John Chapter 18:33-40

Sources will there's no such thing as absolute truth.*This book is filled with absolute it tells us in no uncertain terms that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

It says that with you agree with that is up to you but that is what the bottles so if you're saying you're following Jesus is a well lots of waterways, yet we did Jesus know that's not what it says. The Jews only went with less narrowmindedness on their mind as reality and you can think well back about the building to go sideways know you're not, you can believe that all the way down. But when you get to the bottom when you get to the end of your path, there will be a harsh reality that you didn't go left.

You didn't go right you felt straight down because there's only one way really to the ground and that straight. Now guess what is one way down one way or welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge and Kernersville, North Carolina. When it comes to reality. Whether you or someone else believes the truth or not. It doesn't change what the truth is today pastor David explains the truth as he continues the Gospel of John chapter 18.

Now, here's David McGee with part two of his teaching trial. Turn with me to John chapter 18 verse 33. Since then Tolle entered the praetorian again called Jesus and said to him, are you the king of the Jews that reminds me of Isaiah chapter 9 verse six and seven basis for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, Prince of peace and of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward.

Even forever. The zeal of the Lord of host will perform this course, we refer to those verses. Often times it at Christmas.

The reality of this is that if you're a follower of Jesus your Christian believer you need understand that our enemy is on borrowed time see a couple of transactions happen that you need to be aware in the garden.

We had mankind had the title deed to the earth.

We gave that to the enemy, the Prince of this world, but he's kinda like he doesn't own the world. He's just, renting, if you will. Now some people don't understand this, but see if you remember, called the prince of this world and if you remember, when in the transaction with Jesus that the devil said, look, all give you all this in Jesus rebuking the Scripture, but notice what Jesus didn't say Jesus didn't say it was not yours to give it a fight with them about that but again he is on borrowed time. At some point our Messiah, the Savior of the world walks up to him and hears that deed out of his hand and says this is mine. I bought and that's something we can look forward to something we can look forward to wise Jesus waiting to do that swing on us is waiting on us to tell people is waiting on other people to hear he's waiting on other people to respond in his love for us. Jesus in verse 34 Jesus answered, are you speaking up for yourself about this or did others tell you this concerning me. Pilate answered and said in my head you your own nation and the chief priest of delivered you to me what have you done this quite the indictment, and it your own nation. Your own people. It was the spiritual leaders of the day they were doing this again. I don't.

Early on in my life am I to look back on it I can't believe they did that, but you know when I look around the day and see the spiritual landscape and see a lot of spiritual leaders and church leaders doing similar things taken Jesus out and driving people away from Jesus.

Verse 36 Jesus answered, since my kingdom is not of this world. If 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 is an interesting statement and it Jesus is answering the question, but exhausting.

Also saying you know I'm I'm not here to throw room out of Israel and that's important because one of the accusations was an act of sedition that he was trying to lead a rebellion against Rome now where does miss you question where does Jesus ruled today was King of Kings and Lord of lords, and again at some point in the future will know that he will rule this earth. You will rule over the people, but right now where does he presently rule in our hearts and our hearts if you well. He is the king of hearts he rules in my heart, and he rules in your heart and hopefully he does rule in your heart and I know you probably have the same thing exchange every day there's parts of your day were you find yourself mistakenly back on the third of your life trying to run your life trying to make the decisions and that's a place that only God is supposed to have in our lives and so at that point we have to say no no no no, I'm not my own anymore been bought with a price and the Lord should rule over my heart and that's that's the working out of our faith and understand when you find yourself in your flesh on the throne. I don't know what your exchanges but you know mine is not like oh my goodness of God. My flesh and with her. Please step down officer in flesh and of let's go. I'm sorry I wasn't wrong. That's not to exchange his kicking and screaming as we deny ourselves the cross and follow Jesus.

That's what were supposed to be doing what is God. Jesus is the king of hearts, who drew an inner we should be fun. Verse 37. Polly therefore said to him, are you kingdom.

Jesus answered you say rightly that I am the king, you got it for this cause I was born and for this cause have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Jesus's face.

Do you see this in this exchange. Jesus is not freaked out.

He's not bowing down to Pilate if you will. There's no fear of man in white because there's an assurance that God has a right where he supposed to be at that moment.

And when you can walk in that assurance friends that fear of man begins to play second fiddle in this piece and self-control.

You gotta know this was this was intriguing about I'm sure in these other discussions with other men at other times they've been like I'm so sorry. I'll do anything. Please forgive me and she's like you I am a king and not have to catch policy verse 38 pilot said to him, what is truth when it said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, I find no fault in him at all while this verse is packed with stuff.

Pilate is so close yet so far in history suggesting records that perhaps his wife was a believer. Polly later lost his job and committed suicide back in Europe and he so closely seen what is truth.

