Daily Scripture Reading John 18:37 - 19:18
Throughout the centuries, humans have pondered truth. Philosophers argue whether or not absolute truth even exists, and if so, how does one find or discover truth. Modern society, including many so-called Christians, downplay truth. They refuse to acknowledge the existence of absolute truth. They discourage the pursuit of truth. Instead, they believe feelings and emotional highs are the objective of life and should be pursued at the expense of all else.
When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, He told Pilate why He came into the world. He came to bear witness to the truth. This indicates truth is something true Christians should value very highly and pursue with vigor.
After Jesus was arrested, they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest. Annas sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest himself. The Jews were determined to get rid of Jesus. However, the Jews did not have the authority to put anyone to death. Therefore, they took Jesus to Pilate and tried to persuade Pilate to condemn Jesus. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews. Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world.
John 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You yourself said I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Jesus made a clear statement about why He came into the world. He was born to become king. Also, He came to earth to bear witness to the truth.
Modern society, including many so-called Christians, downplay truth. They refuse to acknowledge the existence of absolute truth. They discourage the pursuit of truth. Instead, they believe feelings and emotional highs are the objective of life and should be pursued at the expense of all else.
However, if Jesus came to earth to bear witness to the truth, and He did, then we Christians should place a very high value on the pursuit and acquisition of truth.
John 18:38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” ¶ And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
Ponder Pilate’s question. What is truth? Throughout the centuries, humans have pondered this question. Philosophers argue whether or not absolute truth even exists, and if so, how does one find or discover truth. Apparently, Pilate had questions in his mind regarding truth, or perhaps he was one who doubted the existence of truth. When Jesus confidently declared He had the ability to bear witness to the truth, Pilate either wanted an explanation, or his question was his way of telling Jesus there is no such thing as absolute truth.
True Christians know there is such a thing as absolute truth. The Bible itself is truth. We know for certain the history and declarations in the Bible are true. Since Jesus came to earth to bear witness to the truth, then we Christians should value and pursue truth.
John 18:39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?”
John 18:40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 19:1 ¶ Pilate then took Jesus and flogged Him.
This gives us insight into their system of justice. Pilate had just declared that he found no guilt in Jesus, yet he flogged Jesus anyway.
John 19:2 And when the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him;
If you have ever banged your head against something hard or sharp, you know it is very painful. The head is very sensitive to pain. Now imagine an entire crown of thorns being placed on your head. The pain is unimaginable.
John 19:3 and they were coming to Him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were giving Him slaps in the face.
John 19:4 And Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.”
This is the second time Pilate said Jesus was innocent.
John 19:5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”
John 19:6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”
This is the third time Pilate declared Jesus innocent. However, Pilate did not attempt to protect Jesus. Instead, he told the Jews to do to Jesus whatever they wanted.
John 19:7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
The accusation that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God is different than the accusation that Jesus claimed to be a king. Claiming to be a king is insurrection against Rome. Claiming to be the Son of God implies being a deity.
John 19:8 ¶ Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he became more afraid;
Notice the phrase “he became more afraid”. Why was Pilate afraid? I assume Pilate was afraid because he probably knew about the healings of Jesus. He knew there was something different about Jesus. If the explanation for Jesus’ healing ability was that He was the Son of God, meaning He was a God, then Pilate recognized he was dealing with someone much more powerful than himself.
John 19:9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
John 19:10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”
John 19:11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
As we read this passage, we see the cowardice of Pilate. He knew Jesus was innocent, yet he was afraid to do the right thing and release Jesus. However, Jesus declared that Pilate was not as guilty as the one who delivered Jesus to Pilate.
Who delivered Jesus to Pilate? It was Judas, the Jewish leaders, and Caiaphas, the high priest. They were the ones with the greater sin.
John 19:12 As a result of this Pilate kept seeking to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself to be a king opposes Caesar.”
The Jews understood Pilate’s weakness. Pilate had to keep Caesar happy in order to keep his position. The Jews emphasized that Jesus claiming to be king was rebellion against Caesar. Pilate could not do anything that would create doubt about his loyalty to Rome.
John 19:13 ¶ Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
John 19:14 Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”
John 19:15 So they cried out, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
John 19:16 ¶ So he then delivered Him over to them to be crucified.
After several years of plotting to rid themselves of Jesus, the Jewish leaders finally got their wish.
John 19:17 ¶ They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.
John 19:18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.
Don’t minimize the significance of the Creator of the universe allowing Himself to be killed by mere humans.
Jesus said He came into the world to bear witness to the truth.
Do the leaders and people of your church place more attention on feelings and emotions, or on knowledge and truth?
What does your church do that either prioritizes truth or minimizes the value of truth?
What should churches be doing to give truth the priority it deserves?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”