The King before the judge -John 18:28-35

After 18 again.

Before we begin let us let us start out with another word of prayer here Lord God, we just thank you and we worship you as as King and Lord and priest and lamb and Lord as everything that you've revealed yourself to be God,.

I would pray that as we Come here today that you might help us Be ready to go out into the world this week and to make disciples of everyone that we come across the Lord and that the evangelism Might be upon each of our tongues and that the banner behind us might be the cross and you crucify the Lord God.

I just pray that in the preaching of today's word and the hearing of it Lord that you would be glorified above all things And that people might know more about you today and God. I would pray too that we might grow as Christians from the day and that we also might have not only the spiritual growth But we also might be blessed with the numerical growth in this church Lord for there are sinners in this community That need to know the gospel and Lord what a privilege it is for us to know who you are Lord.

I pray over this text once again that your will be done and that your word might be proclaimed and we say these things in Your name the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. We're going to be in John chapter 18 today.

John chapter 18 we're going to be focusing on verses 28 through 35 for today's message John 18 28 through 35. John 18 28.

Let us.

First read over this text and we'll offer another prayer and then we'll talk about some more of the context of what's going on. And start going through these verses. As as the Lord provides for us today, so let us read 28 through 35.

They.

Led Jesus. Therefore are there therefore from Caiaphas into the praetorium. And it was early and they themselves Did not enter into the praetorium in order that they might not defile. They might not be defiled.

But might eat the Passover. Pilate therefore went out to them and said what Accusations do you bring against this man? They answered and said to him if this man were not an evil doer. If he were not an evil doer we would not have delivered him to you.

Pilate therefore said to him To them take him yourselves and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him we are not permitted to put anyone to death. That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spoke signifying by what kind of death he was about to die.

Pilate therefore entered again into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him. Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered are you saying this on your own initiative or did others tell you about?

Pilate answered I am NOT a Jew. Am I your own nation and the chief priests delivered you up to me. What have?

You done?

Let us pray over this text.

Lord.

God I would pray that Us as a corporate church that seeks to worship you as our triune God Lord that we Would be quick to remember that all these things in this Old Testament point to you. The very kings and the judges pointed to you the very Passover and the priests pointed to you and so Lord God I would ask that as we come before this text that we might recognize you as such the king of the Jews and Lord that you are the king of kings and the Lord of lords.

God.

We also would ask that we would might recognize that when this question is asked, what have you done? We recognize that it is nothing you have done as a menace. That's nothing but good and truth And love and mercy and righteousness that you have done for us Lord.

So God Help us remember these things and let us recognize you in this text Lord and let your glory be Magnified today above all things and we just say this in your name Jesus Christ. Amen.

As.

We've gone through this text in John chapter 18. I want to remind us of the context of where we're at right now. This is literally hours before the cross. Maybe maybe even getting closer than just hours.

It is right there. It's it's right before Jesus Christ in this time and not only this but in this chapter in verses 12 124 we see that Jesus has now been judged by Ananias the uncle of Caiaphas the high priest that year, but Ananias I can't pronounce that name correctly, but Ananias is Seen as the supreme ruler in those days that this is the guy that everybody goes to he's he's been a high priest.

Years before his sons have been high priests and now his nephew is my priest. And so Jesus has been judged by him. He's been judged by Caiaphas and now in verses 25 through 27 and a little bit before that as well.

We had the privilege of having Sam take us through what it looks like for Peter One of Jesus's most devout followers and one of his his closest friends Deny him three times thus filling prophecy uttered by Jesus Christ himself.

And so Jesus has now not only been judged by two rulers of Jerusalem in this time. But he's also been denied by his servants those that he's been Working with in these last couple these last three years three and a half years.

And now we see Jesus go from being at the high priest's door and being judged in that place. We now see that Jesus has come before Another judge and this is now pilot that we are looking at right now.

And so I would ask again that we remember what has come before this text and church. This is sad text in here. This is very sad as I've been studying through John 18 and.

Looking at what we're going to be getting into the future.

