1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,080 When I was given this passage to cover the trial and the 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:10,600 crucifixion, I knew that it was going to be a little too long to 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:15,000 read all of Chapter 19 and that last little part, Chapter 18, 4 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:18,600 unless I keep you here till noon. 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,880 But at any rate, what I wanted to do was let you know. 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,880 I'm going to focus mostly on this on the first part, but I've 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,960 got something for you for this last part as well. 8 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,840 When I was thinking about this, I was reminded of one of my 9 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,920 favorite stories. A man by the name of Doctor 10 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:43,120 Alexander Papaderos, very popular professor who taught a 11 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,600 course in Greek history and philosophy every summer on the 12 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:54,520 Isle of Crete at the Orthodox Christian Academy, is very 13 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,520 popular. Hundreds of students would come 14 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,520 literally from all over the world to hear this man. 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,959 He's listed even in you can Google his name, very famous. 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,760 One afternoon, after he had finished a long lecture, it was 17 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:12,560 time to close. People were gathering their 18 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,000 books together and wanting to head out to the beautiful 19 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,440 beaches of Crete. A little student in the back 20 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,520 raised his hand and he says, Doctor P, can I ask you a 21 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,240 question? And he said, of course. 22 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,840 And he said, what is the meaning of life? 23 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,880 Well, just as you groaned a little bit there, they had worse 24 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,320 grown because they thought, Oh my gosh, now we're going to be 25 00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:42,800 here for another two hours. But Doctor P said this, let me 26 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,160 explain it this way. And he reached into his wallet 27 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,360 and he pulled out a little mirror. 28 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:58,160 And he said, when I was a little boy, the Nazis in World War 2 29 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,320 attacked our village. We weren't a big place. 30 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,640 And so only a kind of a squadron of motorcycle soldiers came in 31 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,880 firing their guns and everything, he said. 32 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,680 But the men in our of our village, they weren't going to 33 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,440 put up with this. And they attacked back and they 34 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,880 killed a bunch of them and wrecked all their motorcycles 35 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,480 and ran them, ran the rest of them off as little boys. 36 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:26,200 We stood on the hill amazed at this battle that went on. 37 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:30,920 And so then we ran down to the bottom of the hill to see if we 38 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:32,440 can find something that we could keep. 39 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,160 And so he said, I saw this one motorcycle that was turned over, 40 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,080 an old piece of mirror dropped off of it. 41 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,760 And this is what I picked up. And he said I had so much fun 42 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,920 with it because I discovered that I could take the rays of 43 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:52,040 the sun and I could point it in my backyard to some dry grass 44 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,720 and it would smoke. Boy, that was cool. 45 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,240 And then I found that I could also catch it and then I could 46 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,200 find a rabbit hole and I could shine light down in the rabbit 47 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,560 hole to see if the rabbit was there and other things. 48 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,720 And then I got a little sneaky and I took it into classroom and 49 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,840 in the late afternoon when the sun came through the window, I'd 50 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,480 catch the rays and shine it in the girl's lights eyes, you 51 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:22,120 know, and laugh. But the longer I live with that 52 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:29,120 mirror, the more it came to have greater meaning for me because I 53 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:35,880 realized that I could shine light into the dark places of 54 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:40,960 the world, and I actually could shine light even sometimes into 55 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,080 the dark parts of men's hearts and maybe change some. 56 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:52,840 And he said that my young man is what I discovered is the meaning 57 00:03:52,880 --> 00:04:00,360 of life, is that my life is to reflect truth into the life of 58 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:06,560 this world. Jesus, that I have come into the 59 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:12,520 world to be a light, but it is a light of a special kind from a 60 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:17,320 special source. And John, in this section of the 61 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,000 Gospel, brings this to our attention. 62 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:28,520 John says more things about this part of Scripture, the trial and 63 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:33,520 the crucifixion, than any of the other writers because there are 64 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:40,240 specific things that he wants to highlight that give greater 65 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:46,000 power to the crucifixion. So if you'll stand with me now, 66 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,080 we'll read this passage of Scripture together. 67 00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:02,400 Beginning in John 18, verse 28, then they led Jesus from the 68 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,040 House of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. 69 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,400 It was early morning. They themselves did not enter 70 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,360 the governor's quarters so that they wouldn't be defiled. 