035 - Truth on Trial

You pick up your Bible. One is there more here than meets the is there something here for me. I mean it's just words printed on paper right it may look like just print on a page, but it's more than eight. Join us for the next half hour, as we explore God's word together as we learn how to explore it on our own. As we ask God to meet us there in its pages welcome to more than hey I want to tell the truth.

The truth is truth is important. And that's what Jesus talked about with pilot trial for his life. Isn't that interesting today on Dorothy and Jim and we are here in our dining table.

This is more than literally for our weekly conversation with you about what God's word says you read the second half and Johnny didn't notice anything we been in the garden with Jesus and now we are dealing with the beginning of the trials we've already we've already had some of those trials, and now we continue this very long night. By the way, this whole narrative in John 18 Takes Pl. in the dark before sunrise.

So which is illegal, which is illegal for me to public trials, but I may just escape bindery to this narrative that everyone who enters this story is probably being walked out of bed and that's I mean think of it like being 1 to 3 in the morning and I'm in it's it's it's really a rush job and it tells you something important about the mindset of the religious leaders want to get rid of Jesus because they could have just said will arrest the guy in the garden tomorrow him in jail will wake up tomorrow morning, fresh and will just deal with that I couldn't do that because tomorrow is the Passover right so we got religious reasons we can do that we have to act now, we gotta push it through right now so this is the desperate attempts to push through the trial of Jesus, and to convict him to get him killed so were starting off in verse 19 and should I try really really okay you're okay selling the high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching, and Jesus answered him, I've spoken openly to the world. I've always taught in synagogues and in the temple where all Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me, ask those who hurt me. What I said to them, they know what I said and when he said these things. One of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand saying is that how you answer the high priest Jesus answered him, if what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong but if what I said is right.

Why do you strike me and is then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. While this is such a travesty of justice because I mean we we do this today on the courtroom have a judge and the judge listens to prosecutor brings out the accusation a defense attorney who defends against the accusation and then you bring in witnesses to substantiate the accusations or to refute the accusations and none of that goes on here but they should have should have an even a Jewish court is without witnesses, but who is it that the hike high priest is asking to witness Jesus as he said well what he had said earlier in his ministry. I am the one who witnesses on my own account right right father witnesses to me, but it's illegal for the high priest to do this you know we talk about taking the fifth. You cannot be forced to incriminate yourself but they're asking Jesus to do is incriminate himself you're asking him to be the accuser there asking him to be the witness against himself, so he says, ask the ones who hurt me bingo. That's exactly what I said the legal thing you don't do the legal thing asked the people to stand by the way, I haven't spoken the stuff in secret. Okay, so it's interesting that this is taking place in the earshot of the people who are standing out in the courtyard. Yeah, Peter is out there yet. He's been hearing this exchange and said I witness he may be quaking in his sandals. At this point thinking all now they can ask me and he's the one said well you're the guy. Lord Jesus, to whom else shall we go. You have the words of eternal life so he could have come in and borne witness. It's frustrating here because there doesn't seem to be any witnesses, so Christ is saying you need to incriminate yourself so you know doing well. The other Gospels tell us that there were witnesses, but that they were lying.

Yes no and I have to believe it's after Jesus refused to incriminate himself possible so that's why that's 121 Jesus is what you asked me this is not this is not process this is that you have to have witnesses you asked those who heard me. By the way, to you remember remember they sent those guys to arrest Jesus back. John seven you will be sent to the guys represent the high priestly cigarettes. The guy said well you know no one quite spoken like a talk like this guy so they could ask those guys to step wardens and humans but they didn't have anything to contribute to this prosecution, they would say something completely different like we try to arrest him, but his teaching is so full of integrity, try to get Jesus to hang himself. Exactly. And that's the real is the real injustice in the first paragraph you are trying to do their way outside the bounds way outside the bounds and so what Jesus is asking them to do. You know, ask the other people he's not being in impudent. He's saying this is the process and so this officer stands by human kindness smacks him. He saying you not being respectful.

I priest will because he's calling the high priest out because you going out with his eyes across breaking the law and is not accusing him he's just saying what this is what you're supposed to do is ask. Witnesses. So this guy was probably currying favor with the high priest wants to look like a strong arm you know he smacks Jesus and in Jesus rightly so, in a court of law. We talk about witnesses in verse 23 says you know if what I said is wrong, you know, bear witness about right. You tell me, are you being a witness.

You tell me what I said is wrong.