I've studied this text several times as I hope you have but to prepare a message for us Has been accompanied with many tears and heartbreak so that's what it was like in those days to see Jesus. Be fitted with a crown of thorns and be judged by men that had no authority to judge him and and so on and so forth.

So just remember the weight this darkness that is becoming over Christ. But we need to also remember what's about to happen in the future is that this darkness will not defeat the light but the light Will defeat the darkness in the his death burial and resurrection and that's what we look to as the light.

So don't be consumed by the sadness that's happening here in this text look to Jesus and remember what he accomplished in his death and burial and resurrection. But in verse 28 is where we're going to start specifically verse 28 starts out with saying they led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas and as we go on later in this text We're going to look into another gospel account as we probably will for every single Sunday.

Until we're done with the gospel of John because they are so. They're able to be harmonized with each other. We can look at Matthew and see things. But we see John didn't record and they make sense together and so on and so forth.

They give us a more well-rounded picture of what's going on here, but we're gonna see some more context later on in today. What happens between Jesus being led from Caiaphas to Pilate and not only that but what is taking place?

While Jesus himself is being judged by Pilate and the Jews in his day. So it says here in verse 28. They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the praetorium and as I was reading this I think it is just interesting to think about how Judas that has just betrayed Jesus had to grab a group of Roman cohort a 600 group of men to come capture Jesus and Jesus had a single utterance of a word about who he is makes them fall down before him and in this text It is recorded as such that they.

Led.

They led Jesus. I mean immediately go to Proverbs chapter 16 and you can follow me here if you'd like. And Proverbs chapter 16 verse 9.

It says this in here.

Proverbs 16 verse 9 the mind of man plans his way. But the Lord directs his steps. The mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps now. Let's turn to Acts chapter 4 verses 27. Acts chapter 4 27 through 29 if you didn't turn to Proverbs with me, I would ask that you absolutely turn to Acts Chapter 4 with me.

Acts chapter 4 verse 27 through 29 or verse 27 through 29 and this is going to be a common reading in this text that we're going to read. Multiple times as we look at this crucifixion account here in John.

But Acts chapter 4 verse 27 through 29. It says this for truly in this city. There were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus. Whom thou didst appoint both Herod and Pontius Pilate. Along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel.

To do whatever thy hand and thy purpose predestined to occur and now Lord take note of their threats and grant thy bondservants may speak thy words with all confidence. Speaking about what just took place days before and that's what we're reading in John chapter 18.

So as these people are leading Jesus from this high priest to Pilate. They think that they have this authority over Jesus. But we see a better and more supreme authority even over the people that are committing this most heinous act of betraying Jesus.

And that is to do whatever the hand of the Lord and predestined to take place the Responsibility lies absolutely upon the men that are leading him, but it is taking place in such a way that God has glorified himself.

John chapter 18 going back here in verse. Verse 28 this like I said that Acts chapter is Speaking about this overall picture of what we see in this day in this hour in John chapter 18 to John chapter 20 we see this this Terribleness that's taking place and this is the Acts chapter 4 verse 27 through 29 covers the purpose of why that took place in that way.

But let us read it again. They led Jesus. Therefore from Caiaphas this high priest this one that represented Jesus Christ who was supposed to into the praetorium. And it was early so it has now gone from Christ has been in this this this room with his disciples feeding them and breaking bread and blessing wine and partaking in fellowship with his fellow fellow brethren in this this ministry effort that he's doing and and he's gone from that and Over time there's been less and less people following him in less than even 20 to 12 hours at this point.

He's gone into the garden his disciples have fallen asleep those that followed him down there and and not only this now but down. Jesus has been denied three times and It is now early in the morning. So it's gone through the night and Jesus's has been effortlessly Going and walking continually towards the cross without stutter without stopping without questioning.

What the purpose that he's going to be doing here soon? He continues to go forward and so it's early in the morning and they themselves Speaking of the Jews they themselves did not enter into the praetorium in order that they might not.

Be defiled.

