WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?
John 18: 33-38
INTRODUCTION:
A. Under the Roman system of law, Pilate was not only the
Judge but also the jury
1. He had the responsibility to hear the evidence and come to
a conclusion of guilt or innocence about Jesus based on
that evidence
2. The charge against Jesus was one of treason
a. The Jewish leaders said that Jesus was telling the people
not to pay their taxes-- even though Jesus said render
unto Caesar his due
b. They also said that Jesus was claiming to be king-- a
direct challenge to Caesar’s authority
3. As we look back on the legal proceedings, we can all see
where Pilate failed as a judge
a. Pilate knew that the Jews had Jesus before him because
they envied Jesus and this was a way to use Pilate to get
rid of Jesus
b. After Pilate personally examine Jesus, he said, I find no
fault in him-- Jesus is innocent
c. Pilate’s failure as a judge was that he allowed an
innocent man to be executed
4. He allowed it because of political expediency and fear, but
he did allow it
B. What people don’t realize is that Pilate was the one who
was really on trial
1. What was at stake was not his physical life but his eternal
soul
2. What he needed to do was to weigh the evidence about
Jesus and see if Jesus was who He claimed to be
a. Jesus claimed to be the eternal Word, the I am-- God
Himself
b. Jesus claimed to be on a mission of seeking and saving
the lost-- that mission would entail Him going to the
cross
c. This is why Jesus never resisted or put up a fight-- He
had an appointment at the cross to pay for man’s sin
d. Jesus claimed that He would rise from the dead to set
up a kingdom
3. Jesus stated that to be a part of His kingdom required a
spiritual birth, a supernatural birth from above
4. Jesus claimed that without this birth, one would never see
His kingdom but would perish in eternal fire
5. If Jesus’ claims were true, then Pilate needed to turn from
his sin and embrace Jesus
6. In order to determine if Jesus’ claims were true, Pilate
needed to weigh the evidence
7. That is the importance of v. 34-- are you going to accept
what others have said about me, or are you going to
check things out for yourself?
8. That question is just as relevant today as it was then
I. THE EVIDENCE THAT SUBSTANTIATES JESUS
CLAIMS AS SAVIOR AND LORD
A. We will use the Scriptures to give us our source of
information about Jesus
1. Jesus told His enemies to sear the Scriptures for in them
ye think you have life but they are they which testify about
Me
2. I realize that some may scoff right here
a. You may scoff because you don’t believe that the Bible
is what it claims to be-- God’s inspired word
b. You may have heard preachers deny the Bible as the
infallible Word of God
c. Weigh the evidence-- are you saying this about the Bible
because of what you have heard or have you checked it
out yourself?
3. The Bible shares many things that point out His claim as
the eternal Word, the I am, God Himself
a. The Bible shares that as God, Jesus had the power to
heal sickness-- lepers, blind people, paralytics, fevers--
even Jesus’ enemies acknowledged His power to heal
b. The Bible shares that as God, Jesus had power over
nature-- turned water into wine, fed 5000 people with
five loaves and two fish, stilled the weather, walked on
water
c. The Bible shares that Jesus as God, had power over
demons-- He cast them out of the Gadarean, Mary
Magdelean
d. As God, the Bible says that Jesus had power over
death-- Jairus’ daughter, boy, Lazarus
e. The Bible reveals Jesus as the omnipotent God
4. The Bible also reveals Jesus as a sinless God
a. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin
b. His virgin birth gave Him a sinless nature
c. The Bible reveals that Jesus chose to resist temptation
and overcome sin-- wilderness, Gethsemene, the cross
5. The Bible shares that Jesus possessed God’s main
characteristic
a. I John says God is love
b. Greater love hath no man than this that a man would lay
down his life for his friends
c. Jesus proved His love for us by going to a cross to pay
our sin debt
d. Jesus loved us so much that He not only wanted us not
to go to hell but He wanted us in heaven with Him
e. Only God could love the unlovable and make the
sacrifices for the unlovable that were needed to pay for
his sin
6. The Bible shares that Jesus rose from the grave
a. After three days and nights in the grave, He arose never
more to die
b. He is at the right hand of the Father making intercession
for us
c. He is coming back to receive us unto Himself and to set
up His kingdom
7. The Bible evidence is clear: Jesus is God Himself who
came to this earth to pay for our sin so we could be with
Him in heaven
B. Human testimony also substantiates Jesus’ claims
1. Many of Jesus’ skeptics have been changed and used by
Him
a. Nathanel-- from, can any good thing come out of
Nazareth to thou art the son of God, thou art the king
of Israel
b. Saul of Tarsus
c. Many of the people who called for Jesus’ crucifixion
later followed Him
d. General Lew Wallace
e. The testimony of these skeptics should cause you to
examine the claims of Christ
2. The lives that Jesus has changed substantiates His claims
a. Jesus took thieves and turned them into honest and
charitable people-- Matthew, Zacheus
b. Jesus took angry sons of thunder and turned them into
apostles of love
c. Jesus’ followers have built hospitals, orphanages, soup
kitchens and have done relief work, etc.
d. Jesus changes lives
II. WEIGH THE EVIDENCE, IF YOU WILL, BUT YOU
WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE VERDICT
A. That verdict can change your life
B. That verdict can give you peace and security for all eternity
C. That verdict can damn your soul
D. If you decide against Jesus, you won’t be the first to close
your eyes to the truth
1. Pilate did that
2. It will be a decision you regret
