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[0:00] On chapter 18 this morning. So we read earlier about the resurrection of Jesus.

[0:11] the empty tomb. You and I both know that a lot happened before that.! Defined by the passion.

[0:32] By the passion of Jesus we mean. All that is entailed. In Jesus going to the cross. And suffering and dying. And being buried and then being raised again.

[0:42] That kind of encompasses the passion. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 18. I want to read the text that we'll be dealing with.

[0:53] You'll see here the title of my sermon. Is the King of all truth. Will begin in John 18 verse 28. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas.

[1:05] Into the praetorium. And it was early. And they themselves. Did not enter into the praetorium. So that they would not be defiled.

[1:16] But might eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate went out to them. And said what accusation. Do you bring against this man? Well they answered and said to him.

[1:27] If this man were not an evildoer. We would not have delivered him to you. So Pilate said to them. Well take him yourselves then. And judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him.

[1:39] 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.

[1:50] Therefore Pilate entered again. Into the praetorium. And summoned Jesus. And said to him. Are you the King of the Jews? Well Jesus answered.

[2:02] Are you saying this on your own initiative? Or did others tell you about me? Pilate answered. I am not a Jew. Am I? Your own nation. And the chief priest delivered you to me.

[2:13] What have you done? Jesus answered. My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world. Then my servants would be fighting.

[2:24] So that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is. My kingdom is not of this realm. Therefore Pilate said to him. So you are a king. Jesus answered.

[2:35] You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born. And for this I have come into the world. To testify to the truth. Everyone. Who is of the truth.

[2:47] Hears my voice. Pilate said to him. What. Is. Truth. I am sure he said it very cynically. Well this is quite an ordeal.

[3:00] That Jesus has been going through. With the Jews. And now to Pilate. He will go back to the Jews. He will come back to Pilate. Eventually we know that Jesus will end up. On the cross.

[3:12] There is a lot of things that are going on. In this text. That have to do. And this is the thing that we want to remember. That have to do with authority. Who. Is in.

[3:22] Authority. Who. Is controlling. Whom. Who. Is in charge. Of these events. Transpiring. The way. That they are.

[3:33] If you were to ask the Jews. They tell you we are. We are even manipulating Pilate. To get him to do what we want him to do. If you were to ask Pilate. Pilate would say. I hate the Jews. I am in charge.

[3:44] These puppets are going to do what I tell them to do. Well Pilate asked Jesus. And Jesus told him. Who was in charge. But he didn't get it. Any more than the Jews did.

[3:58] So we want to think about that. As we look in. To this text. The king of all truth. Now friends listen. We celebrate. Many.

[4:08] Many important dates. And anniversaries. Which honor. Important events. In our. Our nation's history. We have all kinds of holidays.

[4:19] That we celebrate. For our nation. We know what those are. But we also have those. In our individual lives. Don't we? I mean. You have birthdays. You have anniversaries.

[4:30] You have different things. That you remember. You'll remember. When your children were born. Probably. As you get older. And grayer. The anniversary thing. Might slip a little bit.

[4:40] But Greg and I are here. To remind you. Aren't we Greg? Lest you forget. And we humiliate you. In front of everyone. We don't mean to do that. Now look. Some of these dates. We might say.

[4:52] Altered the course. Of our lives. We won't say that. About all of them. But some of them. Had a greater impact. On us. Than others. So that we were changed.

[5:02] Or so that those dates. Or that particular event. Maybe. Maybe set us on a new course. In our lives. Now as you think about that. Here's a rhetorical question.

[5:13] For you. To get your juices. Kind of flowing with this. What would you say. Has been the most important. Appointment. Of your life. To this moment.

[5:24] In your life. Let me explain. What I'm asking. This would be a moment. That you would say. Was the most. Life changing. Moment. In your life.

[5:36] To this. To this point. Just think about that. With me. What has been the most. Life changing. Thing. To ever occur. So that I'm really glad.

[5:47] I showed up. And that that happened to me. The way that it did. Because it changed the course. Of my entire life. Do you. Do you know. What answers.

[5:58] You might get. If you were to go out here. In Williamsburg. And stand. Somewhere. In a public place. And just ask random people. That question. Do you have any idea. The kinds of things.

[6:08] You would hear. Dude. I remember. My first time. I did LSD. Man. That was like. Wow. This is somebody. About my age. That would say something.

[6:18] Like that. I don't know. What you. What you'd hear. You'd hear all kinds. Of weird things. If you're a Christian. I hope. You would say.

[6:29] The day. That God. In his grace. Opened my eyes. To see my need. For the forgiveness. Of my sins. Against the holy God. And I embraced Jesus. With all my heart.

[6:40] By faith. Because God. Loved me. To himself. And it changed. My life forever. And gave me life. I just thought. I had a life. Before that. If you're a Christian. I hope that's your testimony.

[6:52] There are a lot. Of important dates. In my life. My marriage. To Suzanne. Now. 41 years. It did change. My life. To get married. To Suzanne. And I was saved. After I met her. In her church.

[7:02] Under the influence. Of her family. She bought me. My first. Bible. That. Stayed with me. Forever. Until I left it. Out in the rain. And it. I know. What a bonehead thing.

[7:13] So there are a lot of things like that. What I am talking about to you this morning. Is an appointment that Jesus had. Jesus had an appointment just like that in his life.

[7:25] The life of the king of kings. Jesus came from heaven. To keep this one appointment. As the most important of his life. So that.

[7:37] For the purpose of. His life being defined. But. By what he knew this moment would mean. For him. He was born to suffer. He was born to die.

[7:50] Jesus Christ was buried. And he was raised to new life. By the power of God. And he was born for all of that. If you are a Christian.

[8:02] Please know that Jesus is most important appointment. Two thousand years ago. Became. Your most important appointment. The moment God opened your eyes.

[8:14] To see that Jesus Christ was keeping that appointment. With suffering and death. And his burial and his resurrection. For you. Jesus had an appointment.

