Message
John 18:28-40
The Obvious Truth
Who ate the lollies?
Not me. Not me. Not me.
Every parent has had that conversation at one time or another.
So, you go to the old faithful approach.
“I can tell you are lying when you stick out your tongue”.
Who ate the lolly?
Not me. Not me. (muffled sound because mouth is shut) Mot Me!
I guess in that case knowing the truth is not so important – but there are some cases when the search for the truth is very important.
That is the case with our text this morning John 18:28-40
Pilate asks a number of questions in this section. But the most important one is in verse 38.
What is truth?
And – ironically – Pilate seems to be the only one interested in seeking the truth.
The Jewish authorities aren’t concerned with the truth.
They only hold to the truth as it suits them. Their truth is, if they go into the home of a Gentile, they will not be able to celebrate the Passover because they will be unclean.
So they get Pilate to come to the door of his palace.
And they stay on the street.
Keeping true to the fact that they are clean, upright citizens.
Yet they are missing the most obvious detail of the lack of truth.
They have completely twisted the justice system.
They are condemning an innocent man.
They are going to have God’s Son killed by the Gentiles.
They are more concerned about not being able to eat the Passover than they are about killing the one who is the true Passover.
They don’t want truth, they want convenience.
Sadly they are not alone … even today many want a convenient Jesus.
The truth is that Jesus transforms our lives – but it is convenient to forget that transformation takes effort and willingness.
The truth is that followers of Jesus cause others to ask questions – but it is more convenient to stick to ourselves and not let anyone know who we really are.
The truth is that following Jesus means dying to ourselves – but it is more convenient to live for the moment.
The truth is that Jesus sets us free from our sin and shame – but we find it more convenient to be driven by guilt and fear.
We don’t need a convenient Jesus, or a convenient faith. That is the sort of Jesus and the sort of faith that we pull out on Sunday morning and then put back on the shelf on Sunday after church. We need the truth – a true Saviour who real answers.
That is what Jesus is.
He is the true Saviour – a true Saviour even to the smallest detail.
Let’s reread verse 32-33
In Jewish culture, if someone was given the death penalty, they would be usually be stonedd. Very rarely would they be hung from a tree or a pole, and never crucified. Why?
22 If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, 23 you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
When the Jewish leaders say they cannot put people to death they are correct. Indeed it has been 40 years since that right had legally been theirs. The Romans would not allow local communities to put in place the death penalty.
But – because of this situation – Jesus is not stoned to death. Jesus is crucified. And in so doing He fulfils Scripture.
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Galatians 3:13
Jesus came at the right time, to die in the right way, so that He could make us right with God by being cursed. That is what is necessary. Even here He is the true Saviour. The one who truly dies a cursed death. So that we can have eternal life.
So here is Pilate. He has a group of Jewish leaders standing before him asking him to put this man to death. Notice that, when Pilate asks, What are the charges? the answer is somewhat vague.
“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” In other words, “Pilate, you know us, we wouldn’t say he’s a criminal if he weren’t, take our word for it and pass sentence upon him.”
“You know us.”
Sadly Pilate does know them. Pilate and the Jewish leaders have had a few run-ins over the years. So Pilate does what no-one has done so far – he gives Jesus a chance to defend Himself.
Pilate is concerned with finding the truth.
When I was in grade 5 there were two boys in my class who decided they didn’t like me.
One day after school they bailed me up and were harassing me.
In grade 7 there was another boy who we all knew was a bully.
I don’t know why he did it but he came over and got me out of that situation and made it clear that, if my two class mates gave me any more trouble, he would come after them.
I didn’t have a problem after that.
There are times when people do not act the way that you expect.
In many ways that is Pilate.
Pilate was not very popular even among his own countrymen. From history we know Pilate was a ruthless governor. During his time in Jerusalem he caused much bloodshed when it came to dealing with the locals. In fact his methods were so brutal that the higher Roman authorities were keeping a strong eye on his actions. One more mistake and he can kiss his career goodbye.
Ordinarily you would expect that Pilate would deal with Jesus in a very ruthless and uncaring manner.
Instead Pilate is the one providing the fair trial.
He re-examines the whole situation.
Are you the King of the Jews?
Is that your idea? Pilate do you really want to know the answer?