But might eat the Passover. And we've talked about this many times church, and I hope you only know what was the reason for the Passover in Exodus. It was to save the children of Israel. It was this to remember what Yahweh God did for them and the escaping Egypt.

It was this way to commemorate what God had done for them. But it was also to point forward to Jesus Christ himself and so they don't want to defile themselves. So that they can go eat something that points to the very person.

They're betraying. Don't you see the great hypocrisy? That's taking place in this text. These Jewish men the ones that represent Christ. That are supposed to be that aren't but let's be clear in this.

This is unbelievers that are supposed to be as a nation representing Christ. I'm him step after step. Are we doing this in any way in our efforts to evangelize the world today? I Don't want to defile myself.

So I can then go to church. I'm going to keep my tradition. So I I don't mess this up. The Jews are unwilling to go with their Messiah into his judgment, but they're putting him before the judge. So that they can go and do something that represents Christ himself the Passover.

Terrible terrible test.

Verse 29 goes on to say. This pilot therefore went out to them and said what accusations do you bring against this man? Pilot if you don't know pilot has been appointed to be the governor the fifth governor of Judea in this day.

And he's been doing this for about 10 years. And you have extra biblical resources that record the pilot as well as these Biblical resources that that regard pilot and see him as such. They see him as a proud Arrogant cynical judge this governor that has been appointed over this and that's a little bit more of a context.

Of what pilot is in this day? Depending on the Historian that has recorded this for us. It has been recently in Jesus's day and there's even thought that it took place in the year that Jesus was crucified.

That they have turned over the rights of capital punishment.

To the Romans.

To pilot himself to be able to make judgment on who would die. So the Jews have taken all they've said here you deal with this now you deal with casting out judgment upon killing somebody or Putting someone to death and it has been transferred to the Romans now.

And so some historians would say that it's it's actually the first year. This is taking place that we see Christ and his crucifixion. And that's why we see the Jews answering in certain ways here in this text.

Which will make a mention of here and then some say that it was years before but the point of it is this is that? The Jews recognize that. They want to stone Jesus for blaspheming God in their opinion for claiming to be God in flesh.

They want to do this, but they have sought the means of crucifixion by the Romans in order to carry out this action and so they Don't want the blood on their robes. They want to put it on someone else.

They don't want the blood of Jesus on their hands. And so they're putting it to somebody. And so 29 once again pilots this this proud and arrogant leader of Rome in this area. Pilot therefore went out to them and to make this clear this would be in a sense to put this in perspective for us.

Let's say Brad little is this governor that we're talking about and he resides in the capital people have taken this prisoner this Jew to the capital and put him in and he's been taken into Brad little and so instead of the Jews continuing on to talk to why they have brought these accusations in Brad little's area of judgment.

They're saying no, we're good and it's making Brad little this leader this one that has supposed great authority. He has to be now the middleman between What accusations have been brought against him and the people that have done it?

And so he's going back and forth back and forth and and that I hope that makes you think. Would that happen today with any? Governor of today get out of his office to go before people to then go back to the prisoner and then go back to the People and do this back-and-forth thing that we see in this text.

No, it wouldn't it really wouldn't. That's what is happening in this text. Is that pilot is being treated as the middleman. He's being treated in this way. Pilot therefore went out to them and said what accusation so Jesus is now before him.

He sees him and he goes out to the people to Jews. He said what accusations do you bring against this man?

And it's a great question.

Because.

Pilots.

Recognizing there's no doubt that pilots knows about the Roman cohort that has gone out to capture a man. He being the governor would know these kind of things. And he does but he understands that he to put somebody to death has to have an Accusation a reason to do so and these people pushed him in the door and taking their hands away.

He doesn't have this weight of killing Jesus yet, and so he goes to the Jews. He says what accusations do you bring against this man? And they answered and said to him. They answered and said to him. If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him up to you.

And so essentially what the Jews are doing is not giving any reason For pilot to kill Jesus, but saying look. There's a reason that there was that Roman cohort that you know about pilot. There was a reason that they went out to capture this man.