[8:26] With death. For you. He met death. For you. And he was raised to new life.

[8:41] For you. He died the death you deserve. And he was raised to new life. For the hope that you have. For that same life.

[8:52] By the power of the Holy Spirit. This is how we live. This is what defines us as human beings. As Christians. As people who believe. This morning.

[9:03] For the Lord. For the Lord. This morning. We are going to find. The King of all truth. On trial. For his very life. A life. That he is willingly. Laying down.

[9:14] But. His accusers. Are completely blind. To that fact. Even though. They have every evidence.

[9:24] To see that Jesus is not resisting them. They are blind. They are blind to the fact. That this man. Is willingly marching. To his death. In fact.

[9:35] He is so resolutely. Determined. That he die. In this manner. He won't even let them. And their manipulative ways.

[9:45] Thwart him. In his effort. So that he is the one. In charge. Of what is really going on. So that his father's will. Will be accomplished. That is how resolute he is.

[9:59] Jesus has. The most important appointment. In his life. And in yours. In mind. As he stands before Pilate. To give an account. Of who he is.

[10:11] And why he has done. What he has done. Now what we are going to do. Is we are going to follow. God's plan. For his son. In these events. By marking. Certain questions.

[10:21] In the passage. Those will be our time stamps. That kind of help us. Move through. This section of scripture. The first question. Sets the scene. For us. If you will look at it with me.

[10:33] Chapter 18. And we are looking. At verses 28 and 29. Then they led Jesus. From Caiaphas. Into the praetorium. And it was early. And they themselves.

[10:43] Did not enter into the praetorium. So that they wouldn't be defiled. But might eat the Passover. And here it comes. Therefore Pilate. Left the inside of the praetorium. Went out. To them in the courtyard.

[10:55] And said. What accusation. Do you bring. Against this man. And so. His civil trial. Before the Roman authorities. Began at.

[11:06] This moment. I am going to put this up here for you. This is the way. That we are going to begin. What accusation. Do you bring. Against. This man. What we are dealing with here.

[11:17] Are false. Accusers. So we have to ask and answer. Who are the they. Then they. We are jumping into the middle. Who are they. Then they. Led Jesus. From Caiaphas.

[11:29] Into the. Praetorium. And they. Themselves. Said these things. Who are they. They. They. Are the. Scheming. Jewish.

[11:39] Religious. Leadership. These are the men. Who sought to sabotage. And discredit. Jesus. His entire public ministry. Almost from the day.

[11:50] He began. Three years ago. These men. Were on the scene. Taking notes. And scheming. They are the men. Mark. Identified.

[12:01] In his gospel. As those. Plotting. And. Scheming. To murder. Jesus. At their first. Opportunity. They would have murdered him. Long ago. If they had found.

[12:12] Any opportunity. To do it. In a way. Where the crowd. Would not be mad at them. Because they feared. The mob. They feared. The crowds. I want to put this up here. So that you can see.

[12:24] More of what. Jesus himself. Said about this. The Pharisees. Went out. And immediately. Began. Conspiring. With the Herodians. Against Jesus.

[12:34] As to how. They might destroy him. That's Mark. Chapter 3. Verse 6. And Mark. Is commentating here. On the event. That took place. That caused these men. To look at Jesus.

[12:45] And say. Yeah. We got to take this guy out. At the first. Opportunity. The Herodians. And the Pharisees. And the scribes. Didn't play nice together. They hated each other.

[12:56] They were different. Political. Religious. Factions. Within the Jewish. Community. That went against each other. It's kind of like. What we're seeing. With the Republicans. And the Democrats. In our country today.

[13:07] They hated each other. Now. They're being brought together. In this plan. To murder Jesus. Because now. They have a common enemy. That they see. As a greater threat.

[13:18] So off to the races. They go. To get rid of Jesus. Jesus himself. Said this. They are blind. They are blind. Guides. Of the blind. And if a blind man.

[13:31] Guides a blind man. Both will fall into a pit. That's Jesus opinion of them. One of many. That he had in scripture. About these people. Now these folks.

[13:42] Hated. Jesus Christ. These religious leaders. Did not see him. As the coming Messiah. Anything but. They saw him. As a rabbi. Upstart.

[13:53] Getting in their way. And exposing them. In their hypocrisy. And they hated him. For it. I mean. This was a seething. Burning hatred. That caused them.

[14:04] To say. From the very beginning. We need. To take this guy. Out. First opportunity. Let's get rid of him. Now. Jesus.

[14:15] Had been arrested. At this particular juncture. In the middle. Of the night. By Pilate. Pilate's soldiers. These are Roman soldiers.

[14:25] Along with some. Guards. From the Jewish community. And they arrested Jesus. While he was praying. In the garden. Of Gethsemane. Most of us. Are familiar. With that story. But now. What that tells us.

[14:36] Is that as Pilate's. Soldiers. Showed up. It means that. The Jew. Jewish leaders. And Pilate. Had already been. Planning. And. Scheming. Together.

[14:47] So that Pilate. Understood. What was at stake. And he sent his. Soldiers. To do the Jews. Bidding. So we've got this. Conspiracy. This isn't. Paranoia. The Bible is exposing.

[14:58] A real conspiracy. Against Jesus here. So they go into the garden. To arrest Jesus. Jesus draws his sword. Calls his men into formation.

[15:08] And says. Attack. No. It couldn't be more. The opposite. What did he tell Peter? Put your sword away. This is.

[15:19] Why I came. This is just the start. Of why I came. And he took the guy's ear. Up off the ground. Malchus's ear. And put it back on him. And healed him.

[15:29] On the spot. Don't you think. That would have been enough. Right there. If you're a Roman soldier. To go. Yeah. I ain't doing this. No. No.

[15:41] In another account. Jesus spoke. To the entourage. Of soldiers. The Bible says. There could have been. Anywhere. From 50 to 200 of them. On the scene.

