John 18:33b-37 (Sermon for the week of November 26th)

Gospel
Jn 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

SERMON:
It's important to cover some history with this week's lesson. This look back at history will give us better insight into what is taking place in this reading from the Gospel of John. First, we need to remind ourselves
who "Pilate" is. Pilate's first name was Pontius. He was a Roman governor who was in charge of the area that the Jews inhabited called Judea. Rome was in full control of a large area of the Middle East and the Roman Empire needed to have governors in control of the miliary troops assigned to specific geographic and strategic areas. Roman governors were also in charge of all the duties involved in collecting money for Caesar and the Roman republic/empire. Pilate has two unique traits to his rule that should be mentioned. First of all, there were few Roman governors who had judicial rule over their provinces. Pilate had final judicial authority. He had judicial authority over the Jews. Pilate also governed for a longer time than most Roman governors. In fact Pilate governed over the Jews from the time of John the Baptist to the year 36 AD...a few years after the resurrection of Jesus. So, Pilate knew of many of the events surrounding King Herod, John the Baptist, and the fall of King Herod's son BEFORE Pilate became governor, for this was the reason why Pilate was placed in control of the area by Caesar.

So, when Pilate was presented with what he saw as an innocent man being accused of wrong doing...he couldn't understand why and most likely wished to acquit Jesus. To a Roman, it seemed ludacris for the Jews to choose the release of Barabbas over Jesus and ask that Jesus be killed in place of a known, convicted criminal because the Jews were insulted that Jesus spoke of Himself as the "I AM" and the King of the Jews. Why kill any man for this accusation of kingship when Rome ruled the Jews and could really care less if the Jews lived or died? The only concern Pilate had was to cover his own rear and to make sure Jesus didn't say he is the King of Rome, which would be punishable by Roman law and to keep the Jews quiet. A revolution or uprising would destroy Pilates career as governor and Pilate had the unfortunate duty of ruling judicially over the Jews. So, it became a game where Pilate played lip service to the Jews just to keep things peaceful.

This is why Pilate asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews. I believe Pilate knows that Jesus is not challenging Caesar...and is instead trying to keep the Jews happy. I think this because of Jesus' answer. As the Son of God and Creator...Jesus knew exactly what Pilate would ask and why. Jesus turns the tables! He takes control of the questioning by nicely questioning Pilate...

"Do you say this on your own, or have others told you about me?"

In other words Jesus askes Pilate: "Are you, Pilate, alone asking me this or playing lip service to the Jews?" It places Pilate in a difficult position, one that a Roman governor couldn't rule was sarcasm, but would put him in his place...as a man who is caught between the Jews and Rome. A MAN who is in the middle between the Jews and the heathen Roman empire and has Jesus, a mysterious innocent "man" standing before him.

One must think about the following question:
It would make logical sense for Jesus to just fess up and tell Pilate that this all was getting out of control, and He didn't mean to call Himself the King of the Jews...wouldn't it?

Any sane man, woman, child, guru, swami, or teacher would call it quits and get out of a situation that could bring the death sentance...Pilate would have released Jesus if he confessed...only an insane man OR a Son of God (who is the Creator and knows exactly what is taking place because He is the only worthy sacrafice for man), would carry on with this unrighteous, undeserving persecution all because He has admitted to being the "king of the Jews".

RIGHT? Wouldn't you retract any and all verbal statements you said that has led to your arrest? If the police came and dragged you out of your house and placed you in front of a judge for calling yourself the King of the World and faced a death sentance if convicted, how many seconds would pass before you would rapidly confess how silly you were and apologize for the mis-communication?

For Jesus not to confess would mean three things:
1) You are suicidal
2) You are insane and suicidal
3) You are the Son of God and must be crucified as the only worthy sacrafice for mankind.

Pilate asked Jesus:
"Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?"

Great question Pilate!
What did Jesus do? Was born through the lines of David just as the prophets fortold?
Well, Yes...
Was born in the time that the wise men said the Messiah would come?
Well, yes...
Taught better than any Pharisee or Saducee?
Well, yes...
Fulfilled all of the prohecies?
umm..yes...
Weren't the Jews expecting a Messiah?
Yes...

So, why kill Jesus?
Because Jesus claimed to be the Messiah?!
Yes.

REALLY?! YOU ARE SEVERELY CRUEL AND IN NEED OF SOME JUDGEMENT!

You tell me what Jesus did against Rome or the Jews in order to justify His crucifixion!

One must agree that there wasn't a justified reason for a Roman governor to sentance Jesus to crucifixion. Nor is there a justification for the Jews to influence a Roman governor by seeking the death of anyone calling themselves King of the Jews.

For those of us who have been given enough insight through the medium of the Holy Spirit to know who Jesus is...why He came...and why He died and resurrected should take comfort in Jesus' answer to Pilate...

"My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. "

Yes, rest faithers in Christ that Jesus at anytime could will the destruction of any one and any thing. He didn't becuase He had to die...His purpose was not to punish but to give eternal life...He resurrected to prove who He was.
FOR NO MAN OR WOMAN OR BEAST WILL EVER AND CAN EVER CONQUER THE GRAVE!!
It is His world...His Creation...we need to awaken to the predestined works given to us and rest in the All powerful Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus' kingdom is not here as we see earth right now. This is our rock, for which we inhabit. Our bodies will die on this rock, but eternal life is there free for the taking...if YOU LEARN TO LISTEN to what Our Lord speaks!

Pontius Pilate's mind must be spinning in circles after what he has just seen and heard from Jesus. He is choosing to stick to the "safe" middle ground that so many run to...safe is not faith. Faith takes work...not inaction and refusing to take a side on the issue of Jesus being a man or being the Messiah.

PICK ONE:
1) JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD AND WILL GRANT THOSE WHO BELIEVE ETERNAL LIFE

2) JESUS WAS A GOOD AND WISE TEACHER WHO HAD A DEATH WISH AND WAS MENTALLY UNSTABLE

3) "ALL OF THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE LIES BECAUSE WELL...I FEEL THAT THEY ARE LIES AND WERE CREATED FOR THE REASON OF TRICKING ME INTO SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE...UMM...I DON'T KNOW WHY! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE... IT JUST IS NOT POSSIBLE SO I REFUSE TO BELIEVE JESUS IS THE MESSIAH!"

I will conclude this sermon with Jesus' statement...as you listen ask yourself the following question: Why would a mortal, sane, man make the following statement?
AND
If this person is not a man and is the Son of God, then what is the Messiah telling us??

JESUS SAID:
"You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."


God Bless you and your families this week!

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