Plan on the question today. What is true understand the world is thinking that you can't know truth. You can't know absolute see were very different. We say we can no absolutes in here in this book is contained absolute truth and that stands in stark contrast to the world.is it enough just to know the truth. Is it enough just to have a Bible in your house on your lap in your bathroom vineyard in your purchase is out of most of us know is not it is not enough is not even enough to know it. Now here's the thing, I can make sure that you learn this book.

I can make sure if you're coming here that you're learning biblical truths, but the decisions I can't make for you are that you begin to apply those biblical truths I can encourage you along that discipleship track but I can't make you come I can't make you get these things. Second Timothy chapter 3 verse seven says, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. The life lesson here is we should not only be engaged in Bible study. But in Bible action.

We should not only be engaged in Bible study. But in Bible action we see as I sit here and I communicate these truths, and perhaps you can jot them down begin to apply these truths that are small groups are about. We don't do you know in our small groups. We don't do like minimum from Mars and women are from Venus or anything like that.

We actually take the Sunday morning teaching and help make application with discussion questions something we spent a lot of time water pressure over what to help you guys to apply biblical truth and begin doing she's not just knowing the truth, but doing the truth and again into the church is been accused of hypocrisy. Why because they know the truth but haven't done truth to what you and that's one reason I thought about serving a lot here. I want you to have an active faith.

I want you to be active in your face here to send her some people are not active in the face or understand are some people that are certainly not given an empty some of those people even come every Sunday even occasionally Thursday night but you know what they're not part was going on. It's more like they visit the church every Sunday is really not engaged. My heart is that you get engaged.

Why, because then you're doing the Bible, not just hearing about and there's a wonderful thing that happens is you take that step of faith in you begin doing things to serve the Lord in their and so I want Bible doing in and again. Now here's the thing. This is truth. This is biblical to eat and when I talk about serving and in these things. This is what the Bible talks about the G even Jesus came not to be served but to serve, that you were supposed to be following.

How can we do it while following him. But I'm not certain when you're not following these are biblical truth. These are absolutes if you will now understand and and and it's interesting the words as well. There's no such thing as absolute truth.*This book is filled with absolutes. It tells us in no uncertain terms that Jesus is the only way to heaven. It says that whether you agree with that is up to you but that is what the Bible says so if you're saying your phone. Jesus is a well lots of waterways. We did Jesus know that's not what it says.

The Jews only way will that's narrowmindedness on their mind as reality and you can think well I jump off the building to go sideways know you're not, you can believe that all the way down. But when you get to the bottom when you get to the end of your path, there will be a harsh reality that you didn't go left. You didn't go right you felt straight down.

What is there's only one way really to the ground and that straight down will guess what is one way down. There's one way is one way I'm thankful that Jesus has given us this one way up and understand you can believe that you cannot believe it. It doesn't change the truth it doesn't change the truth. The next life lesson. Whether you or someone believes the truth or not. It does not change the truth whether you are someone believes the truth or not. It does not change the truth so a lot of times we think, well, we don't believe it is not so you cannot believe in gravity doesn't change anything it changes your perspective. Perhaps I had a friend years ago had a black lab and whenever he would start the flesh of the black lab. The black lab which shut his eyes, he disappeared you're gone I'm invisible.

You know it didn't change it true that the dog was in trouble just changed his perspective Jesus in John chapter 8 verse 31 and 32 then Jesus said to those Jews who believed them, understand we we usually think of all the Jewish people rejected is not limited majority of the church early church was Jewish believers.

Jesus said to those Jews who believe that if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. We usually just quote the last part of that nutritious set you free is not what he said. Jesus never said and the truth shall set you free. If that were true.

Everybody who owned a Bible would be for but he said if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and then if you will the truth shall make you free. You. You may not believe the truth about sin and the forgiveness and the resurrection.

You may not believe the second coming of Jesus. Remember the whole thing was that his kids ready or not here I come. The fact that you believe or don't believe doesn't change the facts as a bumper sticker. I know you shouldn't be trying to get theological truths from a bumper sticker anyway.

But there's a bumper sticker that's out there that says God settle it got said it, I believe it, that settles it.

I have problem bumper sticker because you know what God said it that settles it.

Whether you believe it or not, has nothing doing anything just because you believe that you think that settles it, has its truth. It's an absolute truth. God said if you believe it or your friends believe it or they don't believe it doesn't matter which truth is still the truth. The absolute truth is there's only one way to heaven and Jesus has provided that one way nieces. I find no fault in him at all, because God is using to pronounce the innocence of Jesus and interesting in the stand. He used three people to the world had did not regard necessarily polyp to see a spiritual thing like this. There's no fault in and there's no fault Jesus you find stuff wrong with the church coming the church in general you find stuff wrong. We can't find anything wrong. Jesus will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey we want to take just a couple minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience.