[15:51] At that moment. And when they came. And they asked. Where is this Jesus? Jesus said. I am he. What happened to the soldiers? They all fell back. Just the power.

[16:03] Of Jesus going out. I am he. I am. Don't even know. Who you're in the presence of. That kind of power. That's the testimony.

[16:13] Of the Bible. But these men. Don't recognize that. They don't see that. In any shape. So what did they do? They took Jesus. According to our text. And they set him before.

[16:24] The Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin. Is the highest Jewish court. With Caiaphas. The high priest. Of the court. At that time. Presiding over. The Jewish aspect. The religious.

[16:35] Part of the trial. That's. That's happened already. Now he's going to see. Pilate. Then he's going to go. Back to the Jews. Then the Jews. Are going to send them. Back to Pilate. Pilate's going to be. Finally the guy.

[16:46] Who stands before. All of them. After all of this. Has gone on now. For hours. And the wee hours. Of the night. The morning. And Pilate's going to. Finally stand forward. And wash his hands.

[16:56] And say. His blood. Is not on my hands. I can find. No guilt. In this man. However. Do with him. As you wish. And of course. We know what they do. But right now.

[17:07] It's not looking good. For the Jews. Because Pilate's. Just not having it. Now these events. That I'm describing. Are in John 18. 1 through 27. This is all going on.

[17:18] Prior to what we just read. So all of this. Is only a formality. So now. Now. These hypocritical. Religious phonies. March Jesus. To the one man.

[17:29] With the authority. To give them. The death penalty. For this blasphemous. Imposter. That dares. Call himself. The son. Of God. So high.

[17:41] And mighty. And holy. In their own eyes. These men. Didn't dare. Enter the place. The praetorium. Where Gentiles. Might pollute. Them. Religiously.

[17:51] They didn't want to become. Unclean. They wanted to be able. To observe the Passover. So let's stay away. From the Gentiles. And the lower.

[18:01] People. The irreligious. People. And let's. Keep ourselves. Removed. From them. Because after all. We want to take. The Passover. And you could just.

[18:13] See them dripping. With this. Self-righteousness. The Passover. Itself. Is mentioned here. It was a yearly.

[18:23] Jewish celebration. Of God's deliverance. Of the Hebrews. From enslavement. In Egypt. Hundreds of years ago. Most of us. Will be familiar. With that story. God sent an angel.

[18:36] To kill. All the firstborn. Across. Egypt. As judgment. On Pharaoh. For not following. God's commands. To let the Hebrew people.

[18:46] Go. Out of their enslavement. They've been in. For hundreds of years. You understand. The story. Was about Moses. Leading them out. Finally. It got so bad. That God said.

[18:57] I'm going to send. An avenging angel. To kill all the firstborn. If you don't let my people go. God kept. Good. On his promise.

[19:07] The only way. To cause that death angel. That avenging angel. To pass over. Your home. Was to slaughter. And sacrifice. An unblemished.

[19:18] Lamb. And then put the lamb's blood. On the doorpost. Of your front door. As a what? A sign or symbol. Of your faith in. Your obedience to God.

[19:29] So. The blood of this lamb. Wasn't magical. The blood of this lamb. Represented. To. The death angel. That these were a believing people.

[19:40] They are hiding behind this blood. In obedience to God's command. This would be the sign and symbol. Of the spilling of Christ's blood. Once for all the sacrifice.

[19:52] So that we would never have to do sacrifices again. Because he sealed our redemption. By his blood. Once and for all. Forever. So this is the sign and seal.

[20:05] Of that time. And it's a symbol of faith. It's a symbol of God. Working in the heart. Of people. And so these people. Are hiding behind. This blood. As a way of keeping them.

[20:17] In faith. So now. Back to Jesus. He's standing before Pilate. It's just before 6 a.m. Somewhere between 3 a.m. And 6 a.m.

[20:28] It said it's early. In about nine hours. Or so from now. Jesus will be dead. On the cross. At the same hour.

[20:38] When Jewish households. Across Jerusalem. Will be sacrificing. Thousands of these. Unblemished Passover lambs. To commemorate God. Passing over.

[20:50] Their ancestors. By the blood of that lamb. Do you see the. Parallel here. Jesus. The lamb of God. Suffering and dying on the cross. Right at the time.

[21:00] These lambs are being. Slaughtered. For. What happened in ancient history. And so Jesus. Is inaugurating. What we will come to know. As the new covenant. In his blood.

[21:12] This is the beauty. Of what God is putting together here. And Jesus is standing. Before Pilate. With all of that. Resting on his shoulders. Pilate has no idea.

[21:22] Even the Jews. We are going to celebrate. The Passover. When. Who are they looking at. Standing right in front of them. Spiritual blindness.

[21:40] Is a very powerful. And poisonous force. Of evil. At work in the human heart. And these men. Are spiritually blind.

[21:50] To who Jesus is. With their murderous hearts. Seething with. Hatred for Jesus. They cannot see. With the eyes of faith. That God's precious.

[22:01] Sacrificial lamb. Is standing right before them. They're missing the whole point. Of the Passover. And that is the spiritual blindness.

[22:12] Beloved. That we have to fight. And apart from the power. Of the Holy Spirit. We will remain. Blind. To the reality.

[22:23] The greater reality. Of our need for Christ. Who he is. And why he came. And this is why you're sitting here. This morning. Hearing this particular message.

[22:34] About the king of all truth. Because I want to impress on you. From scripture. The danger of spiritual blindness. Against seeing Jesus.

[22:44] For who he really is. And why he came. And what he's done for you. Because if you miss Jesus. You miss life. Life. Not religion.

[22:56] Life. We wouldn't wish that. On our worst enemy. I wouldn't wish hell. On my worst enemy. I don't want to have enemies.

[23:07] But I do have people. Who don't like me. For one reason or another. These men. Won't go in. To the praetorium.