There's a reason that we as a this mob of people have come before your praetorian. Which we wouldn't be doing just out of the blue. There's got to be a reason for this pilot. Just just go for that. That's the reason that that's good enough for you to be able to go and kill Jesus.

Just take our word for it. Don't do it. Don't put into judgment. The Jews did not want this to happen. The Jews wanted this to be here's Jesus and it's done. We can now go eat the Passover. There's no more need for us to be here.

That's what the Jews were seeking. That's why they took him to pilot was so that this could take place in such a way. But it's not in their mind. And so they're now getting asked why why why is Jesus here?

Why is this Jew here? Why is this person before me and They're just saying take our word for it pilot. Take our word for it now consider this with this work in any court of law today. You take a prisoner before a judge and no one has charges to press against and what happens to the prisoner?

He gets to go. Why was this person before me in the first place? This is strange that it's happening in this way church.

And why is it happening in this way?

Because it is the way that God at hand God's hand has predestined it to take place and it is taking place as such. That's the only reason that's taking place like this. Pilot Therefore went out to them and said what accusations you bring to this man?

They answered to him just take us at our word essentially is what they're saying. Just take it for what we have done. We are in good standing with you pilot. We recognize your authority. We want you to put him to death.

Just take our word for it. Just take our word for it. Pilot therefore said to them take him yourselves and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him we are not permitted to put anyone to death.

This is where that capital punishment has now been transferred to pilot to perform.

So the Jews.

Interestingly enough have already sought to kill Jesus. They now have taken it a step further and they want to kill him in such a way. By lifting up the Son of Man. They want to do it in this gruesome and terrible way of crucifixion.

And so they have done this and this means to put him before pilot thinking that it would just be a quick trial a quick Judgment a quick death. We don't want the blood on our hands again. We want this this terrible punishment crucifixion to be brought about by your judgment on ours.

You'd make the choice. Pilot therefore said to them take him Yourselves and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him. We are not permitted to put anyone to death. This is pilot. Once again, this proud and arrogant cynical leader of Rome this leader in Judea here is before the Jews and recognizes what they are trying to do the silliness of.

That statement we wouldn't have brought him to you if there was. If he doesn't deserve death we wouldn't have done that pilot. He understands the silliness of this this statement. Once again pilot has order or not even order but understands the 600 men have gotten Jesus.

He knows all these things. He says look. Take him yourselves. Why am I dealing with my precious time as the governor here? Why am I doing this right now? I'm having to walk back and forth and be this mediator between Christ and the Jews.

I have to be said to be this messenger back and forth. Why you guys deal with this? The Jews therefore said to him and they admit now what they are trying to get at. We are not permitted to put anyone to death.

Church the Jews are recognizing the law of their day. They're recognizing that they shouldn't kill Jesus because not because they shouldn't do it. But because the law doesn't let them do it. Is this a good thing for them to be obedient to their law in this text?

They're obedient to their authority. Pilot in this text we are not permitted to put anyone to death and so that is what they're seeking and then we see in verse.

32.

That the Word of Jesus Might be fulfilled which he spoke. Signifying by what kind of death he was about to die and we're going to turn and look at what this means. About what kind of death he was about to die.

John chapter 3 verse 14. John chapter 3 verse 14. John chapter 3 verse 14 says this. But as a reminder, this is not a New Testament Prophecy alone the crucifixion of Christ is found all throughout the Old Testament.

You see it in the Passover itself. But not only this but very vividly in Psalms chapter 22 it is prophesied about the way Christ is going to die. So could Jesus have died by the Jews by getting stoned?

No, because one that is not how God has declared it predestined and made it to be. To he is prophesied about the way that Christ was going to die. And so since it's a prophecy from God that can't be violated and in Psalm 22 It very clearly talks about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

So Jesus has to be crucified. He has to be. Because God has declared it and that's what the men are seeking to do to him. He has to be. John chapter 3 verse 14 says this and as Moses Lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so.

Must the Son of Man be lifted up if Jesus was stoned. Would he have been lifted up? No, he wouldn't have been. That is just one of the many times Jesus says that he must be lifted up. Signifying what kind of death he was about to die.

