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May 2, 2022 3:00 am
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A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.
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If this program is impacted you love to hear from you. So just send an email to me at greg@harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org today. Pastor Greg Laurie points on the dilemma Pontius Pilate thing in the trial of Jesus pilot Jesus was like a political hot potato hear the voice of his wife: nothing to do with Jesus, the voice of the bloodthirsty right not supply him the voice of his own conscience, no doubt accessing bidding in this since price then he heard the voice of Jesus himself, once again, it is a blind jam one real tight spot you do when you're between a rock and a hard place clowns to the left of you jokers to the right today on a new beginning.
Pastor Greg Laurie points out that decision faced by Pontius Pilate. A man stood before him ready for sentence. The crowd wanted his pilot body may be innocent and his superiors were monitoring the outcome. In a rare moment.
Berkeley, God and Satan were moving in the same direction, but with different objects.
Satan wanted Jesus dead so he marshaled his forces and played his wicked hand infiltrating the ranks of our Lord entering the heart of Judas Iscariot, Satan got a bigot of Christ put to death that would be the end of course. The father also was at work in this because Scripture said the Messiah would be crucified, and he would rise again from the dead three days later, so the father was at work. That is why it's a big mistake to try to place the blame of the death of Jesus on a particular group of people.
So mostly will the Jews killed Jesus will that's really in one sense there's truth to it is also true that the Romans killed Jesus. But if you really want to know the biblical theological truth.
Here it is. The father killed Jesus. What what the father didn't do it, but the father allowed it to accomplish his purposes because the Bible says it please the father to Bruce. It didn't please the father in heaven to see his son suffer and die, but it please the father to see his righteous requirements met in the sacrifice of his son was a fulfillment of all of those Old Testament pictures and types. So the Lord was at work in this is well and by the way, Christ laid his own life down, no one took his life from him.
He voluntarily went to the cross.
One other thing you want to put the blame on someone blame me my sins put Jesus on the cross your sins put Jesus on the cross so this is a very unusual situation. That's all a part of God's big plan. So let's read some verses together.
John 18 starting in verse 20. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Pretoria. It was early morning, but they themselves did not go to the praetorian list. They should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover pilot then went out to them and said what accusation do you bring against this man and his other dignities being impugned their response what we would've handed them over to you if you want to criminal well pilot citizen judge them according to your law.
He just gave them permission to put Jesus to death that they wanted to and by the way they did put people to death. They did it by stoning. They stoned Stephen you remember the first martyr of the church so they did have the authority, especially in this situation to execute Jesus, but the Bible doesn't say that Messiah would die by stoning the prophecies say that he will die by crucifixion. Psalm 22 says they pierced my hands and my feet in the Old Testament we read the people asking him what did you receive these wounds in your hands and he says I receive them in the house of my friend so Scripture is very specific how Messiah would die.
I don't think even they understood what they were doing, but in their mad rush to have Jesus killed. They were fulfilling prophecy to a T. By specifically wanting pilot to do it.
That's because the Romans were experts in crucifixion and I and by the way, Jesus himself said this is how he would die over in Matthew 20. He said when we get to Jerusalem. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law, the sentence in the die to hand him over the Romans to be marked with an crucified and on the third day be raised from the dead. So look at verse 31 John 18 then Pilate said to them you take him a judge them according to your law that you said oh it's unlawful for us to put anyone to death. The scene of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke signified by what kind of death he would die. Then Pilate entered the praetorian again called Jesus and said to him, are you the king of the Jews, Jesus answered, are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell you this concerning me.
Pilate answered my shoe your own nation and that she present delivered you to me what you done Jesus answers my kingdom is not of this world, my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here. Pilate therefore said, doing what are you looking then Jesus said, you rightly said, I am a king. For this cause I was born for this cause I coming of the world that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate said to him, what is true and when he said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, I find no fault in this man. While powerful story. Pilate heartlessly asks Christ, are you the king of the Jews. Let me help you understand the scene Jesus is been severely beaten at this point they've hit him in the face with their best ever been hit in the face with a fist. It's not like it is in the movies right, you don't smile you like the movies they make you look like it's finally another big brawl and hit everyone on the face know his he was hit in the face with a closed fist multiple times.
