Rossville Christian Church
Sunday, Nov 13th
- What A Beautiful Name
- It Is Well
- Intro:Choice, it seems such a little thing, that is until someone takes it away from you. We look all around our world at the fallout when choice has been stolen. However, maybe we take a more practical look at this:Choice example (easy choice, hard choice)
John 18:28–32 NIV Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.PrayerYou see everyone in this next part of John 18 has the choice, they can either walk by the Spirit or by the Flesh. It sometimes seems like an easy choice but instead we find that it is a difficult one, when we factor everything in. It is the same choices we face today, but let’s read and see what happens here, do the people Christ or the flesh as we witness the second part of the battle of the flesh vs. the Spirit.Jesus Given OverJohn 18:28 NIV Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.A. Roman Governor1. Praetoriana. House of the Governorb. So instead of taking him properly before council2. Took him before the Worlda. Didn’t want to do it themselvesb. Had excusesB. Early Morning1. Infers the Sun is upa. What does this meanb. Semblance of Right2. The Governor would be awarea. They took a contingent of soldiersb. So I am sure he was awaiting word3. Cleanlinessa. What is itb. Why would they be unclean?4. Thought the Passover meal was already donea. How do we reconcile this?b. It is a week long festivalc. Didn’t want to miss outd. Pride is evident herei. Important enough to kill a manii. Not so important as to miss passoverJohn 18:29–32 NIV So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.C. Charges1. Notice they never specify the chargesa. Only say He is a criminalb. They really didn’t have charges against Him2. Take care of thisa. They wanted Him deadb. Couldn’t kill Him during the Passoverc. Incorrect in saying we have no righti. Maybe by Roman law, only Rome could do that but according to the Bible they couldLeviticus 24:16 NASB95 ‘Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.d. They didn’t want justice they wanted murder3. So No Real Chargesa. They were making it up as they went alongb. They had no witnesses, no right and yet the proceededJesus’ ProclamationJohn 18:33–35 NIV Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”A. Pilot Interviews Jesus1. Are you the Kinga. Great questionb. The answer could be deathc. No one but Caesar2. Jesus responds with a questiona. Who am I talking to?b. But Jesus already knowsi. Takes every opportunity to tell the truthii. Even one that seems hopeless2 Timothy 4:2 NIV Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.c. Ready to give an account3. Am I Jewa. Pilate’s prideb. Disgusted by the assumptionc. Pride always rejects instead of contemplates when challengedEphesians 4:2 NASB95 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,d. This was for the Church but applies herei. Pilate was unwilling to hear the possibilityii. Unwilling to accept the TruthB. Everyone with TruthJohn 18:36–37 NIV Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”1. Not of this Worlda. Telling the Truthb. Nothing higherc. Funny side note, puts the responsibility for His death back upon the Jewsi. Still belonged to Pilate as well though2. You are a Kinga. Funny how Jesus interviews Pilate hereb. Then He gets Pilate to proclaim the Truthi. Reluctantlyc. If you care about the Truth you will listeni. Those who love Christii. Know the Truthiii. Revel in the TruthJohn 18:38 NIV “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.3. The Trutha. Pilate rejects the Truth in arroganceb. But in action can’t help but be convictedc. This is the power of the Word of Godi. Bends all to Its willii. It has authority on Earth and in HeavenJohn 12:48 NASB95 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.iii. Ties right into thisd. Jesus isn’t worried what happens nexti. World has not power but what it give themJohn 19:11 NIV Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”4. Ultimate Rejection of TruthJohn 18:39–40 NIV But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.a. Given the choiceb. Back in the gardenc. Jesus had to be the example of the right choice this timei. Jesus has a choice here as well.Conclusion: John 18:28–32NIV2011
John 18:28NIV2011
John 18:29–32NIV2011
Leviticus 24:16NIV2011
John 18:33–35NIV2011
2 Timothy 4:2NIV2011
Ephesians 4:2NIV2011
John 18:36–37NIV2011
John 18:38NIV2011
John 12:48NIV2011
John 19:11NIV2011
John 18:39–40NIV2011
- O Praise The Name (Anástasis)
- Your Grace Is Enough