FBCWest 439 | Jesus Tried before Pilate the First Time
Recorded On: 02/21/2021
Bulletin
FBCWest
February 21, 2021
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”
Praise and Worship
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 98:4 - 6
“This is Amazing Grace”
“Your Promises”
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“The Earthly Life and Ministry of Jesus the Messiah”
“Jesus Tried before Pilate the First Time”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“God with Us”
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
“Love Lifted Me”
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate
Continued Praise and Worship
“Glorious Day (Passion)”
“No One Higher”
Benediction “Egypt”
Acknowledgements and Announcements
Sermon Notes
John 18:28 – 32 Jesus taken to Pilate to be condemned to death
John 18:33 -37 Pilate interrogates Jesus and Jesus’ response
John 18:38 Pilate finds Jesus innocent
John 18:39 Pilate tries to release Jesus
John 18:40 The crowd wants Barabbas released instead
John 19:1 - 5 Jesus scourged and mocked, but declared having no guilt
Luke 23:4 – 7 Pilate seeks a way out by sending Jesus to Herod
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
The.
Series on the earthly life and Ministry of Jesus, I've said was an imperfect.
Chronology above his life Administry an in the next few messages that will be even more self. So because there are differences of opinions on how the events over these next few hours takes place. Part of the problem is that the Gospels.
What kind of like a collapsed version? Some will talk about certain things that are important to their telling the story so that it might bring us to faith another see other important aspects that might see more important to get us to faith. So each of them touches on some of the same things, and some of them touch on different things and so it makes it a little more difficult to have a precise chronology of what happens now. It's going to be no surprise to you. I usually hold the difference.
Of opinion from others, and so one of those differences of opinion is that most are going to believe that Jesus was Kurds or flog earlier in these situations, and I think its later. And the reason I think it's later is my view of a pilot and how I see that he does not want to do what he's called upon to do and he gets increasingly desperate and so he thinks OK, if I do this.
This will satisfy the crowd and it seems not to, and so I don't think he gets to that point as early as some of the other people who say that it happens earlier, and so it's.
My view it doesn't necessarily have to be the scriptural view or the correct view, but I want you to know so that when you're reading it, you can come to your own conclusion at the order of it.
As we took a look at last time.
Jesus had been tried before the sand hedron in an illegal trial. It was happened. It happened at night. They didn't proceed.
Properly, they kept trying to have false witnesses testify they couldn't come to any consistent story, and so Jesus basically had to come to their rescue and say that he was the son of God and they said he blasphemed. Again. There wasn't concerned about the truth because if he is the son of God, he did blasting and so they condemn him.
And so from that point we look at John Chapter 18 starting with verse 28, we're going to pick up that.
Then they let Jesus from Caiaphas into the pretorium, and it was early, and they themselves are not enter into the pretorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. I want to stop there. Now, when Jesus had talked about how the religious leaders and the Pharisees and scribes had strained at a gnat, but yet swallowed a camel to me, this is a perfect example of that for you. See, they care about where they.
R, but they don't care about what they're doing.
They are concerned that they might be defiled because they are in a place of a.
A person who is in Jewish and so therefore they consider that they might be.
Unclean, and yet what they're about to do?
Seems to have no concerns to them and so I wanted this out there because that's something that we can learn as well, because there's oftentimes we seem to be more concerned about our location than our activity.
And so I want to kind of flush that out a little bit by saying.
Remember my analogy of chocolate an broccoli. Now, for some of you who haven't heard or whatever, I'll quickly say rather than using particular sins. If I use particular sins, then you're either thinking I'm talking about myself or I'm talking about you. And so by using chocolate and broccoli, I can be generic.
An I can accept one types of Sinan, reject the other type of sin an and talk about soul.
That being as it is.
As I say, I love chocolate.
Broccoli not even not so much. Not at all.
So I want you to think back in the good old days.
2019
Remember the good old days at 2019 when you could go to a restaurant and you could go eat indoors and you even even could go to a buffet and there was this place where you could buy and you could get salad like a capture you'd pick up and pick the lettuce and all the other things that you might want to go now. I never worried about going through that place 'cause they had broccoli.
And so when I get my my lettuce in a couple of different types of lettuce, I usually pass a lot of other stuff that people love. Anna, get some cheese and whatever, and there'd be rock Leanne. I would even pay attention to it.
Unfortunately, at this place that you would so because you're supposed to be eating healthy, they didn't have chocolate and they had some muffins, maybe, but but, you know, but I could you know, if you don't go to the muffin party you could be OK, but I could avoid the temptation because broccoli was in my thing.
All times were so concerned about where we are there we're not so concerned about what we're doing now. There are certain places.