His beard was ripped from his face. Imagine a painful, that would be was slap he was shipped all over the body.
So he's really beaten up so he standing there are very beaten man and pilot to visit, like, are you the king of the Jews. You so it's very demeaning the way that Christ is addressed by Pontius Pilate. Are you the king of the Jews, Jesus says well and it is as you say Pilate are pretty much seen it all, all criminal penalties in Judea were subject to Pilate's ultimate approval or veto.
Basically, if you were sent to death. It had to be okayed by pilot and all of them, of course, protested their innocence. Only minutes and I didn't do it and Jesus is not doing that and everybody does that. When they're caught by cops right I didn't I wasn't speeding and I just document. One of the police officers that fellowships are with us and I think what's the craziest thing that a person is ever said to you when he pulled him over for speeding. He said a lady pulled her over and she had her Chihuahua on the car.
She said sorry officer. My dog eat chocolate and I'm rushing him to the hospital he gave her a ticket because he said that wasn't a dog that was in kind of a rat or some better comps subverted all you know when it when a police officer pulls you over and your sarcastic car rude Europe is going to get a ticket for sure right don't see things all cop like Lou to some real criminals to arrest or do you need directions to the donut shop or don't say stuff like that to police officers have some respect. Sorry officer. I know realize my radar detector wasn't plugged in though.
Don't say that to a cop if you're if you're speeding, here's what you say to a cop officer.
I'm sorry I was speeding I shouldn't of done that many might let you off.
Maybe good chance you won't either depends on fast you were going but just be honest they they've heard it all and Pilate had heard it all. Every lie. Every excuse not from Jesus. Why, because Christ was innocent. In fact, Pilate was unnerved at the calmness of Jesus in the face of his own death and Jesus talked about two to the man who did not believe in truth he says in verse 37. I come to bring truth to the world and all who love the truth recognize that what I say is true, Pilate callously responds. What is truth that we don't know how he said did he say it this way all what is truth like reveal it to me or did he say it more like what is truth.
You say truth is a really true that I tend to think that was the way he said he's like a lot of people today a moral relativist I read recently that 67% of Americans say there is no such thing as absolute truth. And I was Pilate. He probably didn't believe in absolute truth, he was a pagan Roman man yet truth incarnate was standing before him. All he wanted to do was get Jesus out of his chambers he he wanted to get out of this situation there. People like this that we encounter.
We start talking to them about Christ… Like I want to change the subject.
I had a perpetual conversation with my mother for 35 years minimum about her spiritual state and every time I brought the subject of my faith for the Bible or anything related to it. My mom's automatic responses. I want to talk about. And finally we had a conversation shortly before she died. Thankfully she committed her life to Christ. But there are people that don't want to talk about it that was Pontius Pilate. He did not want to enter in to this conversation. It's not that he dislikes Jesus in particular, maybe even in admired him a little bit of a pilot. This is all about his political career. I don't want to conflict is my let you go by spring.
You then they're going to get mad at me these religious leaders. There's going to be some kind of Orion Rome is going to disappoint me. Maybe even execute me.
I don't know. All I know is I've got to get out of this situation. Because for Pilate. Jesus was like a political hot potato Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment. I don't know if you know about this, but we have a weekend service called Harvest at Home exclusively for people that are tuning in literally from around the world listen to this. We even have harvest groups where you can get into a small group with folks from all around this planet of ours, studying the word of God. So join us this weekend Saturday and Sunday for Harvest at Home@harvest.org today. Pastor Greg is helping us focus on the trial of Jesus and the quandary phase by Pontius Pilate. What would he do with this man called Jesus. Okay so now we have an interesting insight from another gospel, Luke. Luke tells us that he said to the leaders. I find no basis for a charge against this man and they responded by saying he stirs up the people all around Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and is come all the way here, though I he found a way out Galilee oh that's not my jurisdiction. You're telling me this guy from Galilee.