But if if it's what I said is right and what you strike me so yeah she condemns the guy who struck him because he's not really really disagreeing with Jesus testimony in Jesus saying contradict my testimony got something okay so this first encounters with Annis who was a previous high priest to the father-in-law of the current high priest kind that's out. Caiaphas doesn't appear to be in this conversation doesn't seem to says in verse 24 the answer and send him to Caiaphas because Jesus had said, you're breaking the law and and who really holds the office and I priest so that's interesting to me so it's it's a totally legal process of Jesus answers are really being evasive. He saying let's go by the book guys go by the book and they're not going by the book and at every point he's highlighting their hypocrisy. Exactly. I think that's indicting to them indicting to Annis. I mean it's embarrassing, which is why the server cuts off any send them off to Caiaphas because he realizes will Jesus.

Jesus just called us on being out of process and we don't have any witnesses.

Now Peter in verse 25 with standing and warming himself.

This is the second time, placing out with the other guy just get the fire, pretending that he's not hanging out with the guys. I probably arrested Jesus so they said to him you're also not one of his disciples, are you and he denied it and said I am not number two. One of the servants of the high priest are relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked Peter and Ken denied it once the rooster crowed. Yikes to Jesus had told Peter you know Peter before the cockroaches. We'll deny me three times. There is in the areas he denied him three times. I mentioned last time that this time is more forceful and with the just the servant girl who said that you guys hear someone who is actually a relative of Malka's says always he might've actually been there. He might've gone with Malka's but it it could possibly be that when Marcus came home with blood all over his toga, but with an ear on his head. He might've told some elder this guy might know you're not him.

What is his story. Why did I know I have. I have fantasized about writing one-act play. Oh with Malka's.

It would just be really fun but yeah we just don't know much about but we do know his name.

So when you get to heaven. You can ask around and maybe you know when were reading this narrative and these reap these details are repeated.

Why does John repeat that Peter was warming himself standing outside he was hearing it.

Nowhere where do you fit in this story were you worried you be standing at the fire warming yourself, listening, horrified, terrified that maybe somebody's got a call on you to defy and partially partially willing to be involved. You're very not hiding in the bushes, but then not enough involved, not just for Jesus when witnesses could been called and we don't know where the rest of them were not. We don't think just says that they ran away. We don't know why but it clearly not the narrative.

In test so well because I as I said, I think last week that struck me on this reading that this is a story contrasting Jesus and Peter were Jesus saying I am. I am truth and Peter saying I yeah exactly exactly. So you know if in a real sense, this entire debacle of the of the rest in all these trials and stuff like that is is really illuminating for the apostles themselves what they're made of. Or maybe what they're not really thought they were disciples. I thought they were followers, but it only goes so couple hours before Peter had said hey I'm willing to die with you right and he carried that little sword to the garden and was completely and effectively that right yeah exactly and you and I might point out to you ever thought about what would happen if Jesus if Peter had been successful with the sword of me. What he'd actually lock the head off of Malka's at that point. If there would've been a bloodied battle that would've been sued.

Many people estimate that there was roughly 500 Roman soldiers well then the 11 would have been killed. This was been arrested anyway. But there been no simple ones to send yes and that would all fall apart.

Yeah so so in a real sense when Peter wields that sword. God keeps him from being too catastrophic. He's totally exposed for the ineptitude and understanding that he and he is carrying in the Malka's thing makes us wonder from now until eternity. What was it true that maybe the people in the later church recognized Malka's his name. We don't know if there's something that happen there and God kept it from being a catastrophe.

Even though Peter's intentions were good, right but well says no you, they were mistaken they were mistaken. They were good but they were okay. Was move on this go with Jesus in front of pilot out already this 28 so then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters.

By the way you notice they didn't get much done it yet. The other Gospels give us a little more detail of some of these conversations, but John just says let's cut to the chase here right to finally go from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters early morning and they themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters so that they defiled, but could eat the Passover that stop us in our tracks about that they been up all night holding an illegal trial illegal trial ran yet. They're not going to set foot in the Roman governor's house so that they won't be defiled ceremonially observed clean. Oh and by the way just to remind you this isn't the Passover lamb were talking about. That was the night before.

But there's there's feasting that goes on after that that you be excluded from the Passover celebration so that's what they're talking about. We need to remain clean and we cannot walk into a Gentiles house and remain clean. What irony. I mean, what hypocrisy is there in the process of trying to get the king of Israel killed while so so because they couldn't go into the house pilot comes out first. 29 so Pilate went outside them and said well what accusation to brilliance this man and answer them all. If this man were not doing evil. We would not have delivered him over to for dummies and 31 so Pilate said to them will take yourselves judging by your own law, and the Jews said to him was not lawful for us to put anyone to death. This was to fulfill the word that Jesus spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. Stop. Break this well so yesterday when you know I think this is wonderfully accommodating a pilot he's been woken up in the middle of the night.