For instance, in my case, if I went to a chocolate store, there would be great concern about me being in that location, because in that location it would render me with temptations.
And So what I want you to see is oftentimes we're so concerned about location.
But not activity.
And here these religious leaders and we religious people can be very more more concerned about. Oh, that you know, we tap our foot at a wrong song or something, or we go to the movies or we play cards or whatever it is that that.
People think that's evil or terrible that we shouldn't do, and we're all concerned about those locations rather than the activities. And so I want you to think that in this instance.
Here they've come.
To prosecute an have put to death.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Now we're going to see briefly in in another gospel, in a few moments that not only did they bring him to him, because will say here. Therefore, by that went out to them, because they wouldn't come inside. So they went out to them and said, what accusations you bring against this man?
And they answered and said to him, if this man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him to you.
So their response is just accept that he's a bad guy, 'cause we're telling you he's a bad guy.
Now, in the other gospel, they're going to say that he did all sorts of things like claimed that he was a King, and that he didn't want them to pay taxes and all those types of things which again notice their location was was of concern, but their activity accusing Jesus, for instance, of not telling people to pay taxes when Jesus specifically said whose image is this?
So not only did they not try him on those accounts and find a conviction for insurrection, they then accuse him later.
So they bear false witness.
So even if Jesus isn't the son of God and he is, they are violating the scriptures.
Because they're bearing false witness.
So I said, you know, if he wasn't evil door Winner brought it to you.
First 31 so Pilate said to them, take him yourself, and judge him according to your law.
Farkas
if you think he's evil doer then you go handle it.
I don't want to be involved and it's going to be interesting throughout this whole.
Ordeal.
Pilot is a reluctant participant.
He keeps saying you deal with it.
And the Jews said to him, we are not permitted to put anyone to death. Now they're saying number one, we're not now under their law. They would stone him, but they're not allowed to do that, because Rome is now in charge. And if he wants a death penalty, they have to be the ones that say so. And Rome executes people by the cross.
And Jesus has already said that's the manner of his death.
And so it says.
And we are not permitted to put anyone to death to fulfill the word of Jesus, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he was about to die.
And so they're saying where our hands are tide. We want this guy dead.
You need to do it.
Therefore Pilate entered again into the Pretorium and summon Jesus, and said to him, are you the King of the Jews?
Straightforward question.
You, the King of the Jews and Jesus answered, are you saying this on your own initiative? Or did others tell you about me? So Jesus wants to cut right to the chase? Is he asking this question because God is revealing it to him as he discovered this on his own? Or is he just repeating what other people have said?
If it's God revealing it to him, then he's coming to know the truth. If it's others, he's just parroting what they're saying.
And Pilate answered, I am not a Jew, am I? So he's offended by the fact that he's even worried about who the King is goes.
I'm the governor of this region, appointed by Caesar, and that's who my allegiance is. I'm not a Jew, so who you are doesn't concern me.
Your own nation and the Chief priest delivered you to me.
What have you done?
So obviously at this point Pilate hasn't accepted their accusations.
So he wants to hear from Jesus.
What it is he's been accused of. It's kind of like going to court, and we're used to the Fifth Amendment that you're allowed to remain silent. It's kind of like the courts telling you, OK, we're not going to ask the prosecution to convict you. We want you to convict you. Talk to us.
And Jesus answered.
My Kingdom is not of this world.
If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews.
Now this not only is accurate in the sense of that's true, but it is accurate sense of Peter. Just tried to defend Jesus from being taken.
And Jesus himself said not only would his disciples fight for him, did 12 legions of Angels would come and rescue him. So Jesus saying, if if it were my purpose to be here to establish a Kingdom here on Earth, then my disciples would protect me. My cycles would fight for me.
But as it is.
My Kingdom is not of this realm.
Jesus, and I'm not a threat to Rome.
'cause?
I actually don't care about your Kingdom.
'cause your Kingdom going to rise your Kingdom is going to fall in another Kingdom is going to take its place.
And after that Kingdom takes his place, another Kingdom will take its place. Now for that another Kingdom will take its place, and they'll be lots of wars and rumors of wars. And that's just the way man is. She says, my Kings not of this room. I'm dealing with the hearts and minds of people. I'm dealing with eternity.
My Kingdom will never end.
Therefore, Pilate said to him, so you are King, you may not be in this realm, but but you are saying, you are a King, so.
Partially what they're saying is true. You plan to be a King, and Jesus answered. You say correctly that I am a King.
Jesus doesn't mince words. Yep, you're right. I am a King for this. I have been born and for this I have come into the world to testify to the truth.
Jesus, my whole point of being here.
It was stab Lish this new Kingdom.