71 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,120 Because you see, that night, it was the night of the Passover. 72 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,200 So Pilate went outside to them and said, What accusation do you 73 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,040 bring against this man? And they, the Jews, answered 74 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,760 him, if this man were not doing evil, we would not deliver him 75 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,360 over to you. The Pilate said to him, then 76 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,280 take him yourselves and judge him by your own laws. 77 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,800 But the Jews said to him, it's not lawful for us to put anyone 78 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,040 to death. This was to fulfill the word 79 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,280 that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going 80 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:46,840 to die. Now I'll pause there. 81 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:52,640 If there was blasphemy in the Jews minds, you were stoned. 82 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,720 But Jesus had already told them before I'm going to be raised 83 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,640 up. He had already prophesied how he 84 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,800 was going to die. So Pilate entered the 85 00:06:03,840 --> 00:06:07,520 headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, Are you 86 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,520 the King of the Jews? Which they had said earlier in 87 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,800 chapter 18. And Jesus answered, Do you say 88 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,960 this of your own accord, or did others tell you this about me? 89 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:22,400 Pilate answered, Am IA Jew your own nation? 90 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,200 Chief priests have delivered you over to me, So what have you 91 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:29,320 done? And Jesus answered, My Kingdom 92 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,800 is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this 93 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,160 world, my servants would be fighting that I might be not be 94 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,960 delivered over to the Jews. But my Kingdom is not of this 95 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:45,680 world. And then Pilate said, So you are 96 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:50,800 a king. And Jesus answered, You say that 97 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:55,440 I am a king, meaning that's correct For this purpose. 98 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:02,360 I was born for this purpose. I have come into the world to 99 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,680 bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth 100 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:13,160 listens to my voice. Pilate said to him, What is 101 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,720 truth? After he said this, he went back 102 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,840 outside to the Jews and told him, I find no guilt in him. 103 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,120 But you have a custom. I should release one man for you 104 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,080 at the Passover. So do you want me to release 105 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,880 you, the king of the Jews? And they cried out again, Not 106 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,960 this man, but Rabbis. Rabbis was a robber. 107 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,480 He was much more than that. It had to be a very serious 108 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,160 crime for someone to be crucified. 109 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,640 And Pilate took and flogged Jesus. 110 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,320 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his 111 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:48,320 head, arrayed him with a purple robe, and they came up to him 112 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,760 saying, Hail King of the Jews, and they struck him with their 113 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,360 hands. Pilate went out again and said 114 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,920 to them, See, I'm bringing him out to you, that you may know. 115 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:02,760 I find no guilt in him. So Jesus came out wearing this 116 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,880 crown of thorns purple robe, and Pilate said to him, Behold the 117 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,440 man. When the chief priests and 118 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,040 officers saw it, they cried out, Crucify him, crucify him. 119 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:17,160 And Pilate said to him, Take him yourself and crucify him, for I 120 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:22,000 find no guilt in him. The Jews answered him, We have a 121 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,600 law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made 122 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,160 himself out to be the Son of God. 123 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,760 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more 124 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,559 afraid. He entered the headquarters 125 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,880 again and said to Jesus, Where are you from? 126 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:42,159 But Jesus gave no answer. So Pilate said to him, Would you 127 00:08:42,159 --> 00:08:46,000 not speak to me? Do you not know that I have 128 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,840 authority to release you and authority to crucify you? 129 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:57,640 Jesus answered him, You would have no authority over me at all 130 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,040 unless it had been given to you from above. 131 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,880 Therefore, he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin. 132 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,200 That's the Jews. From then on, Pilate sought to 133 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,200 release him. But the Jews cried out. 134 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,400 If you release this man, you're not Caesar's friend. 135 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,960 Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. 136 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:20,120 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out. 137 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,240 Set him down at the judgment seat for final pronouncement. 138 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,920 Place called the stone of the pavement in an Aramaic. 139 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:28,920 It's Kabatha. Now. 140 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:33,120 It was the day of preparation for the Passover. 