Well it's early, early morning, but I*right-I think you might be in the primary with. Regardless, he's probably inconvenient. Yes, in his coffee and let's put it that way. He's inconvenienced and these rabble-rousers outside about some guy in this those Jews and I comes out. The house is okay so does actually does the proper approach is oppose the beginning of this. He says okay well so what you accusation and that's what you do. Yes, the prosecutor was the acquisition was done that good for pilots we supposed to do and then instead of bringing to him a criminal statement, they just say if he wasn't doing evil we wouldn't be here like totally un-committal, but they didn't have any legal authority to put anyone to death. I know, but they also didn't have a legal crime crime so they couldn't state anything. They just basically said hey trust us. He's evil. So they go to and yet Jesus had said over and over and over again they're going to hand me over to the Gentiles right will lift me up exact die will be put to death, and that that term lifting up which he uses again and again and again Matthew Mark Luke John all use it several times, and John, when the Son of Man is lifted up clearly a reference to being lifted up on a pole lifted up early in the conversation with Nicodemus in John three yeah so so yeah it's been said many times, so we have to. So we have to have the crucifixion take the test be a Roman execute. That's all Roman means of execution which the Jews Jewish means of execution was stoning by the Romans, they were not allowed to stone anyone to death. Yeah. So this army so this fulfills the word that Jesus said about how he was going to die effect at the time.

He says that back Miller chapter John explains fourth account preview right so it's talking about right here and also that he be delivered to the Gentiles, which is a crazy thing. In many respects and that that shows up many time the gospel but I will be delivered over to the Gentiles. And here you are being delivered over the pilot is representing the Gentiles.

Also take your concordant. Look for that phrase lifted up or put to death, lifted up by depending on what translation but just look in the Gospels and see how many times Jesus had said the Son of Man must be lifted up, must be lifted up and see where it says is delivered to the Gentiles because here it is because he had said it again and again and again and they just it just like when over the head just didn't get it, and it's really a very amazing thing. According to the narrative because these guys are mad with Jesus. The religiously dramatic Jesus and you would think they would just take things in their own hands. Why involve the Gentiles. All I mean really doesn't make any sense. There are some reasons why they can't because of legally killing people stuff like that but you know later on they stoned Stephen so that when that was not really a legal action so much as it was a mob event down in that region. Yeah, exactly. But even still, you would figure them to be central to it and central to the execution, but interestingly the Gentiles are going to be involved in.

Jesus prophesied about that and boom here tapping.

Pilate put this point I see Pilate is kind of a he's accommodating kind of governor humming. He's doing okay so he's meeting with these people not accommodating governor. He was a bad trouble. The whole time. You will see, but in this particular instance. I'm saying we need to press on. Okay, because this conversation between Pilate and Jesus is is it's the critical 33 so Pilate entered his quarters again and called Jesus and said to him, are you the king of the Jews and Christians and Jesus answered do you say this on your own accord together say to you about me. Pilate answered and mind you your own nation and the chief priests and delivered you over to me.

What have you done Jesus answered my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world. Then Pilate said to himself you are okay. Jesus answered you say that I'm a king. For this purpose. I was born for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth.

Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.

Pilate said to him, what is truth and after he said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them I find no guilt in him, but you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews.

They cried out again, not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. We want the robber so you know, Pilate takes Jesus inside knowing that the religious leaders will not fall so he can have the site have a private conversation with Jesus and and and basically the first thing yes again, legally.

So is you know are you the king of Jews and Jesus says who's testifying against me asking the witnesses or that's what he says and 34 do you say this on your own. Are you accusing me as a witness or other say are the my witnesses so we Jesus is going back.

The process of the law who's bringing the accusation that that that's the only reason why he responds in 34 to process question and then Pilate enters 12th and might you test this is a Jewish questionnaire asking the wrong guy. Nobody says but it's your own nation that seems to be delivering you over to me, so, so, what are you doing, what have you done so he's doing the same thing that the high priest of you saying I want you to self accuse yourself which is technically is not lawful. He's put that witnesses and Pilate supposed to be the judge so that seem to self incriminate himself. What have you done and Jesus says in 36 well, my kingdom is not of this world.

If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting, that I might not be good for the Jews, but my kingdom is not from this world. So he's making a good legal point right there. He's basically saying look Caesar has nothing to worry about for me.

He would if I had a horde of people outside with swords and they were fight in all your soldiers, you would have a beef with me as king, but you don't. Do you see the soldiers know my soul. Jack is my kingdom from another is another place itself is not a kind entirely exactly so in the sense he's letting Pilate off the hook.