My whole point is to testify concerning the truth.
No.
His response.
Do what Jesus says next is interesting.
Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.
Jesus, if you're of the truth.
And we're going to talk about that shortly. If you're of the truth and you hear my voice.
Pilot.
Said to him.
What is truth?
Now Pilot would fit very well in 21st century.
World, especially in America, because in our world today people will say, well, truth is only what the most powerful say it is.
They get to write the history they get. This have the newspaper. They get to do whatever they say it is and the powerful determine what the truth is.
There are other parts of our society. The more vast parts that say the truth is relative. What's true for you may not be true for me.
The truth is this somehow's subjective aspect of of what?
Life is.
And it's sad that pretty much our culture lives in that kind of sense of.
Well what's true for you is not true for me.
You you may need religion, you may need this God thing and it may be true for you, but it's not true for me.
Which is interesting, because notice that they take the words and change them.
Because truth is truth. It's either correct, accurate.
Of events or it's not?
It's not subjective.
And yet in our culture we want to make it subjective, which makes it easy, because then.
If I tell you a lie.
Well.
You just misunderstood. You see 'cause that's truth. For me, it may be a lie, do you? But.
That's objective for me. It's the truth.
And so Pilate says, what is truth? And instead of asking the more important question.
What do you mean?
Those who hear you.
Well, the truth.
Getting down to these, but that's kind of dinner. What are our culture? Starts arguing over things that are irrelevant?
Then the true meaning of things.
And so I want us to go back to Jesus's teaching to talk about truth.
And so Jesus.
In John 8 verses 31 and 32 says this.
And so Jesus was saying, to those Jews who had believed in him, so he's against talking about those who have come to faith in saying that, I believe that you are the Son of God, that you have come from the father.
If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine. Now notice Jesus and then accept. OK, well, if you're a flash in the pan or you believe now, but you don't believe there's this continuation in his work. If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine. An you will know the truth.
You won't know a truth.
You won't know subjective truth. You will know the truth.
And that truth will set you free.
Now.
The truth is not some set of principles that says, well, 2 + 2 is 4 and so therefore that's true and a + 8 is 16. And that's true an the sun is 93 million miles, plus or minus. And that's true. It isn't a bunch of facts that Jesus is talking about. He says that you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. And what is it there enslaved to their enslaved to their sin?
And God is come to set them free from their sins.
And then he continues on and talk. Teaches his disciples.
Anne in John chapter.
14 verse six it says this.
And Jesus.
Answered him, and this is in the context of their Jesus telling them these, that he's going to go away that he's going to die, and those are things in there. They are confused and in response to that, because they say we don't know the way Jesus said to them. I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the father but through me.
You see, Jesus isn't just a truth. Jesus is the truth.
You want to know God, then you know Jesus. You want to know what he has planned for you. Then you know Jesus. You want to know what is purpose in life. Then you know Jesus. Jesus is the truth.
Now there's a whole lot of people want to give you opinions and tell you that that's truth, so I'll give you an example.
Scientists in notice. I say scientists, I don't say science can. Science doesn't say anything. Scientists are the ones who tell us things. Scientists will tell us.
That the earth was formed by a couple of objects colliding together, an forming into the, and somehow the moon, either in another collision, formed off and then other meteors came and gave some like goals and all the kinds of precious minerals. And then all these other comments came and deposit of water on the Earth. And all these things. And that's how after billions of years the Earth was formed.
Sounds preposterous to me.
How does water come from that many comments?
On a hot burning surface.
So Jesus says.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
I believe him. Why do I believe him 'cause he was there? No scientist was there when these things blew up in an came together. So there is supposition.
They think based on what evidence they have accounted for and discounted, they say this is how it happened, because they are so intent on discounting a God.
Now you can believe that the Earth was formed.
By God but a different God.
You still be wrong.
So you might be right in the sense of no, it it didn't happen by natural causes. It happened by a Supreme being.
But the Supreme being is the God of the scriptures.
And I would rather believe a God who was there.
Then a scientist.
Who will say, well, we believe this is the way it happened until another evidence comes together and then they say something's changed, giving example. Now they're talking about maybe life on Pluto.
Flower Garden demoted to a dwarf planet. Not even a planet. They started discounting him, and now they're all excited because there might be life there.
Few years ago they didn't like Pluto. Now everybody enjoys it. So again, I believe the person who was there and that's Jesus. And when I do then I know the truth. I know the fact of who created me, what my destiny is, and how much he loves me.
I will know the truth and the truth will set me free and he is the way he is, not a way. He's the only way he is the truth. He is the one that all facts all reality comes down to.
Anhe
is the life.
Now, wouldn't that have been a much greater conversation?