My kingdom is not of this world … but I am a King.
I am a King unlike any other. I will not rule through power, and corruption, and perverted justice.
I come for those who want a different way. For those who want to hear the truth.
Then Pilate utters those famous words; What is Truth?
It could be that Pilate is being cynical … there is no truth; certainly not here.
It could be that Pilate is exasperated … Pilate has been put into the middle of another Jewish political mess.
It is more likely that Pilate was beginning to understand what was going on here.
This is the truth for Pilate …
Criminals do no usually engage in highly philosophical conversations with Roman commanders.
Criminals make excuses and find someone to blame.
Criminals beg for mercy or ask for leniency.
Jesus does none of these things …
Pilate might not know the whole truth, but he has understood one truth.
I find no basis for a charge against Him.
Jesus is innocent – that is the truth.
But there is also another truth at work isn’t there.
Pilate’s problem is that he knows this situation has the potential to create real problems between himself and the higher leaders in Rome.
Pilate has been dragged into the middle of a religious scandal.
The people in the city were full of emotion … it is a situation which could lead to much bloodshed.
Somehow he needs to get rid of the problem.
Somehow he needs to alleviate himself from the responsibility.
Jesus has entered his life … and all of the sudden his world has turned upside-down.
But that is what Jesus does … doesn’t he.
The truth is, when Jesus enters our world, He turns it upside-down.
Rich Young Man
• Matthew 19
• Thought he was good … a good young Jew who followed the commandments.
• Jesus tells him to sell his possessions.
• Suddenly the rich man understands … I have been putting money before God.
• His world has been turned upside down
Woman Caught in Adultery
• John 8
• She is standing with nothing but a sheet around … caught in the act.
• The penalty is death by stoning.
• Jesus asks a simple question, “If you are innocent throw the first stone”.
• All of them leave … suddenly this woman realises that you can make huge mistakes and be forgiven.
• Her world is turned upside down.
Read through the Gospels … Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Every time you see Jesus talking with people you will see Him turning their world upside down.
He makes us stop.
He makes us think.
He makes us re-examine.
He makes us wonder.
When Jesus enters our world we have to stop and ask some pretty serious questions. Because, instinctively, we know that Jesus is different.
He doesn’t accept us on the basis of our performance. Rather he sees us in our inability and weakness and He gives us His spirit to enable us to move forward.
He extends grace to a whole group of people who, really, are undeserving.
He loves the so-called unlovable.
That is the truth.
Pilate knows that Jesus is different … and he is torn between all the voices clamouring to get His attention.
He will not completely declare the innocence of Jesus and set Him free because Pilate is afraid of the crowd.
At the same time Pilate is convinced that Jesus does not deserves what is happening and he is slow to condemn an innocent man.
This isn’t a notorious criminal, or even a regular one. This isn't some wild-eyed fanatic rolling his eyeballs and foaming at the mouth and shouting “the end is near”.
This is a highly sane man.
The man who is God … the One who came to save.
There was something majestic, something of heaven, something of glory about the Lord Jesus.
Pilate knows this. And he is stuck … he is stuck between the need to defend Jesus and the pressure of the crowd.
For all his short comings Pilate is asking the right question
"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?"
He asks the question just as much of himself as the crowd because there are so many competing voices.
The voice of compromise.
The voice of expedience.
The voice of politics.
The voice of conscience.
What shall I do … with Jesus?
What is truth?
What will you do with Jesus?
This is the man who will give His life on a cross. The same man who is willing to take the punishment of God which was never His to take.
He hangs cursed … beaten … displayed in nakedness … declared to be the scum of society. And He is all alone.
His religious community has turned their back on Him.
His disciples will flee and abandon Him.
His heavenly Father will forsake Him.
Yet as He takes it all He will still say Father forgive them.
What is truth? What will you do with Jesus?
We live in an age of competing voices.
The voice of compromise.
The voice of guilt.
The voice of conscience.
The voice of shame.
Voices from our past.
Voices in the present.
Voices that makes us fear and doubt.
Voices that create pain and sadness.
And then there is the voice of Jesus … the truth in every way … promising a new start every day to those who listen to Him.
That is a truth that can, and will, transform your life.
Prayer