You saying you don't have a beef with me because I'm not trying to cause an armed insurrection here could do seem no you don't. But I am the king of another place and time in a sense.

So then Pilate presses me and also you are king. You are king and Jesus says what you say that I'm king and for this purpose. I was born he sang a big yes right here. I was born and for this purpose.

I've come into the world to take over the world. Now, to bear witness about the truth that there is another kingdom. Exact another king yeah of another type and so so either way it's an interesting thing that instead of a king who comes in Congress with forces a king that conquers and frees people through truth, is come to bring truth in it that rang for me when I read this again most frequent recently because it's because here you have a king who is coming to free us from the captivity of sin, almost like a rescuer like I commander. The captain does to come to rescue from that he's coming to bring force against the best against the polices of people who are holding us As truth that does this. He does this through his truth truth about what about who he is who he is and the nature of man, who we hire exactly what sin is right how much we need a Savior. So in a sense, in a sense he is establishing himself as king for the truth of what how the way things really are. He always has been a king.

That's the definition of truth is the way things really are not the way you think they are not the way you'd like them to be self deceived you know well this is my truth right kind of point of view. He says no there is a truth and absolute truth and I I am the witness that I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but through me. Yes to what you make of this closing comment by Pilate, cynical or just quizzical or what is truth because you notice there's no reply from Jesus and Pilate doesn't wait around for an answer doesn't say doesn't wait around.

But this is nothing about Pilate exactly this is about the Jews and their rejection of the living word has come, and dwelt among women made the glory of God, plainly visible, yet it tends to attend to give us impression up. I was not really interested in true unnecessarily. I'm just interested in maintaining peace right because there had been trouble after trouble after trouble.

Under his governorship and he was getting yanked out of there and sent back to Rome.

The right. If this all went bad which eventually… But it makes me think of when Paul wrote to Timothy, I think it's in second Timothy talks about these people who are always learning but the gist but they never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

I think that's what she is thinking about about Pilate right here really shouldn't truth so that the discussion stops with posting what is spouse pragmatist exactly as he just wants know what works. I want to have a coffee sale. This is get this thing done with you, so it says right after that he went back outside to the Jews could member the still outside waiting to hear the result of the conversation and the result of the conversation blows in the way I find no guilt in him another thinkable nuts were stuck, you know, we thought he would. He would do something to kill him. So then, in a way to come to pacify the crowd.

Pilate comes rounds as we have this tradition, you know, we can release somebody let let's say really really really somebody you know what you say really Cisco Jesus what you said about that and course it's a it's a move to appeal to the popular folks doesn't get if you give that choice to the ringleaders when I can go for and in corset turn drum is to give us brevis which which you know it it backfires on Pilate.

Now he has to keep Jesus because he said I'll release one and now he has to keep Jesus even though he's found a no guilt it. He thought he was doing and accommodating thing in the end he got shot himself for now. Now he stuck with Jesus and asked to do something and Barabbas. John tells us was a robber is more than a robbery was associated with an insurrection in which people died, but he truly was a threat. Isn't it interesting that Jesus a few chapters back in chapter 10 it said, you know that the robber is the one who comes to take life from the sheep but I'm the good Shepherd right but here the religious leaders of the nation of Israel say no give us a robber. Instead of this good Shepherd warped sense of values. Wow, and you might you might notice the fact that when when Pilate comes out to is I find no guilt in them. It it actually fulfills the claims about Jesus that he didn't die for his own guilt he died for our sin is not his own sin and even a pagan like Pilate look to Jesus and said he has no sins that I can see that are worth anything so and in a strange kind of backdoor way this pagan leader actually validate nicely about the fact that Jesus is.

This is fascinating so you know, just to wrap this up to split our time is now gone, we just skipped over completely, this thing that Jesus said everyone who is the truth listens to my voice exactly no when in reading this narrative that just struck me in the face to I listen to the voice of Jesus, the one who is the word of God sent to speak truth right and we already said that truth is a statement like the way things really are you listening to God as creator, his his thoughts about the way things really are.

Or do you prefer your version of the way things are and that for every single person. There's a different opinion about how things are. But Jesus sings one know how things really are a list that came to give you life and to give it abundantly exactly and he has king has come and conquered our hearts by using the truth. We agreed with them about about our situation with sin agree with him about his offer to deal with the problem once and we have actually embraced that truth and through the Holy Spirit. That's changed and that's what well really going to John 19 next week so we had with us and went to the season when we fix on fiction erections. These systems join us at apropos for this season so I'm Jim and I'm Dorothy love to have you back next week on more