141 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,200 It's about the 6th hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold 142 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,520 your king. And they cried out away with 143 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,640 him, Crucify him. And Pilate said, Shall I crucify 144 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,800 your king? The chief priest answered, We 145 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,600 have no king but Caesar. So he delivered him over them to 146 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,240 be crucified, and they took Jesus. 147 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:00,160 This is the word of the Lord. You may be seated. 148 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:08,440 Now before you put your bulletin away, I want you to turn over to 149 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:16,800 page 11 on the discussion page because I wanted you to see that 150 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,680 the rest of the passage, which would have been another 20 151 00:10:20,680 --> 00:10:27,600 something verses, John gives 8 truths that no other gospel 152 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:32,440 writer gives. And he's giving it for a purpose 153 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,960 because we know that John states very clearly at the end of his 154 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,800 gospel, I have written all of these things and there's so many 155 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:41,240 of them. I couldn't write them all down, 156 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,760 he says, But I've written all these things. 157 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:49,560 So you will truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 158 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,920 OK. And so I've listed these eight 159 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,880 things that he mentions, and this could be 8 separate 160 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:57,680 sermons. So today you're going to get 9 161 00:10:57,680 --> 00:11:00,240 sermons, all right? But I'm just going to list them 162 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:07,320 for you because the importance that's here is only amplified by 163 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,600 what the discussion Jesus has with Pilate. 164 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:16,120 Jesus bore his own cross. Love me, He carried his cross. 165 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,440 He died for us. The placard that was a place 166 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,600 above Jesus head was very clearly said to by John, Jesus 167 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,800 the Nazarene. So we know where he's from, the 168 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,160 king of the Jews. And it was written in three 169 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:34,800 languages that would have been Hebrew, Greek and Latin. 170 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,960 Now if you take the full meaning of that, Hebrew is the meaning 171 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,960 of religion. So Jesus is king of all 172 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:46,080 religion. If you put it in Greek, that's 173 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,720 about culture, he's the king over everything that happens in 174 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,480 life. And if you put it over Roman 175 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:58,760 Latin, that's the language of law and justice, he's the king 176 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,120 who brings justice, amazing truth. 177 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:06,240 Then the soldiers divided his clothes and he says fulfilling 178 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,720 prophecy 3 times. He says fulfilling prophecy 179 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:12,520 because he wants us to know the truth of this. 180 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,560 Jesus said. Then he provides for his mother 181 00:12:15,560 --> 00:12:19,760 a wonderful sweet time, because in those days if a wife had no 182 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,320 husbands, you had to rely on her eldest son. 183 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,800 And he's now leaving. And so he asked John, will you 184 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,880 care for my mother? Beautiful thought. 185 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,120 And Jesus said, I'm thirsty. Another fulfilling prophecy. 186 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,560 They gave him some sour wine, which he really didn't take, but 187 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:43,000 he probably moistened his mouth enough, because now he cries out 188 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:48,360 with the loudest of voice. It is finished and he gave up 189 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:53,560 his spirit voluntarily. John is remind us crucifixion 190 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:57,400 didn't kill Jesus. Jesus gave up his life. 191 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,080 See, because God had ordained it. 192 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,120 The shoulders didn't break his bones fulfilling prophecy. 193 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,960 They pierced his side fulfilling prophecy. 194 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,880 The blood and water came out proved that he was dead and it 195 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:16,280 likely symbolized the water baptism and the blood of 196 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,800 cleansing. And then he makes very sure that 197 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:26,960 we understand he had a very wonderful burial by his friends. 198 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,440 The bottom says the Apostles Creed symbolizes these key 199 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:37,440 points from John 19 by saying suffered under Pontius Pilate 200 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:47,120 was crucified, dead and buried. Now why is that important? 201 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,600 Pontius Pilate is probably the most famous non believer in the 202 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,280 Christian world. And why is that? 203 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,080 Because thousands of churches every week just like we did 204 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:07,040 mention his name and it has been mentioned for 2000 years. 205 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:13,200 Why is that the only other name that's mentioned in the Apostles 206 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:18,640 Creed aside from Jesus? Why did God want Pontius Pilate 207 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:24,080 to be this well known? And John tells us because he's 208 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,040 the only one that gives this conversation. 209 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,560 It is a prat. It is a profound conversation 210 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:35,360 that Jesus has that summarizes really the Old and the New 211 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,080 Testament. The whole picture of the Bible 212 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:42,200 is summarized in this conversation. 2 kingdoms are in 213 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,240 conflict here. The Kingdom of the world? 