[23:18] So they stand out. In the courtyard. And that's where Pilate. Comes out. To meet them. To ask this question. What accusation. Do you bring.

[23:30] Against this man. Now. The Jews. In their response. Notice. Become irate. At this. And when you first read this. If you're uninitiated.

[23:41] For what's going on here. You first read this. You're kind of going. What are they getting. So twisted out of shape about. That seems to be. A fair question. In a civil court. What did he do.

[23:52] Right. That's what. The judge wants to know. What's he guilty of. But they get irate. Here's why. Pilate is fully aware.

[24:03] Of what these men want. And why. He's part of it. So what's going on here. Look at verse 30. With me. If you would. Right after the question.

[24:14] They answered. And they said. To him. If this man. Were not an evil doer. We would not have delivered him. To you. No. What's he saying.

[24:27] This is very interesting to me. They're saying. Look. Pilate. Don't play games with us. You know full well. What this is about. Now look.

[24:38] We've kept our end of this. You keep your end. And you give us the verdict. We need. They're almost saying. You slippery snake. Don't you be politician on us.

[24:50] But that's exactly what's happening. Pilate is a politician. Notice in verse 31. See this has been going on for a long time.

[25:00] What you see in the news and all right now. It's been going on for a long time. So Pilate said to them. Take him yourselves. Judge him according to your law. And now the Jews are going to retort.

[25:13] Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. We are not permitted to put anyone to death. I'm sure they're kind of looking at each other right now. And going. Can you believe this? What is he doing? I don't know. Shh. Because they got to keep up the pretense.

[25:27] Pilate's a politician. He covers his bases. By throwing everything back on them. And they in turn tell him what he already knows. The Jews are not allowed under the Roman governance.

[25:38] To prescribe the death penalty. Only Pilate has the power to do that. Only Pilate. But now in verse 32. We see what comes out of all of these interchanges.

[25:51] This all is happening. To fulfill the word of Jesus. Which he spoke. Signifying. By what kind of death.

[26:02] He was about to die. Now we see folks. This is the greater spiritual reality. Behind this entire ordeal.

[26:13] John tells his readers. John is cluing in his readers. And us. That Pilate's involvement is designed by God. To fulfill scripture. Oh Pilate thinks that he's involved.

[26:25] Because he's the man. He's the man. What he doesn't realize. Is this is all part of God's plan. Jesus knows that. Because he's God. God. It's all designed to fulfill the word.

[26:38] To honor what Jesus himself foretold. About the way he would offer himself. As God's Passover lamb. Now I want to show you that real quick.

[26:49] So I'm going to have you turn there with me. It's. Let me put the verses up here for you. We'll do several. Mark chapter 10. So hold your finger here. And go to Mark. In his gospel.

[26:59] Back a couple of books. In the Bible. Get you busy. Mark chapter 10. Now remember. What we're reading here. Is Jesus himself.

[27:11] Much prior to this. In the public ministry. That he had among his disciples. Telling his disciples. The way he would die. The way he would die.

[27:21] So Mark 10. 33. Jesus was saying. Behold. We are going up to Jerusalem. And the son of man.

[27:32] Will be delivered. To the. Chief priests. And the scribes. And they will condemn him. To death. And will hand him over to.

[27:45] The Gentiles. Who's the Gentiles? Pilate. They will mock him. And spit on him. And scourge him. And. Kill him.

[27:56] Now notice. And three days later. He will rise again. And yet. They didn't get it. Did they? They didn't understand. And yet. Jesus is telling them. Very plainly.

[28:06] What's going on. Now we go to. John's gospel. Himself. Look at John. If you would. Chapter 3. Where Jesus continues. To speak this truth.

[28:19] Verses 14. And 15. As Moses. Lifted up. The serpent. In the wilderness. Even so. Must the. Son of man.

[28:29] Jesus favorite title. For himself. Be lifted up. Alright. That is. That is. Lifted up. On the cross. So that. Notice. Whoever believes.

[28:41] Will ill. Will in him. Have what? Church. Eternal life. So it is this. Being lifted up. As a sacrifice.

[28:52] A substitute. In the place of sinners. That God gives us. The faith. To believe in. Jesus is the object. Of saving faith. We don't just believe.

[29:03] In a symbol of wood. We believe in the man. Who hung on it. And gave his life for us. We don't put our faith. In the cross. When we say that. We mean.

[29:13] The man on the cross. The man doing the dying. And the bleeding. And the suffering. We don't put our faith. In the empty tomb. We put our faith.

[29:25] In the Christ. Raised from that tomb. And so. We're not about. A religion. We're about a man. Who is the king. Of all truth.

[29:38] We thank God. For his cross. But we recognize. That he was the one. Hanging on it. Then if you look at. John chapter 12. With me. John chapter 12.

[29:49] Beginning in verse. 32. Again. This is the Lord Jesus. And I. If I am lifted up.

[30:00] From the earth. Lifted up. Again. Being. Made on the cross. Put on the cross. I will. In that moment. Draw all men. To myself. But he was saying this.

[30:11] To do what? To indicate. To indicate. The kind of death. By which he was. To die. I'm going to be. Lifted up.

[30:22] I'm going to be. Nailed to. A cross. And they're going to. Lift me up. And set me. And there. I will die. This is what he's telling them.

[30:34] In his own words. The Jewish leaders. They had a problem. In all of this. Because only Pilate. A Gentile. Had the power. To pronounce. The death penalty.

[30:46] In the Roman justice system. The death penalty. Meant crucifixion. That's exactly. What they wanted. For Jesus. They wanted him. Crucified. Because the Bible. Also says.

[30:57] That cursed is anyone. Who. Hangs on a tree. They wanted Jesus. Cursed. They didn't want him. To die. As a martyr. They wanted him.

[31:08] To die. In humiliation. And they got their wish. They got their wish. He did die. A humiliating death. Didn't he? But then came Easter Sunday.

