A Pursuit of Truth Aborted
Fortifying the Foundations # 40
John 18: 28-40[1]
7-11-04
Are you on a quest for truth? In a sense every life is a pursuit of truth. When a baby reaches out to touch the object in front of him he is discovering the reality of what he sees. We spend billions of dollars to go into outer space trying to find out the truth about what is out there. We want to know what is and what is not. We are in various ways seeking out truth.
But sometimes when people encounter truth, truth encounters them. Truth confronts us with pure reality. That’s what happens in our story this morning.
The text revolves around a legal inquiry into the truth about Jesus of Nazareth. It occurs at the palace of Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea. Jesus has already been brought before the Jewish authorities at the house of Annas and then Caiaphas. They have already decided to have him executed. In fact, all the way back into John 11:50 the high priest, Caiaphas had determined that Jesus must die.[2] But these Jews have a problem. They do not have the authority to execute anyone without Roman approval. Their purpose in bringing Jesus to Pilate is to get him to authorize the execution of Jesus.
We will focus on three questions asked by Pilate during this trial:
Pilate asks the Jews,
I. “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
That was a perfectly natural thing for Pilate to ask. Just as our legal system requires an indictment of formal charges specifying exactly what laws have been broken, the Roman system also required formal charges.[3] Pilate is following proper legal procedure in asking his question.
But the Jewish leaders do not want to deal in specifics because they know they have nothing that would stand up in a court of law. Rather than give Pilate any specifics they answer in generalities. John 18:30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” In other words, “Pilate, don’t concern yourself with details, take our word for it this guy is a criminal.” The way they express criminal in this text indicates ongoing evil doing. They may have even been calling Jesus a “habitual criminal.”[4] They are saying to 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.”
But Pilate sees these guys for the bums they are[5] and tells them to handle the matter themselves. He is saying sarcastically. “If you have already tried the matter and are not willing to give me the specifics of your accusations, then just handle it without me.”
That forced them to admit the real reason they were there. They wanted Jesus executed and didn’t have the authority to do it themselves so they wanted Pilate to do it for them.
In verse 32, John points out that the death sentence had to come from Rome in order for Jesus’ prophecy concerning the way he would die to be fulfilled. Remember how Jesus talked three years earlier in John 3:14 about being lifted up. He was talking about death by crucifixion. The Jews executed people by stoning[6] not by crucifixion. Psalm 22 had also described his death in terms of crucifixion rather than stoning.
With that response Pilate went back inside to question Jesus further. That is the interaction surrounding Pilate’s question, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
But it is a question that might be asked today. What fault do people find in Jesus that causes them to resist him rather than serve him? Their accusations are seldom specific. Like these Jewish accusers they usually talk in generalizations like “Why then does he allow so much suffering in the world if he is a God of love?” Or “Why would he send the heathen to hell if they don’t even know about him?” The implication behind those questions is often that he is really criminal and unjust—he is guilty of those people’s blood.
But it is a strange way to look at God. It is a strange way to look at Jesus. In response to the suffering, in response to the threat of eternal destruction God sent His Only Begotten Son into the world that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life. The Son of God left the glories of heaven to suffer and die for the salvation of those heathen. If accusation must be made it should be against man himself for rebelling against God in the first place. It should be against the devil for inciting that rebellion and seeking the destruction of humanity.[7]
Do you know God’s answer to “What about the heathen? His answer to that question is very clear in scripture. It may not be the kind of answer we want. It may not even be stated the way we want it to be stated. But here is God’s answer. The question is “What about the heathen?” God’s answer is “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 NKJV) “You do what I have told you to do” “Take the gospel (which is the power of God unto salvation) to the heathen you say you are concerned about.”
There are no valid accusations against Christ. He is full of grace and truth. He is righteous in everyway. We may not understand all his ways. But his ways are higher than our ways not lower.[8] He has come that we might have life and have it abundantly.
There are no impure motives in him toward us. There are no unwise or inappropriate actions. An honest examination of the Lamb of God will always conclude with the words of Pilate, “I find no fault in him.”
When Pilate went back inside he asked Jesus this question, (verse 33)
II. Are you the King of the Jews?
Why did Pilate ask Jesus that question? Luke 23:2 gives us a little more detail of what the Jews had said to him concerning Jesus, “And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." (NKJV) The Jewish leaders had concluded that Jesus should be executed because of blasphemy—saying that he was equal with God and that he came from God as His Son.[9] But they knew that Pilate could care less about those kinds of allegations and would never sentence someone to death for blaspheming the Jewish God.