We see this in John chapter 8 verse 28. John chapter 12 verse 32 and once again that Sad glorious text of Psalm chapter 22 Jesus had to be lifted up. He had to be. We see in John 3 that this was to complete and fulfill the foreshadowing of Moses.

In the wilderness lifting up this bronze serpent upon a staff so that people could be healed. We see that fulfillment in Christ that Christ had to be lifted up so that all those that would look at him Recognize him come to him fall before him.

Fear him. Love him so on and so forth, but have faith in him would be saved. It had to be done in this way back to John chapter 18. John 18 as a reminder as we're turning back here. It says in John 18 that the this had to be done to signify the kind of death which he was going to die.

And that's why Jesus spoke of these words. This is another clear example of.

Omniscience all knowing.

Christ spoke that he had to be lifted up.

Years before.

This judgment.

Christ is all-knowing.

He prophesied about his own death. Any same man that was not God in flesh that was making these accusations would have said I'm gonna get stoned I'm just gonna get killed in the streets because that's what the Jews were seeking to do over and over and over again.

Jesus says I.

Must be lifted up and we see it take place in that exact way. We need to have full confidence that Jesus knows all things.

This is another clear text about this.

That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spoke Signifying by what kind of death he was about to die. This is another not only the fact that he's omniscient, but he's all-powerful and he's declared it to be so.

The silliness of pilot going back and forth between the people and Jesus. The silliness of the Jews trying to have this expedient trial the the.

Ridiculousness of.

Crucifying Christ for no accusation whatsoever is a showing that God is working here. That God is doing this For his glory and the redeeming people for himself. God is working in this text as well. We see this that the that it might be fulfilled.

Which he spoke speaking of God in flesh. Jesus Christ signifying what kind of death he was about to die.

Crucifixion.

Crucifixion now this is where I want to pause and give some more Context of what is taking place in the background as we're reading this text as pilot is going back and forth between the Jews Pharisees and Jesus.

What is going on? Around him. I want to turn to Matthew Chapter 27. John does not record this for us, but Matthew 27 does. Matthew 27 specifically verses 1 through 10. Record something very very interesting that I think we can take note of.

Matthew chapter 27 verses 1 through 10. 27 verse 1 through 10 it says this and we'll pause here. Make notes of very important things in this text. Now when the morning had come. This is speaking out of that early morning that John is talking about in the morning and come.

All the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. Once again, the Jews are not bringing Jesus before Pilate.

In a.

Unplanned way, they're intentionally doing this so that Christ might be crucified.

They're.

Deliberating it together to Conspire against Jesus. And it says in verse 2. And they bound him and led him away. That's where we see in John 18 verse 28. They led him away and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.

When then. So this is now the backstory of what's going on. We understand this verses 1 through 2. This is now something that is not recorded for us in John. It says then when Judas that betrayer the one that just received 30 coins for.

Betraying Jesus.

Says then when Judas had been have been Who had betrayed him saw that he had been condemned Which Judas already knew would take place. He felt remorse and returned.

30 pieces of silver.

To the chief priests and elders. I want to pause here and make no Remorse and returning something is not the same as repentance. Judas is not a repentant believer in this text. Judas is remorseful that he has betrayed Jesus and he doesn't turn to Jesus for forgiveness.

That's not repentance. That's just a sad feeling for doing something wrong against your friend. It says that he takes the 30 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests. So the wage of Jesus Christ himself the money that he was betrayed with he takes it back to the chief priests and elders.

After Jesus has been led away and it's saying saying I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. But they said what is that to us? See to that yourself the Jews don't say He wasn't innocent. He blasphemed the name of God.

They say what is that to us? These are the same people that are leading Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate. These are the same people that said that I am the ethnic Jew the nation of Israel. I am God's chosen people and they say that to the day.

What is that to us? You ask a Jew today about Jesus Christ being God in flesh. They will say what is that to us? They reject Christ. They don't know him. Saying I have sinned by betraying innocent blood, but they say what is that to us?