[31:20] And everything changed. And people began. To see. And realize. Now here's the issue. How in the world. Are they going to convince.

[31:32] Pilate. That Jesus was enough. Of a threat. To be sentenced. To that kind of death. Blasphemy. Was their main charge.

[31:43] As religious people. Against Jesus. Blasphemy. Was enough. For them. To stone Jesus. Because that was the way. Of capital punishment. For the Jews. But even stoning.

[31:53] They weren't allowed. To do that. Unless they had. The Romans permission. I think. When they stoned. Stephen. And killed him. I think. The Roman authorities. Probably just looked. The other way.

[32:03] On that one. They didn't want a scene. And after all. What do they care. If another Jew dies. Stephen. But here. They recognize. This is very public.

[32:15] And so. They have to put on. A public face. For all of this. It has to seem. Legit. In the eyes of the people. To get them. To go along with it. So.

[32:25] Blasphemy. Not being enough. They made it. An issue then. And this is really smart. On their part. They made it. An issue. Of kingship. Insurrection. If we can prove.

[32:37] That this guy. Is a threat. To Caesar's authority. In the region. The Romans. Will get him. They'll get him. So. What did they do? Well. They went right. To the Bible.

[32:48] And they made the Bible. Serve. Their own. Purposes. Isn't that interesting. How we do that. I've told you this story. To my great shame. Before.

[32:59] Some of you. Who've been here. After we were first married. I was very good. At citing those passages. About. Female submission. To her husband. I was really good.

[33:10] At that. God helped me. I was a new Christian. Not making excuses. I'm just telling you the truth. God got a hold of me. About all that. But it's very interesting. How in our self-righteousness.

[33:21] In our pride. And in our agenda. We can make the Bible. Say whatever we want. Even the passages. That speak to the issue. We can bring it to people. In pride. This is what the Jews.

[33:31] Are doing now. They're using their own. Scripture. Listen to the irony here. They're using their own. Scripture. Against their Messiah. And against the very person.

[33:42] Who wrote it. Isn't that something? And Jesus. For his part. Being God. Knows exactly.

[33:53] What they're going to say. Before they ever say it. Because he knows. What's in their hearts. There's a lot more. Going on here. Isn't there? So how are they going to.

[34:04] Handle all of this? According to the Old Testament. Prophecies. As they use the Bible here. The Messiah. Would be. The true king. King of the Jews.

[34:15] That's what the Bible said. Now since Jesus. Claimed to be the Messiah. We got him. He was guilty. Of insurrection.

[34:25] And was a real threat. To Caesar's authority. Because he's saying. He's the king. Now we got him. Pilate knew. All of this. And he knew.

[34:36] What the Jewish leaders. Wanted him. To do. So what happens? Well the scene. Now moves back. Inside the praetorium. And so here's what you have. In the Bible.

[34:46] It's easy to miss. You have this guy. Who thinks he's the man. And he's. Running. Outside. And then he runs. Back inside.

[34:58] You see. He's mixing. And mixing. And stirring. And stirring. And he thinks. He's got all of this. Where he wants it. But he's like a little bee. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

[35:09] Bzzzt. It's going to get even more. In my mind. If it wasn't so tragic. It comical. Because it's. It is so funny. How self elevated. We can become.

[35:19] In our little lives. Thinking we got everything. Where we want it. And we're in control. And then something happens. And we step back. And go. Oh my goodness. I didn't see that one coming. But somebody did.

[35:32] Somebody did see it coming. And somebody is in control. Thank God. Literally. So this is what's happening here. So Pilate.

[35:43] Pilate hates the Jews. Now he knows. That this was all about jealousy. He knows this is all about. Spite. Against Jesus.

[35:54] So Pilate questions Jesus. But he has in mind. To outmaneuver the Jewish leaders. If Pilate. Can exonerate Jesus. It makes the Jews look bad.

[36:04] While Pilate looks generous. And remember. What do politicians want most? Your vote. And so. I'll tell you whatever you want to hear.

[36:15] Kind of thing. We don't have any politicians in here. Do we? I hope not. I would apologize. But I can't bring myself to do it. Sorry.

[36:26] This thing came undone on me here. All right. Well let's move to this second question then. Because that's where the text takes us. And Pilate says this with great contempt. Are you?

[36:39] You. You're the king of the Jews. That's how I should have read this. This is false authority. This is what the Bible is bringing out here. False authority.

[36:50] We're not permitted to put anyone to death. You know that. This is all being done. Because Jesus said what kind of death he would die. Only Pilate can put him on the cross. That's what's going to happen. Verse 33.

[37:01] Therefore Pilate entered again into the praetorium. He summoned Jesus and said. You. You're the king of the Jews. Pilate is so disgusted by this entire situation.

[37:14] But like the Jewish leaders. Pilate is also blind to the spiritual reality going on here. He doesn't have the eyes of faith to see what's really happening.

[37:26] And he doesn't know who Jesus is. Listen. Because Pilate has missed Jesus' true identity. Pilate is getting everything wrong. When you miss Jesus' identity.

[37:37] You compound the lies of your life. They build up and add up on you. It's like taking a measurement for your life.

[37:47] And getting the measurement wrong. And right here. The next step may not be so bad. But you get about three or four or forty steps down the road. And that error enlarges on you.

[38:00] That's what it's like to live your life without Jesus. Based on the lie. The lie. That he's not who he says he is. And he won't do what he said he'd do for you.

[38:13] Forgive you for your sins. And give you a new life. So when preachers get up here and talk about stuff like this. We're talking about life and death.

[38:24] And it's very sobering. I'm thanking God right now that it's not up to me to convince you. I just tell you the truth. And I trust the spirit to work in your life.

[38:36] Thank the Lord. Verse 34 is interesting. Jesus answered. Are you saying this on your own initiative, Pilate? Or did others tell you about me? Boy, this is good.

[38:47] What are we dealing with here? This is true authority. This is true authority speaking now. See, Jesus is God. Jesus knows what's in Pilate's heart.