Specifically, Polson and whitefish, Montana, and also Franklin, Norfork and Scotts Bluff Nebraska and Battle Mountain and Carson City, Nevada, Lord, thank you for the people tuning in right now listening in the cities while we pray that they would be encouraged that you would fill them up with faith to say yes to you and Lord that they would trust you with all that you want to do God. We pray for the church is an area that you give the pastors wisdom or did you fill the churches up in the people to grow and thrive and begin to serve you and though we pray for those in government positions. Lord, the mayor and police chief. Those on the town Council everyone with authority over. Pray for unity. We pray for wisdom, discernment and peace God. We pray that you bless the cities that many people would put their trust in you in Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 39 that you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore only to release to you the king of the Jews. Verse 40 then they all cried together saying not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber and other gospels were told it was a thief's addition is that a man of sedition trying to encourage rebellion also a murder. The crowd chooses Barabbas because I think we can see an elemental truth here. You know, just because the crowd chooses somebody doesn't mean that they've made a good choice. Very interesting book to see the way mobs and crowds react to pressures and and peer pressure in those things but obviously they made a bad decision here because crowds often make bad choices just because everybody's doing something doesn't mean it's a good thing our right thing. Don't allow culture and society to teach you what is right and wrong because they're going to get it wrong a lot because that's what crowds do. That's what crowds do know Barabbas was a guilty man. He was a guilty man and a guilty man was about to be set free in here in the midst of the process of the crucifixion we see the glorious truth of the gospel. Barabbas had already been through which he had been accused and then he came to the trial and at that trial someone in authority.

Someone in power said your guilty, and then someone in power said you guilty in your sentence.

Is this that's the price you have to pay.

I think we need to recognize this, because that is the place that all of us either have been in the past, or perhaps some are even now. Romans 512 says therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all said, see, even if you've never done anything wrong.

Your under a condemnation from from the original sin no there. I say that none of us would say that we've never done anything wrong, but we stand under this condemnation. Romans six $0.23 for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

What is this mean this is the payment. This is the payment for our actions for our said lot of you work. What happens once a week at work, you get paid and you're pretty sure that's going happen right hopefully you will be paid for your actions. Let me use another analogy you go to a restaurant, eat a lot of food but also in your eyes you don't know anybody in the restaurant you don't have any cash on you. You don't have any check cards or credit cards or anything. And then the bill comes due. Somebody's gotta pay that bill and then I see somebody now ha ha please see yeah I'll pay the price for you. I'm willing to pay that just as assuredly as that bill is coming. This bill percent has got to be paid, but the thing is, see were unequipped to pay it. We can't pay it.

The only thing that we can give is all and that's our death that's what we deserve to pay for what we've done for our actions. But Jesus stands and he says you know I'll pay it. I'll pay it. The life lesson years Jesus paid and that he did not know because we owed debt. We could not pay, you can't pay your sin debt. Jesus offers to pay your sin debt, but also there's something a little deeper here because the name Barabbas is an interesting name is Aramaic what is it, meanwhile, were given clues in scripture what it means you don't have to speak Aramaic or Greek or Hebrew to find out what Barabbas means you can find out from the Bible. The Bible tells us Matthew 1617 says, and Jesus answered and said that under him, blessed art thou, Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed it under the but my father which is in heaven. Simon bar Jonah bar Jonah remember that is when you go to John 2117. He said doing the third time. Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me bar Jonah means son of Jonah, so bar means son will what, what's the second part me. What is this mean were told that as well. Romans chapter 8 for you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out about father Barabbas means son of the father.

There's no details by happenstance in here understand the picture. There was a man whose name was son of the father that stood condemned under the law sentence to death in Jesus Christ. An innocent man said I will take his place the divine transaction happened if you've ever heard the story visitor comes in the church sits down on one of the pews and semi comes up to Mrs. took my place. So what is it this is where I sit is okay to move to another place my came up to that place took place that's my grandmother's name right there in the back that you it's okay got up and moved again.

Same thing happens emancipate to place the man who had been dressed in jeans and cowboy boots came to the front and in front of them change to the parents of the beaten and bleeding Savior may look into what happened so took your place to that's what Jesus is not. We all stand condemned under the law and Jesus made a divine transaction while as we can pay the debt you can't pay the debt.

What's amazing is, even once we come to that knowledge. We asked the Lord to forgive us of our sense some of us still try to carry it. We still try to carrier sense we still think it's godly to carry this package around got a single put it down… For you. Don't come to me what you're all fixed. Come to me, you who are broken and having laid being worn out income to fix the health came to fix his income for the righteous for the sinner. He didn't come by those who thought they were already found came to seek and saying that which was lost friend.

You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sinned, and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

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Thank you so much ODA before we go.

What are some ways that we can bless our listeners day you can wake up with encouragement Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart. David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God