214 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,800 That's wrong. The Kingdom of heaven, that's 215 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,640 Jesus. And these two kingdoms were 216 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:58,320 coming together in conflict. You can't read this story 217 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:02,720 without the sheer seeing, the sheer majesty of Jesus and the 218 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,640 way he handles this conversation. 219 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,120 He has No Fear. He's not intimidated. 220 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:16,640 In fact, he treats Pilate with respect and honor and that's led 221 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,840 to Pilot to start having some fear in his life and he declares 222 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,000 3 different times this man is innocent. 223 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:28,920 This man has there's no guilt in this man, and yet he failed his 224 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:35,600 own system of laws because Roman law was you didn't execute 225 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:42,880 someone whom you had declared as innocent, but he became a how 226 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,840 coward and he let the Jews have their way. 227 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:51,880 Now let's look at these questions that Pilate has five 228 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:55,200 of them. Two of them are pretty much the 229 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,800 same. But he first of all asked what 230 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:02,360 accusation do you bring against this man and Jesus? 231 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:08,760 The Jews had said Jesus was said that he was king of he was king, 232 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,040 he was Messiah. He told them they asked him 233 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,520 specifically the high priest, are you the Messiah? 234 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,840 And he said yes, I am, which meant he was king. 235 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,200 And then later they said he made himself out to be the Son of God 236 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,600 and they consider that blasphemy. 237 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,800 What is John saying here to us? That this accusation is actually 238 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:38,760 Jesus is clearly being crucified for being God, the Son of God. 239 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,200 And John wants us to see that with great clarity. 240 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:47,320 Second question pilot asks is, are you the king of the Jews? 241 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,640 But Jesus turns the question on the pilot. 242 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,320 He's in control. And he says, are you saying this 243 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:00,600 for yourself or just because others told you this? 244 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,240 Now, do you actually see where Jesus is actually being 245 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:10,720 evangelistic right here? He's actually sharing the gospel 246 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:13,319 with Pilate. Because you see, it's an 247 00:17:13,319 --> 00:17:16,480 important distinction for two reasons. 248 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:20,800 If he answers it from the Jewish side, he would have to answer 249 00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:25,040 yes, all right, which meant he would be stoned. 250 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:31,160 But if he answers it from Pilot's side, from Rome as a 251 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:36,520 king challenging the Rome's authority, his answer is no, all 252 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:41,280 right. But Pilot comes back and answers 253 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:45,120 after he tries to release him. He says, what have you done? 254 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:47,960 For the Jews have turned you over to me? 255 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:53,160 And Jesus said here he gives, I would say the picture of the 256 00:17:53,160 --> 00:18:02,640 entire Scripture, and here it is, He says my Kingdom, meaning 257 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:07,560 there is a Kingdom, is not of this world twice. 258 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:12,040 It's not of this world. In other words, what God came to 259 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:17,600 establish in Genesis, which ends in Revelation, is a Kingdom that 260 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:24,280 will rule over everything. He says for this purpose I was 261 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:29,120 born. I was born to be the king of the 262 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:33,160 world. Secondly, he says, and I was 263 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:39,400 born for the purpose of bearing witness to the truth. 264 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:46,440 That's why I'm here. And he says everyone who hears 265 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,600 my voice of the truth listens to my voice. 266 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,920 And again, Jesus is actually offering Pilate another 267 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:03,120 opportunity as if he is saying, Pilate, do you hear me? 268 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:10,520 Pilate didn't listen. He rejects it, didn't even stay 269 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:14,040 around for an answer. But he knows he still can't 270 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,760 condemn Jesus for saying that he's witnessing to the truth. 271 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:21,280 But now John, answer, I think, is the true question for all of 272 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,200 us. What is truth? 273 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:29,600 What is truth? Pilate didn't believe there was 274 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,920 an answer for him. Truth was only whatever Rome 275 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:37,160 said. It was the world. 276 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,680 But Pilate again says he sees no guilt. 277 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:48,040 Twice he tries to release him. So he tries to scourge him in 278 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,560 order to say, look, I punished him, so let's let him go. 279 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:55,160 No, it fails. And then he goes back in and he 280 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:59,400 asked one last question, Where are you from? 281 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,080 And how do I understand all of this in essence? 282 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,720 And it says Jesus was silent. Why was he silent? 283 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:11,200 Because he'd already answered the question. 284 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,240 He'd already said, I'm not of this world. 