All that is the jurisdiction of my enemy hair and I can't think of something I'd rather do than dump this on his doorstep. So Pilate says I'll tell you what. This is not my turf that you have to take him to hear it so immediately. He washed his hands and symbolically speaking of this whole situation. So Jesus is taken here I and here's King Herod who rules over Galilee and he has all kinds of questions for Jesus peppers Christ with question after question as to Jesus will do a trick doesn't mean Jesus average of the miracle worker did something or presently.
Not only did Jesus not do a miracle for Herod.
Jesus didn't say a single word to him and I find it very interesting because Jesus had a lot to say to a lot of people. We don't believe me, get a red leather Bible and read the New Testament book of those Gospels all the things Christ said he had long conversations satellite to so many, but they carried he did not speak a single word.
He was the man who never heard God's voice so he sent Jesus packing back to Pontius pilot. Pilate thinks he's he's over this. This is not a problem anymore. He's dealt with it. And now Jesus is brought before him again. It's… A Jesus is back. By the way, Herod sends his love. Here's Jesus again. His heart sank. Once again, I do. Pilate has another idea. He remembers that there is a custom among the Jews to release a prisoner at Passover says I'll just talk to the crowds all say all who do you want me to release Jesus the miracle worker, Jesus, the one who feeds your empty stomachs. Jesus, the one with this wonderful teaching or this total creep. Barabbas Barabbas was an insurrectionist, which is another way of saying he was sort of like a terrorist get dedicated his life to the violent overthrow of Rome. No doubt Barabbas had killed many people and that's why he was going to be sent to across so by the figures up with you know Jesus out there Barabbas out there for sure the people again as a free Jesus, and then I get to say sorry but the will of the people, religious leaders, there is nothing I could do but of course the religious leaders infiltrated the crowds and stirred them all up and said no call for Barabbas to be released.
I'm sure Barabbas was really shocked that day when they said release Barabbas that's exactly what happened. So over there in Matthew 27 we read these words that the people said, let him be crucified. You know, Luke's gospel tells us, with loud shouts. They insistently demanded that Christ be crucified. And their shouts prevail that they could literally be translated.
The screen they screened, let him be crucified and led his blood be upon us and upon our children.
They said no.
What is Pilate going to do, so he's trying to get out of this thing he tries to hang them up to here that doesn't work, he tries to get them free, and they choose Barabbas over Jesus and now to add to his misery. His wife shows up. She says honey, I had a dream about Jesus have nothing to do with this.
Just man, it's very interesting twist in the story. What was this dream is pagan Roman woman did not believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. She believed in the many gods of Rome, which they really just swipe from the Greeks with all their god and goddess worship and so here's a woman who has some kind of a dream that sounds like it was from heaven, perhaps, but the reality is, instead of saying have nothing to do with this. Just man she should've said have everything to do with this. Just man affect callout to this just man in heaven forgive you of your sins, which he says no steer clear this guy Jesus he's bad news. Have nothing to do with them. So Pilate was doing a lot of voices on this day.
Here the whites of his wife told him have nothing to do with Jesus, the voice of the bloodthirsty multitudes who cried out, crucified him, the voice of his own conscience, no doubt attesting to the innocence of Christ. Then he heard the voice of Jesus himself and Jesus says the pilot everyone was of the truth hears my voice so what pilot do next over. In Matthew 27 is the answer.
Verse 24 pilots. I wasn't getting anywhere in a riot was developing so he sent for a bowl of water and he washed his hands before the crowd it is that I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours and the people responded led his blood be on us and on our children. It's like a lot of people again today that they just you know they want to put it off.
They don't want to deal with it and that's what Pilate was doing.
I am not going to deal with this issue and it ended up jamming his soul.
