked the question, Jesus responds with a strange sounding question of His own in verse 34.
• “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
• What Jesus is doing is He is trying to get Pilate thinking. If Pilate is asking based on what he was told, then Jesus would most likely say nothing or no.
• But If Pilate is asking from the heart and will allow Jesus to define the terms properly then He will answer in the affirmative.
• Jesus wanted Pilate to know WHAT kind of King He was and what KIND of kingdom He was the leader of.
• Of course Pilate responds in verse 35 saying that he was not a Jew so therefore he would not be asking the question in the same context His accusers would.
• Jesus then goes on to explain to Pilate what kind of King Jesus is.
• SLIDE #11
• 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 18:36
• Then Jesus points out to Pilate, look at the evidence, if I were the KING I am accused of being, a threat to Rome, then where are my soldiers fighting for me?
• If I am guilty of an insurrection against Rome, where are my ROMAN accusers because the Jews would not be upset if I were here to overthrow or disrupt Rome?
• Jesus says Pilate; the evidence does not fit the accusations!
• How many people put Jesus on trial but they refuse to look at the evidence? How many people believe the misconceptions without even looking at the evidence?
• The Bible is not true, it is a bunch of folk lore, Jesus never said He was God, you know things like that.
• Jesus goes on to tell Pilate that He is here to bear witness to the truth and with that Pilate responds in verse 38 with what I believe is a soul-searching heart-felt question.
• SLIDE #12
• Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
• I think Jesus has hit a nerve with Pilate for this brief moment; Pilate is faced with trying to determine what real truth is!
• Let’s look at verses 38-40 for our final observation.
• SLIDE #13
• John 18:38–40 (ESV) 38 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. 39 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?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
• SLIDE #14
Jesus was tried before a kangaroo court because…
III. The punishment contradicted the verdict. (38b-40)
• Now at verse 38 Pilate goes to the crowd and tells them his verdict is INNOCENT!
• Pilate rightfully sees that the charges are baseless. He finds no reason to put this man to death!
• Now what we need to see is that between verses 38 and 39 Pilate sends Jesus to a hearing before Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, who had jurisdiction over Galilee. Jesus refused to answer any questions so Herod returned him quickly to Pilate.
• Now at verse 39, it is about 7:30 am, Herod sends Jess back to Pilate.
• Pilate repeatedly tried to release Jesus but the Jewish leaders continued to object. Pilate physically tortured and beat Jesus beyond recognition seeking to satisfy the Jewish leaders. However the Jews demanded that Jesus be crucified. Pilate resisted but eventually gave the order to execute Jesus
• The punishment did not befit and innocent man.
• In verse 40 when the crowd was given the choice of Jesus or the murder, they chose the murder.
CONCLUSION
• The question I have is this, when you put Jesus on trial in your heart. When you are trying to decide whether to believe and obey Jesus, will you give Him a fair trial or will you try Him in a Kangaroo Court.
• A court where the verdict is in before the evidence is truly examined?
• I believe that anyone who will give Jesus a fair trial will determine that He is indeed the SON OF GOD as MANY others have done. Many who were former atheists, and people like myself who were the chief of sinners.
• Pilate had it right when he proclaimed Jesus; innocence, BUT Pilate allowed the crowd to take him down a path he really did not want to go.
• If you proclaim Jesus as the Son of God, what will you do about it? Pilate did not come to that conclusion BUT he KNEW Jesus was innocent, but yet he still ordered His death.
• Declaring Jesus innocent or declaring Him the Son of God is not the end. We are called to take up our cross daily and follow Him!