285 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:24,960 My Kingdom is not of this world. But pilot resorts to power and 286 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:31,000 he says, do you not know that I have authority to release you or 287 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:35,880 crucify you Jesus very, very calmly. 288 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:42,400 This Pilot, you have no authority over me at all unless 289 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:48,520 God above gives it to you, and therefore he who delivered me 290 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:52,040 over to you, which was the Jewish leaders, has a greater 291 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,080 sin. Pilot continued to try to lease 292 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,720 him, but in fact, with all his power, there was nothing he 293 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,200 could do about it. You know why? 294 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,920 Because it was God's authority that prevailed. 295 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:11,880 You see, it was God's plan for Jesus to die by crucifixion. 296 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:16,480 Peter echoes that in his sermon at Pentecost. 297 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:23,200 So what is John trying to bring to our attention again? 298 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:28,320 He says, I want you to believe Jesus is the Son of God, the 299 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:33,920 Messiah King, that he has a clear purpose to reveal truth, 300 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,640 that those who listen to him are real of the true followers of 301 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:43,400 his truth. God alone has authority to do 302 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,160 all of this. That's being done. 303 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:53,600 And so therefore the crucifixion has been tremendous import 304 00:21:54,960 --> 00:22:00,880 because of why it's being done. It's being done because of who 305 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:07,280 Jesus is. And then his resurrection proves 306 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,920 it all true, and then we find out what it accomplished. 307 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,200 Now, what does this mean for you and I? 308 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,120 I think John encourages us to ask three questions. 309 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:28,120 First, is there a source, a final source of truth? 310 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:33,040 Is there an absolute truth that we can live by? 311 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:38,680 Or do I live by many truths, the truths of the world? 312 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:46,200 When someone says something ridiculous like, well, hey man, 313 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,280 the way is at work is you've got to work yourself up the ladder 314 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:51,920 and get up to the top and make as much money as you can. 315 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:56,760 That's not the whole truth, is it? 316 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:03,080 Because that's not so easy and because most people don't make 317 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:07,720 it to the top of the ladder. And those who do often find it's 318 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,880 leaning against the wrong wall. It didn't take them where they 319 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,960 wanted it to go because they were following the truth of the 320 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:21,160 world. See, when someone says, while 321 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:24,160 you have your truth and I have my truth, have you ever heard 322 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:25,840 that? Ever heard that? 323 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:31,120 You know, what this does is it shows a very low level of their 324 00:23:31,120 --> 00:23:37,400 discernment about truth, because for them, truth is staying in 325 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:42,440 the shallow end of life. Because unless you're willing to 326 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:47,480 move in to the deep, strong truths of this world, if there 327 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:51,200 isn't a higher truth, absolute truth above us that governs 328 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,960 everything we think and do, then the world's ideas will always be 329 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,760 attractive. But they're not truth there. 330 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:03,000 And frankly, they're just opinions because they're not 331 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,920 based on anything that will stay. 332 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:14,040 Why is it in our courtrooms they demand that we get clarity of 333 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,880 truth? What do they say? 334 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,800 Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth? 335 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,200 And then they decided we need to add the whole truth. 336 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,880 And then they decided we need to add and nothing but the truth 337 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:31,640 don't add to it. Why? 338 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:35,560 Because they're trying to establish clearly what is truth. 339 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:42,000 And most people, we'll just stay in the shallow end of life and 340 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,840 not pursue that. Unless you can say with 341 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:51,720 conviction and facts that what you believe is true, you're only 342 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:58,760 stating a position, a opinion. I discovered that truth one fall 343 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:03,040 my freshman year at the University of Texas, which 344 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,720 you've all heard me say, that wonderful spiritual hotbed. 345 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:13,840 But it was for me, a man set across in a crowded cafeteria 346 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:20,040 and gave me the gospel. I had heard every part of it, 347 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:28,400 but that day I heard the voice of Jesus and it became truth for 348 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:34,520 me and my life changed. It's never been the same since 349 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,000 so much so even my friend said What's happened to you? 350 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:44,720 As you see, there is an absolute truth that we stand on. 351 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,960 Second question is, can truth be right in one circumstance and 352 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,320 not in another? Many people say, well truth is 353 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,960 relative. That can be true here, but it's 354 00:25:55,960 --> 00:26:02,840 not necessarily true over here. Jesus says I am the truth 355 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:08,560 doesn't say a truth. He says he's the same yesterday, 356 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,880 today and forever. Truth doesn't change. 