So they trumped up this charge that Jesus was somehow leading a rebellion against Rome. The accusation had two elements to it. One was that Jesus claimed to be a king. This accusation Jesus will answer. The second was that as a king Jesus was telling people to not pay their tribute taxes to Caesar. In reality, Jesus had done just the opposite of that. When the Pharisees had tried to trick Jesus into saying something like their accusation, Jesus took a coin and said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." Matt 22:21 NKJV
Pilate’s question to Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus’ answer was not what Pilate expected. Jesus asked him a question, “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?” I see in Jesus’ response a probing of Pilate’s conscience[10]—a calling to think this through for himself. “Are you just parroting what others have said or are you sincerely asking the question?”
Pilate is perturbed and answers curtly and rudely. “Do you think I am a Jew? It was your people and your chief priests who have handed you over to me.” Here is Pilate’s pride manifesting itself. Here is his disdain for the conquered and subservient Jews.
But Jesus has also asked his question to clarify Pilate’s question. If this question is coming from Pilate then he most certainly is asking it from a political perspective. If he is asking it in behalf of the Jewish rulers then it must be answered in that context as the Messiah.[11]
Pilate reinforces his question with another question at the end of verse 35, “What have you done?” He wants to get to the bottom of this and get it over with quickly. “So tell me what you did to get your own rulers so mad at you.”
Here is the heart of Jesus’ answer to his question, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
He gives proof of that by the fact that his followers did not rise up in arms to prevent his arrest. Peter had lashed out but Jesus corrected that. Any political king has to fight for his domain. But Jesus kingdom did not originate in this world. It originates in heaven and is very different from the political kingdoms Pilate is thinking about.[12] John 18:36 “But now my kingdom is from another place.”
Jesus is saying something here that we must never forget. The Crusaders took up arms during the Middle Ages to advance the kingdom of God. They did not grasp Jesus’ message here in our text, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Think about the terrible disservice to the cause and testimony of Christ the Crusades were. We must not repeat their mistake in our generation.
Our nation is in a War with Terrorism. As a nation we have to defend ourselves against this unconventional enemy. I so appreciate every member of our military service defending our rights to life and liberty. But the advancement of Christianity does not happen through cruise missiles and attack helicopters. The kingdom of God is not about winning political territory. “My kingdom is not of this world.”
I don’t think Pilate is grasping all that Jesus is saying. He summarizes Jesus answer this way, “You are a king, then!” But the answer still depends upon what he means by king—what kind of kingdom is he talking about. Jesus is giving him the only answer that is true and complete.
“Jesus answered, ‘you are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world...” Now listen closely to the rest of that sentence “to testify to the truth.”
Here is Pilate’s moment of opportunity. Jesus has come to testify of truth. His kingdom is not of this world. It is of a higher order. It is not established by military might. It is established by the testimony of truth. How is the kingdom of our Lord advanced on the earth? “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” What is the ultimate answer in the war on terror? “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” The kingdom of God advances one soul at a time. It turns a terrorizing devil into a disciple of Jesus Christ regardless of nationality.
Jesus affirms to Pilate that he is a king. He has qualified his statement enough that Pilate should not misunderstand. In the process he has brought Pilate face to face with the truth. Now the conversation has come down to a personal decision for Pilate to make. “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me,” Jesus said. “Pilate, are you listening? Pilate, I am testifying of the truth to you. What are you going to do with it?” The man’s eternal destiny hangs in the balance. Pilate thought he held Jesus’ destiny in his hands. But in reality it is Pilate’s destiny that’s at stake here. That destiny depends upon how Pilate responds to truth. “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Pilate’s next question is his response, verse 38
III. What is truth?
This is a sad response on Pilate’s part. How do we know this is not a sincere inquiry? We know because Pilate does not even wait for Jesus to answer. “With this he went out again to the Jews...” Jesus speaks of a kingdom established on truth not tyranny. Pilate’s response is cynical and fatalistic, “What is truth?” He gets in the last word. He is saying, “Nobody really knows what truth is. Truth for you may not be the same as truth for me. I have heard the Greek philosophers wrestle with that issue to no avail. You will never find this thing called truth in the messed up world we live in.”[13]
But the question touches upon one of the greatest issues of our day: “What is truth?” Can anybody really know truth? Is there one truth for me and a different truth for you? Is Pilate’s concept of truth just as good as Jesus’ concept of truth? What is truth?