See that to yourself and instead of Judas running to Jesus he says he threw the pieces of silvers into the sanctuary and departed and he went away and hanged himself and The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said is it not lawful?

To put them into the temple treasury since it is by the price of blood since it is a price of blood. The Jews are continually Holding this law that say supposedly follow which they aren't Above recognizing Jesus.

This is why it's so difficult to go through this text Church. It is sad and terrible things that when you're saying take place in here. And they counseled together the same way that they counseled together against Jesus.

They counseled together and with the money Bought the potter's field as a burial place for strangers and to give a little bit more context this potter's field Is in the Valley of Hinnom in that Valley of Gehenna that we talked about that represented hell they purchased land.

In the Valley of Hinnom this potter's field the place where potters would go down to get the clay for pots. They go down there and buy this field with the money that they betrayed Jesus with and that it says in here.

For this reason that the field had been called the field of blood this day in the book of Acts. It makes reference to this field later on. But it says that they buy this place that is now known and called the field of blood this day.

Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled saying. And they took the 30 pieces of silver the price of the one whom Or the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel and they gave them for the potter's field as the Lord Directed me.

I just want to make reference really quickly to the book of Zechariah where some of that Prophecy that is being spoken of is being fulfilled. It also comes from Jeremiah. But we're focusing for real quickly in Jeremiah chapter 11 verse 13.

And I just want to make mention of this to see the clarity of the fulfillment of Scripture taking place in this text. Jeremiah 11 verse 13. We'll just read verses 11 11 to 14 let's do that Said so it was broken on that day and thus The afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that I it was the word of the Lord.

And I said to them if it is good in your sight give me my wages, but if not never mind. So they weighed out 30.

Shekels.

Silver 30 coins. Silver. They weigh out 30 shekels of silver as my wage. Then the Lord said to me throw it to the potter. That magnificent price. This is God speaking in here. Throw it to the potter that magnificent price.

To which I was valued to them.

So I took the 30 shekels of silver and threw it through them.

To the potters.

To the potter in the house of the Lord. Then I cut my second staff communion pieces to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. This was a reality in Zachariah's day. But a foreshadowing of what Jesus is doing in this text.

You amazing the fulfillment that takes place in this that was Zachariah chapter 11 verse 13. Let us go back to John 18 now.

John 18 verse 33. I.

Hope that gives us a little bit better of a picture of not only the prophecy that Christ is fulfilling being before Pilate. But the prophecy that's taking place down the street around the corner so on and so forth away from him about himself.

Continually being fulfilled in such a way by sinful man throwing the 30 shekels in the temple. It's being fulfilled over and over and over again. Three three says this pilot therefore entered again in the praetorium.

So he's now leaving the Jews once more and he comes over to the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him Are you the king of the Jews? They want me to mention here once more. The accusation that the Jews have made against Jesus is not.

They have not said that Jesus is the king of Jews in this sentence. They have said no we we will hand brought him to you if it wasn't for a good reason pilot. Pilot now comes to Jesus and we see something here.

They says are you the king of the Jews? Pilot knew why he was captured once again. I knew the pilot is well knowing of what is taking place in this he understands the betrayal that's going on right now.

He understands that he gets it. And so he says are you the king of the Jews? Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered are you saying this on your own initiative or did others tell you about me? This is not a text that shows that Christ isn't all-knowing.

This is once again the way that God has seen talking all the time in the Old Testament. Questioning somebody in fact, I would ask in this text that Jesus answers in such a way that it is not him. That is on trial any longer.

It is now pilot that is on trial before him. Are you saying this on your own initiative? Or did others tell you about me now you answer me that pilot answered I Am NOT a Jew. Your own nation and the chief priests.

Delivered you up to me. What have you done? Church let me ask this question is Christ the king of the Jews.

Yes.

Christ is the king of the Jews. What was inscribed above his head at the crucifixion?

King of the Jews.

Is that a worthy accusation to be crucified over? Yes. Yes. He is. Verse 19 in chapter 19 says this and pilot wrote an inscription also and put it on the cross and it was written Jesus the Nazarene the king of.

The Jews.