357 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:18,840 And Jesus said I came to bear witness to the truth and his 358 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:23,400 life and his words proved that He is that source of truth. 359 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:29,320 As he said, my words are truth. See, truth doesn't resist being 360 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:33,200 open to discussion. The more you examine it, the 361 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:39,280 clearer it becomes there's no relativity to the truth of God. 362 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:44,720 It fits all circumstances, it can be discussed and questioned, 363 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:49,000 and yet it remains true. And the reason is the stability 364 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,520 of its source, which doesn't change. 365 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:01,120 He even promises, I will send you the spirit of truth through 366 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:04,480 the power of the Holy Spirit, who will guide you into all the 367 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:10,160 truth that you need for life. Even the Pagan philosophers, 368 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:17,080 Socrates and Plato, his student who wrote 300 years before 369 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:22,680 Christ, they probably wrote more and spoke more about truth than 370 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,560 just about anybody else. And every class on philosophy 371 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:28,760 stutters, studies them still today. 372 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:35,560 But they made this statement. Truth is eternal and it's 373 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,920 unchanging. Isn't that interesting? 374 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:42,040 They knew it, they saw the purity of it. 375 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:45,520 And they went on to say truth is for freedom. 376 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:49,720 Living without truth is not truth life. 377 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:56,400 It's living death, they said. And they were echoing Jesus as 378 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:00,200 words that would come later. Who said you will know the truth 379 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:10,600 and the truth will set you free. When well over a decade ago my 380 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:16,120 wife died and I was trying to think my way through to 381 00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:22,720 understand what had happened to me and in reading scripture 382 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:30,360 other people who would explain it, I was led to answer 3 383 00:28:30,360 --> 00:28:36,120 questions. God said, Pete, am I sovereign? 384 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:42,000 Am I in control of all things regardless of what happens to 385 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,520 you, am I in control of all things? 386 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,480 Yes Lord, you are. You can change anything. 387 00:28:50,680 --> 00:29:01,960 Secondly, am I good? That was harder to answer yes, 388 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:08,000 for the scripture does say you are good and he said you have to 389 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:14,080 answer this question, will you trust me with what you don't 390 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:27,120 understand because God is worth trusting because he's true, it's 391 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,920 true. So the last question I would ask 392 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:40,360 you how has God changed God's truth changed you as God as 393 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:42,720 Jesus? Truth changed your loneliness 394 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:50,840 into contentment. Has his truth changed your worry 395 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:54,320 into peace? It can. 396 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,240 Has he changed bad habits into freedom? 397 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:07,360 It can. Has it changed your shyness into 398 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:11,880 boldness for Christ? It can. 399 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,440 Has it changed your uncertainties and giving you 400 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,800 wisdom? Oh definitely it can. 401 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:29,160 Promised to do so. Has it changed your distrust and 402 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:33,080 to love and acceptance? It does. 403 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:39,800 How does truth do this? I like we see three things here 404 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:43,560 that John's pointing out to us. First of all, truth that Jesus 405 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:48,840 brings is confident. It brings us confidence. 406 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:52,120 It doesn't waver, it doesn't change. 407 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,000 You can stand on it and it's going to always be true. 408 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:01,480 But secondly, that confidence and that truth encourages trust, 409 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:09,680 which means you can lean on him and not your own understanding 410 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:14,160 and whatever it is you're facing that you don't understand, you 411 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:18,920 can trust him because he's worthy of trust. 412 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:27,040 And last of all, truth demands action, so you only really 413 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:31,160 believe what acts. What act activates you. 414 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,680 Truth leads you to make decisions and to act. 415 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:43,360 Let me make one last statement about Doctor Papadaros. 416 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:48,960 He said he discovered that light brings truth. 417 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:59,960 So each day ask the Holy Spirit to bring light into your life 418 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:09,440 that gives you truth, so that whatever you face, you can face 419 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:13,960 it with confidence. And then take that same truth 420 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:19,520 and shine it in the light of other people. 421 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:29,520 Let me pray, Lord, make us confident to trust You, the 422 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:37,920 truth that we find in your wonderful life, giving words, 423 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:43,440 and help us to shine that light of the truth that we've learned 424 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:49,080 with those with whom we live, with whom we work, with whom we 425 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:56,200 play, that we might fulfill Your purpose bearing truth to this 426 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,000 world. Amen.