The Abortion Of Truth

THE ABORTION OF TRUTH

John 18.28-40

S: Jesus’ Trial

C: Truth

Pr: IF WE ARE TO BE PEOPLE OF TRUTH, WE MUST REFUSE TO COMPROMISE.

TS: We will find in our study of John 18 how the truth is twisted when people are controlled by their own agendas.

Type: Inductive

I. HATE (28-32)

II. POWER (33-38)

III. ABSURDITY (38-40)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Refuse to compromise on the truth about Jesus.

• Receive and act on His values (even if they are different than your own.

• Welcome Jesus as your King!

Version: ESV

RMBC 18 March 07 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Truth (H)

A teenage girl had just been given family-car privileges. One Friday night she returned home very late from a party.

At 11:30 in the girl sleepily walked into the kitchen, and her father asked her, "What time did you get in last night?"

"Not too late, Dad." she replied nervously.

Dead-panned, her father said, "Then I’ll have to talk with the paperboy about putting my paper under the front tire of the car."

Sometimes, the…

1. Truth is hard to escape.

Ultimately, truth is always hard to escape.

It catches up with us.

I am sure that many of us have experienced that.

We shade the truth or tell just a little white lie, and sooner or later, it comes out that we were not entirely truthful.

We had better realize this, though…

2. Truth is essential.

Our relationships depend on it.

We want our relationships to be based on what is true.

For if they are not, how will we be able to trust one another?

We will always be guessing.

No one really likes that in relationships.

Our society depends on it.

More specifically, our justice system depends on it.

Consider what happens there.

At court, who is at fault for the death of a loved one is decided.

At court, who gets custody of the children is decided.

At court, how much will be paid in damages is decided.

Interestingly, all of these decisions are based on the belief that natural-born liars will tell the truth.

Certainly, this makes the task of the justice system seem impossible.

A lot is left on judges and jurors, for they must decide who is telling the truth and who is lying.

Last week, we discovered that…

3. Peter has struggled to tell the truth.

He had told Jesus that he would always be there for Him.

But sadly, that was not true.

When it came to testify that he was a true follower of Jesus, he chickened out, and emphatically denied that he even knew Him.

Three times, he testifies, “I don’t know the man.”

The rooster crows, and Jesus’ prediction has come true.

Peter has let down Jesus by not telling the truth.

Truth takes a hit during what we call the Passion.

Not only has Peter struggled with it, but the courtroom drama is filled with lies and innuendo.

It is full of characters that are willing to compromise when it comes to the truth.

So, today…

4. We will find in our study of John 18 how the truth is twisted when people are controlled by their own agendas.

OUR STUDY:

Our first example is the Jewish leadership who is twisted by their…

I. HATE (28-32)

(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.

It is interesting to note that the Jewish leaders don’t want to be defiled by walking on Gentile ground, but they don’t hesitate to condemn an innocent man.

So, apparently, they can allow hate to have full reign in their lives, but still take care to not be declared unclean because they have been walking in a Gentile palace.

Nevertheless…

5. Pilate is ready for business.

Usually, he is not in town.

He lived on the Mediterranean coast in Caesarea about sixty miles northwest of Jerusalem.

He didn’t want to come to Jerusalem any more than he had to.

But during the Jewish holidays, he stayed in the palace in Jerusalem to make sure things went smooth.