[38:59] So, beloved, understand. Jesus doesn't ask Pilate this question because he needs information from Pilate. He already knows the answer. Why is he asking then?

[39:10] Well, listen. He asked this to shift the emphasis to Pilate's culpability in this farce. So far, Pilate is Mr. High and Mighty.

[39:21] Now, Jesus is going to ask a probing, centric question that drives right into the heart of Pilate's true nature and guiltiness in all this.

[39:33] Jesus is also showing his authority. His authority. What do I mean? Listen now. He's willingly walked into the lion's den in obedience to his father. This entire scenario is playing out by God's design.

[39:49] And so, why would Jesus buck it? Why would he thwart it? Why would he chafe against what he knows to be God's will as God uses him in this instance?

[40:01] See, we tend to think that if something bad is happening, because bad means it's causing me discomfort. It's causing me pain. It's causing some disruption in my life.

[40:17] Then it's got to be bad. It's probably of the devil. Jesus went to the cross under the Father's will. I don't think it gets more bad than that. We just need to be careful and understand who is in control, even of what you and I would define as bad.

[40:37] You with me? I need to see some heads here. All right. Is God God or are you? Is Pilate God or is Jesus God?

[40:50] Yes. Yes. And we're going to bring this right into who we are and how we live. Look, here's what Jesus always does with the circumstances of life.

[41:01] Yours, mine. Jesus is making this personal. He's making this personal to Pilate. He's challenging Pilate to settle in his heart the most important issue of Pilate's life, whether he recognizes it or not in this moment.

[41:18] Here it is. Where does Pilate stand on Jesus being king? Where do you stand on Jesus being king? Nothing's changed. He's still king.

[41:29] He was king standing before Pilate. He is king today as we are in this room. The most important issue you have to answer today, dear beloved friends.

[41:41] Souls made in the image of God. What are you doing with Jesus as king? The king of all truth stands before you.

[41:53] In this moment, the prisoner has become the judge. And so he is, isn't he? Verse 35 then brings us right into the middle of it. Pilate answered.

[42:04] Oh, that got him. This got Pilate. I'm not a Jew, am I? Your own nation. You upstart. Your own.

[42:14] I can see why they brought you before. Your own nation. And the chief priest delivered you to me. What have you done, man? This is it. He's so upset about it.

[42:27] He's disgusted at even the suggestion that some Jewish upstart pretend king, whether genuine or false, would have any bearing on his life.

[42:41] I don't surrender to you as king. I don't even acknowledge you as king. My goodness, man, look at yourself. How could you?

[42:52] You're so weak. Look at you. You're weak. You're unimpressive. You're humiliated as you stand before. How could you possibly offer me anything?

[43:06] King of the Jews. However, there's just enough going on here that Pilate knows there's something more to Jesus for the Jewish leaders to do this to him.

[43:19] He may not know the whole story, but he knows there's enough going on. And so what does Pilate ask next? What does he say? What have you done?

[43:32] What have you done? That's in verse 35. What have you done? Here's Pilate's play of authority, friends. This is him standing before Jesus, judging the accused.

[43:46] In other words, this is what Pilate is saying to Jesus in this question. Tell me what you've done and I'll decide what to do with you. Tell me who you are, Jesus, and I'll decide what to do with you.

[44:04] Man, I'll tell you, if God would peel back the heavens and the spiritual blindness and show us Jesus at his right hand in glory, we would all fall on our faces declaring him King of kings and Lord of lords, wouldn't we?

[44:20] Well, that's what the Bible's telling us right now, beloved, but we need the power of the Spirit to open the eyes of our heart, remove the spiritual blinders. It's like we go along in life with these things on and all we see is what we want to see.

[44:36] When there's a big greater reality going on, and I'm not talking about the bigger reality of the world, I'm talking about the bigger reality of God working in the world. This is God's world. Tell me what you've done and I'll decide what to do with you.

[44:52] But again, Pilate is an instrument in God's hands to bring about God's purposes for Jesus dying on the cross. If you look at chapter 19 with me, and look at verse, if you would, look at verse 9.

[45:08] And Pilate entered into the praetorium again and said to Jesus, Where are you from?

[45:19] But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, You do not speak to me? Do you not know that I have the authority to release you and I have the authority to crucify you?

[45:30] Jesus answered, You would have no authority over me unless it had been given from above. For this reason, He who delivered me to you has the greater sin.

[45:43] What's he talking about? God's work. Pilate, I know what you think. You think you're the man, but you wouldn't be doing any of this if God hadn't released you as His instrument to do it.

[45:53] The one who has the greater sin isn't even you, culpable in this moment as you are. But it's Judas who turned me over to you.

[46:04] There's an even greater betrayer than you. Pilate's question also supplies us with the transition to Jesus' answer in 36 and 37.

[46:16] Here's the heart of the passage. Look what Jesus says. 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.

[46:27] But as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm. So Pilate said to Him, So you are a king. And Jesus answered, You say correctly that I'm a king.

[46:38] For this I've been born. For this I've come into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.

[46:54] Pilate only understands one kind of king. A worldly one. A worldly one who keeps his kingdom by force of arms. So in the world of men, you don't advance and you don't protect your kingdom by dying.

[47:12] That would be ridiculous in the mind of the Romans. The greatest military power on the earth at this time. But Jesus makes it clear that His kingdom isn't of this world.

[47:23] So don't be surprised if as a king, I'm not doing the kinds of things you would do as king. I'm not like you. And my kingdom isn't like what you know. Jesus tells him, Look, what does He say?

[47:36] My soldiers would fight you if that were so. But as it is, I am no threat to Caesar because my kingdom is of a different realm.

[47:47] I'm not here to overthrow the Romans. I could have done that. That's not why I came. This is what incensed the Jews. One of the main reasons Jesus is on trial right now for His life and why the Jews hate Him so much is because He would not get on their political agenda.