He shared responsibility in the worst crime in human history. Rights-of-way Craig, you said that it was God's plan. So in a way wasn't Pilate doing what God wanted him to do.
No, actually not. Yes, it's true.
Scripture said Messiah would die by crucifixion, but will demand that crucified him.
Woe to the man who betrays him back Peter as he preached the gospel after the resurrection said this is what happened in this city for Herod antibusiness Pontius Pilate, the governor of the Gentiles and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus. So Pilate was culpable and he was called out and so he shared responsibility in this horrible crime he hardened his heart the very voice of God in spite of the fact that he knew that Jesus was innocent beginning to get a clear picture situation surrounding the trial of Jesus. There's much more to come as pastor Greg Laurie continues his message here on a new beginning. A study called indecision pastor Greg were excited about your new book called Lenin, Dylan, Alice and Jesus subtitled the spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll. The title list Jesus among some seemingly dissimilar names. As you know Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Alice Cooper, by it. It's almost like us civil service exam and will pick the one that doesn't belong.
Well, go to the Bible and look at Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus ends that key is Jesus and the woman at the well, Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery.
It fits because my point is take these iconic people and I wanted to tell you about their spiritual journeys that the spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll and it has some surprising revelations about maybe your favorite pop or rock star things you did not know about them specifically in the area of their search for God, for instance, take John Lennon. Of course we all remember his famous statement when he said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Let me just address for a moment, a Jew, a generation the people at that moment in time. There was some truth to that, and I would include myself as a young person because I knew nothing of Jesus but I knew everything about the Beatles and Lennon went on to try to explain it. Say well if I would've said television is more popular than Jesus there wouldn't of been this controversy or uproar. But things change in the life of John Lennon after he made that statement and we explore those things in the book. Now I'm not suggesting John Lennon was a Christian at the end of his life, but I have to point this out. There is a moment in time when John Lennon made a profession of faith to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Not only that he recorded two gospel songs that you can find online. If you search for them now. It was not a long-lasting thing but it was very big to him. He wrote about it extensively in his diary, but then he seemed to fall away from that. But in some ways toward the end of his life, which was a very tragic and you see that he mentioned some of those things again so here's my point. John Lennon made a profession of faith. Earlier in his life. He was tragically gunned down in New York City by Mark David Chapman. He was conscious after he was shot he was being driven to the hospital and the police officer driving him said do you know who you are and Lennon replied yes I do if he was conscious and aware if John Lennon called out the Jesus Christ in the final moments of this life, would his prayer have been hurt. The answer is yes, we think of the thief on the cross, who said the Jesus Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom and Jesus said, truly, truly, I say to you today you will be with me in paradise. I wrote this book to give encouragement and hope to people out there who will read it, who have a loved one that is not a Christian. They don't seem like they would ever become a Christian and might be your husband or wife or your mom or your dad or your son or your daughter or a coworker or a friend and you will see in this book as you explore the lives of those who had been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and in many cases been the T-shirt that they climbed to the top of the mountain and there was nothing there so should surprises that these people are searching for a deeper meaning in life. You see when you are thinking if only I was rich.
If only I was famous. If only I had a record or if only I filled you know a stadium with a bunch of people chanting my name, I would be happy. These people have experienced it. They know that's not the answer. So many of them have gone in a deep search for God so there's a lot here that may surprise you and it's right it's a fascinating read and we want to make it available to you to thank you for your partnership in this ministry a new beginning in harvest ministries are dedicated to helping people find the real answers to the big questions of life to look beyond the lures of this culture in this world and find with their soul is longing for and get on the last couple of years, more than 220,000 people have made professions of faith in Christ and if you can partner with us to reach even more would like to thank you by sending this new book, Lennon Dylan, Alice and Jesus just give us a call at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime.
That's 1-800-821-3300 or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org the next time or from our study of pilots quandary is a message called indecision. Join us here on new beginning pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie and thanks for the beginning Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how