1st Truth is something that can be known. Jesus said (John 8:32) “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." NKJV How can we know the truth? Just before making that statement Jesus said, “"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” NKJV The truth is found in the word of the Lord. Jesus came to testify to the truth. The word of the Lord is true. It is reliable. It comes to us as a revelation of truth.
That’s why we invest this time this morning to look into the Gospel of John. We believe this word is inspired by the Spirit of Truth. We are bombarded daily with messages from the world that are not rooted in reality and sometimes are simply false. Sometimes the deceptions of Satan have a grain of truth in them to make them more believable. But the word of the Lord is true through and through. 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” NKJV
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth. He has inspired the word of God to reveal to us truth. If we want the truth we can have it.
2. Truth is as eternal as God Himself. Truth is as absolute as God Himself. Truth does not originate in man. It originates in God. He is the God of Truth. In fact, a description of God must include the concept of truth. God does not just tell us truth or reveal truth but God is truth. God is love. God is holy. God is righteous. An understanding of all these things comes with an understanding of God.
When people say that truth is relative and not absolute they are misunderstanding the origin of truth. The origin of truth is in God. And God is eternal. He does not change.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He is not just saying I have some ideas about those things to share with you. He is saying that the very definition of those things is found in Me.
In contrast, the devil is the father of lies. All truth originates in God. All falsehood originates in the devil. Now watch this closely, people are embracing one or another.
They do not originate truth. They either accept it or reject it.
The difference between right and wrong is not found in what I think. It is found in Who God is. We have to be well grounded in this. Otherwise we will be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine that comes along. Don’t just think the preacher is speaking doctrine. Winds of doctrine come from all kinds of places. They are propagated in the lunchroom at work. When you watch Oprah Winfrey you are hearing winds of doctrine.
Can you discern truth from error when it is clothed in a secular dress?
3. Truth is transforming if obeyed. 1 Peter 1:22 “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” The results don’t just come from hearing truth. Pilate was hearing truth from Jesus. He was in fact standing face to face with Truth incarnate. Yet he is making the wrong decision.
“Now that you have purified yourselves...” how? “by obeying the truth.” Truth is an essential element in the solution to the problems we face in life. When we have a problem we want God to fix it for us. But the way He normally does that is through a process that involves truth. He brings truth to bear on the problem and as we walk in that truth we enter into liberty and victory in that area of our lives. God operates in the realm of truth and teaches us to operate in that realm.
Have you wrestled with that question, “What is truth?” The answer that a person accepts will determine eternal destiny. I don’t want to be like Pilate. I don’t want to ask the question, “What is truth?” and then walk away from Jesus before he can give me the answer. Winston Churchill said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.”[14] I want to encounter the truth. I want the truth to encounter me. And I want to be changed in the process. Jesus came to testify to the truth. He sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth. Truth is available to you and me. Jesus has made it available because he is available. If I sincerely want it and open my heart to his voice I will know the truth and the truth will make me free.
Invitation
TEXT: John 18:28-40
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" 30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you." 31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. 33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" 36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." 37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release `the king of the Jews’?" 40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. NIV
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
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[1] Text was presented earlier in the service using DVD from Visual Bible International (www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com ). Text is provided at the end of this message for easy reference. All quotes are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
[2] This counsel from the High Priest, Caiaphas had a human and divine side to it. In Caiaphas’ mind Jesus’ death would simply be a political expediency and his motives behind the comment were totally selfish. But God was also at work causing Caiaphas to prophesy the sacrificial death of Jesus for man’s salvation.
[3] Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Book III (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1984) pp. 568-569.
[4] Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Hendrickson Publishers: Peabody Mass., 2000) p. 624.
[5] Matt. 27:18
[6] For example, Stephen in Acts 7:59
[7] John 10:10-11
[8] Isaiah 55:9
[9] Matthew 26:65-66
[10] Arthur Pink, Exposition of the Gospel of John, Vol. III (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981) p. 197
[11] Morris, p. 630
[12] Morris, p. 631
[13] G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According to John (Los Angeles: Revelle) p. 288
[14] http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Sir_Winston_Churchill/11 accessed 7-9-04