[48:05] He would not let them make Him the kind of king they wanted Him to be. Friends, please, Jesus will not let you make Him the king you want Him to be.

[48:17] He will be the king that He is. And the king requires obedience. The king requires submission and a yielded heart.

[48:28] And it's something you don't want to do. I didn't. I didn't. I thought Christians were the biggest morons on the planet.

[48:39] Why would you come and do this and listen to somebody spitting and sputtering on Sunday when you could be at the lake? That's what I thought. And Jesus made the difference and saved this old prideful sinner.

[49:02] Jesus Christ is about to change the world forever. But His kingdom work isn't done with swords. It's not done with shields. Jesus is going to conquer the greatest army ever assembled against mankind and it's not the Romans.

[49:18] Is it? He's going to win this war against the souls of mankind. But Pilate doesn't know that. He's going to do it with a heart that will break and bleed for the very people who are going to kill Him.

[49:37] What earthly king does that? His kingdom conquers the hearts of sinners by the weapon which only God Himself could wield against our enemies of sin and death.

[49:57] that weapon is the love of God that put His Son on the cross in your place to shed His blood for the forgiveness of your sins and my sins.

[50:12] Now that's a weapon. That's a weapon. Notice what Pilate does with this. So, you are a king.

[50:26] You are a king. That's what you're saying. Well, in His response Jesus makes it clear I'm not peddling an ideal here.

[50:37] A political ideal. I'm not peddling a movement. I'm not even appealing for my own amnesty here. Am I? The reason is because Jesus has done nothing wrong.

[50:52] He is, in fact, the truth who is establishing Himself as our only hope to escape the lies and so find truth for life in Him as our blessed Savior and King of all truth.

[51:06] This is what He's saying to Pilate. But Pilate doesn't have the ears of faith to hear. He's telling Pilate that even as Jesus stands before Him ready to surrender His life into Pilate's hands Jesus is testifying to who He is because this is why He says He came into the world to testify that He is giving life as a ransom for many.

[51:34] In other words we could say it this way everyone who is of the truth hears my voice that is belongs to me. everyone who hears the truth belongs to me.

[51:49] It's the only explanation for them being able to comprehend the truth about who I am what I am and why I came. My Father's done a work in them. They belong to me.

[52:01] Folks that is a precious precious thing. Pilate in his cynicism in his unbelief in his rebellion against God he does this.

[52:17] That's his response folks. What is truth? What is truth? Pilate knows nothing of this. All he knows is manipulation and lies and subterfuge obfuscation.

[52:32] Pilate might as well have said listen now what is life? That really is the question. Not what is truth.

[52:44] What is life? Why would we say that? Because Jesus is truth. Jesus doesn't just tell the truth live the truth he is the truth.

[52:59] He is the embodiment of truth. Where does truth come from? Jesus. Jesus himself the Bible says is the way the truth and the life.

[53:12] The way the truth the life that's Jesus the person not the religion. We don't promote religion here at Grace Church.

[53:23] We promote Jesus. We promote following him and being his disciple because we don't want you to be fooled into thinking that you can work your way into heaven by some religious ideal or ritual.

[53:40] What did Pilate miss folks? What did he not see and grasp about Jesus? Well very simply stated Pilate missed the truth. The truth.

[53:51] Jesus could have answered in a myriad of ways. Here's how he chose to answer the truth. Pilate the issue that you're asking about here is not about kingdoms as you think about them.

[54:06] The issue is about the truth. You're believing and living a lie and the truth stands before you and if you will embrace the truth the truth will make you free.

[54:16] Isn't that what he said? Yes. Not for Pilate. Pilate also listened to this folks. He missed the truth about himself.

[54:28] That's so dangerous. Pilate missed the truth about the Jewish leaders, about the events unfolding all around him and involving him. He missed the truth about his own involvement. Pilate missed reality even though he's living in it.

[54:43] Do you hear that? I was that one time in my life living, living, but missing reality because I was living for me.

[54:55] all this because he missed seeing Jesus through the eyes of faith. Our faith for being saved from our sins, again, it's not put in a religion.

[55:08] We're not putting our faith, hear me now please beloved, we're not putting our faith in our faith. I'm not believing and putting my believing and my trust in believing and believing.

[55:23] That won't take me very far. especially when life gets hard. It's more than that. Our faith for our salvation is not in the rituals that we do, it's not in the songs we sing, it's not in the prayers we make, it's not even in the Bible that we believe.

[55:45] Now hang with me and listen. The object of our faith is the person of God's holy and only Son, Jesus. Knowing the Bible doesn't save you.

[55:59] Knowing the facts about what the Bible speaks about, knowledge in itself doesn't save you, does it? Lots of people read the Bible.

[56:09] My sister just said that even the devils believe the facts. They know who Jesus is, but it hasn't transformed them, has it? No.

[56:21] Our prayers and our songs in our religion do not save us from our sins. We don't put our faith in our prayers.

[56:33] We don't put our faith in the songs that we sing. We put our faith in the God we pray to. We put our faith in the God we sing to and bow to.

[56:47] And this is very, very important that we understand the object of faith. Jesus Christ went to the cross for us. He stood in our place to die, paying the price for our sins against His Father.

[57:05] Jesus was buried. God raised Him to resurrection life to give us that same life. These are spiritual matters that God has to open your eyes to. Otherwise, it's just stuff the Bible says.

[57:18] For a long time, that was what it was for me. Now, I want to put this up here so you can follow along as I say it to you. Like Pilate, we are also tempted to live by human wisdom and not by faith in Jesus as, listen to this now, both our Savior and our King.

[57:38] The way we live before the Lord each day moves us beyond just simply what we profess with our mouths about Jesus to what we provide to Jesus from our hearts in the way of our submission, our obedience, our worship, which is His due as the King of Kings.

[57:53] What am I saying? It is a great wrong against the love of God for us to take from Him as our Savior but to refuse to live for Him as our King.