For pilot they have.
Tell me what do you mean by truth?
Instead of just, well, what is true?
And again.
I'm saying this because so often we just discount things.
Maybe we ought to take what Jesus says seriously, consider it, ask questions. Have him answer as opposed to I dismiss it because it's relative or whoever has the most power wins. Well, let me guess what in that instance, Jesus does have the most power, so he wins.
So.
We're going to jump now to Luke.
Chapter 23
well before it will jump quickly back to John Chapter 18, verse 38 B.
After this short conversation with Jesus, Jesus stating that he is the King and that his Kingdom is not of this realm.
Pilot determines is not guilty.
What they have said to him, he finds no guilt in this man. So why do they want to put him to death?
And so we're going to take a look now at Luke chapter 23 verse, for instance. But I'm going to jump to verse one because.
It tells us a little more and then it'll bring us up to date. Then the whole body of them got up and brought him before Pilate and they began to accuse him, saying we found this mammoth leaving our nation and forgetting to pay taxes to Caesar again. As I mentioned before a lie and saying that he himself is Christ aching, yes.
Not a lie accurate the truth.
But you see, they are so blinded.
By their own interests.
They don't care, so Pilate asked him, saying, are you the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, it is as you say.
Then Pilate said, the chief priests in the crowds, I find no guilt in this man. But he kept on insisting. But they kept on insisting, saying he stirs up the people teaching all over Judea, starting with Galley, even as far as this place. So they're saying he's are insurrectionist. He wants to just cause an interaction, and, you know, as Governor, Caesar is not going to be happy with that. So you need to put him down because you're going to find yourself in a lot of trouble with Caesar if you don't can see, just.
Causing problems all over the place now in their zeal to get Pilate to condemn Jesus.
They make a fatal mistake.
Lisa delay mistake.
'cause he say all over you. Judy is starting with Galilee.
Pilot Riser is reluctant participant. He doesn't want to be involved. He just now found a reason to stop the proceedings.
And when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
Haha.
Maybe not from Jerusalem.
Maybe from Galilee, and when he learned that he belonged to Herriage jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also in Jerusalem at that time, so he's gone. Wait a minute, I don't have jurisdiction here.
He's a citizen of Galilee. Herod has been given that authority. Go see him and it's not gonna be inconvenient 'cause you're not going to have to go back to Galilee. He happens to be here now.
Go take him so Pilot thinks he has solved his problem.
And a lot of us.
Thank.
If we stop thinking about who Jesus is.
We solve our problem.
We don't have Herman, whether he is the son of God.
Well, there is a King of King or Lord of Lords.
We just well.
That's not part of my.
Plans.
I'm planning to be X.
Planning to have his awesome karere.
Get married and have 2.5 children live in this large house so will be the envy of everything and that's my jurisdiction and that's all I care about. Not who this Jesus is and what he requires of me.
So it's interesting.
That as we read these trials, that Jesus is going to go through in next time, we're going to take a look at Herod's trial.
Anne.
The second trial by pilot.
That oftentimes we get this idea. Well, the facts are Jesus was here just there. Just here. Jesus there wrongfully accused, wrongfully convicted. However, it was God's plan. So what are you going to do etc etc.
And yet
even in these situations.
We can see where either we are involved. Our culture is involved or traps that we need to avoid.
So yes.
Jesus is no longer teaching verbally per say.
But he's showing who the world is.
And the amazing thing is.
He never rebukes those.
But love them.
And if we could learn anything from Jesus.
We ought to learn that.
Is that we will hear people say, well, that's not fair.
Anne will respond who said life was fair?
Until it happens to us and then we say that's not fair.
And then somebody will quote us.
Who said life was fair?
Well, anybody who's ever was treated unfairly. It was Jesus.
He is who he said he is.
He didn't do the things that they claimed he did.
And yet, rather than saying it's not fair.
He submitted to the will of God.
Because he loves you and he loves me and because he loves the father. He was obedient, even to the point of death.
As they're trying him.
As they will later beat him and mock him, an ridicule him.
And later even crucify him.
The truth is still the same as it was.
When he was born in Bethlehem.
Immanuel.
God with us.
And he has taught us.
That we, his slaves, his disciples.
Are not superior to him.
And if they treated him that way, what makes us think we will be treated any differently?
But instead of spending all of our energy saying that's not fair.
We should follow the example of Jesus and either remain silent.
And in our silence, love them.
But I love that only God can give.
Because the truth we have seen and we have known and we have been apart of and he is us, because he dwells in us. God is not only with us, God is with us.
Even in the times it seemed the most bleak.
We can see who others are.
And we can see who he is and we can determine what we ought to do.
And all God's people said.