[58:07] And unfortunately, there are religious houses all around the world who are preaching an easy believe-ism and not the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ where Jesus Himself said, if you want to follow me, take up your cross, deny yourself and follow me.

[58:31] Friends, listen, in our hearts, are we prone to take from Him what He does for us as our Savior but then ignore or withhold from Him what we can do in response of obedience to Him as the King of our hearts.

[58:49] That's Pilate. Well, as long as you're giving, I'll get in line. Do you take what He offers as Savior but resist what He calls for as King?

[59:11] What if Jesus had said to Pilate, I can give you Rome? What? I can give you Rome and everything else.

[59:27] That's what Satan said to Jesus. I think Pilate would have took Him up on it. But I'll tell you what Pilate wouldn't have done.

[59:39] He didn't want Jesus to be his king. Did he? I'll take. But I'm going to stop short of you being my king and telling me how to live my life.

[59:55] Do I offer Jesus my willing and joyful obedience done for Him, not because He needs anything from me, but because He loves me, because He's given Himself for me, and because I owe Him everything.

[60:12] love of Jesus suffering for us, dying for us, being raised for us, and now caring for us, should make our hearts beat with love for Him, beloved.

[60:23] And I think for many of us it does. Consider this. Consider the alternatives. Consider the alternatives of God's wisdom and truth for your life.

[60:35] They are just too terrible to be comprehended that in your pride, in your self-deception, you would be left to believe lies from a murderous spiritual being who hates you, a being who lives to destroy you, a being who relishes suffering and death and hate and murder.

[61:00] that's your real enemy. This Satan wants to ruin those most important to you.

[61:13] Now listen to this. Satan wants to ruin those most important to you. And he will use you in your pride, selfishness, and unbelief to do the greatest harm to those you care for most.

[61:32] Think about that. All you have to do is give way to pride for a moment, and you become weaponized in Satan's hands for him to use in your pride and in your sin, even in that moment as a Christian.

[61:48] Have you ever done anything or said anything in the way of sin as a Christian that you later regretted? And maybe towards someone you deeply care about and love? Sure you have, I have too.

[61:59] Satan at any time, this is our enemy, he is constantly vigilant, constantly ready to steal away the authority of the king of all truth in your life so that you live even in that moment by a lie.

[62:15] And it's the lies that you believe that will ruin your life and the lives of those around you. And we need to hear it whether we want to or not.

[62:27] look at this, Satan's grand deception is to keep you worshipping himself by keeping you worshipping yourself. That's all he needs to do.

[62:41] Do you know of anybody out there in your sphere of influence that if you went and interviewed them and asked them do you worship Satan they would look at you and go absolutely man every day.

[62:51] no I don't know a single soul like that. Right? But what if you were to tell them you know as long as Satan keeps you worshipping you he keeps you worshipping him.

[63:07] They'd probably look at you like the paper plastic moment say what? Run that by me again. I wouldn't have understood that. Jeff by worshipping you he keeps you worshipping him.

[63:19] Because in your unbelief you're his slave. Now I'm not talking about Christians right now I'm talking about the way Satan works in the lives of unbelievers. People who have not yet yielded their hearts to Jesus as king of kings and lord of lords.

[63:36] I go on to say he would have you waste your life chasing lies and then bring you into his hell to suffer with him in his prison of fire for eternity. That's what he wants. Well beloved Jesus Christ came to rescue from all that and that's what his resurrection says.

[63:53] I'm here to rescue. I didn't stay in the tomb. I'm alive and I'm working in the hearts of men and women. My kingdom is put into the hearts of men and women.

[64:06] That's my kingdom. Pilate didn't get it. It's a tremendous privilege for you to know the truth. The truth. truth. What truth is that Jeff?

[64:20] It's a tremendous privilege for you to know Jesus is truth. For you to be fully assured in your soul that God forgives you for your sins to the uttermost.

[64:32] To be certain about the right thing to say and do and to have confidence about what will please God and bring honor to Jesus Christ in your daily life. Those are the benefits and blessings in just a brief way of knowing the truth in your heart.

[64:49] It's a wondrous blessing from God's heart to yours for you to know, to desire the will of God through the word of God and to know God's design and God's wisdom for you in your moment of need and in your different roles and relationships in life.

[65:06] It is a soul-filling joy for God to love you in His Son and for you to submit yourself fully to God's truth for your life. You would never have or do any of that apart from the truth.

[65:19] You'd still be living under the lies of your own dark heart and spiritual blindness. Dear friends, as God's people gifted with the greatest treasure God can bestow, we cannot afford to neglect, we cannot afford to underestimate or to be apathetic about the King of all truth.

[65:41] Resurrected by the power of God to give us that same resurrection life in His name. Will you pray with me? Father God in heaven, as we turn to this very sobering text, we have read about the handful of events taking place before the Lord Jesus Christ, Father, Your Son, surrendered Himself to the cross willingly, knowing that it was Your will.

[66:21] And it has sobered us. My prayer this morning is for those of us who have come to know You by the power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts, I pray we would be encouraged and reminded that we serve the greatest power in the universe, and that is the power of the love of God to rescue sinners, to go to the cross and die in our place.

[66:51] For those in our midst who still are contemplating and struggling with surrendering their hearts and believing in their hearts that they need to come to You and they need to ask You to forgive them for the sins they've committed against You so that they would trust in the Lord Jesus Christ making provision for that forgiveness as He took on our sins, died on the cross to pay our sin debt, then be buried and raised again so that we would have the promise of new life in His name.

[67:29] I pray for the souls of these people who have come in that need and help us to turn to Jesus and now God as we celebrate as Christians the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, I pray that You would help these words to beat in our hearts and remind us of the goodness of all that Jesus is to us and for us and in us and through us and all that He has promised to be for us for eternity.

[68:02]  He is the way, the truth, and the life. It's in His name that we pray and for His glory alone. Amen.