Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.” Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.” “It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. They said this so that Jesus’s words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die. Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?” “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” “You are a king then?” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” “What is truth?” said Pilate. After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging him. You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
John 18:28-40
Pontius Pilate
- Appointed by Emperor Tiberius in AD 26
- Held his post until AD 37
- Position: Prefect of Judea (aka “governor”)
- Was brutal in his rule
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
John 18:28
Dependency on the self will always fall short of honoring God.
So Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.” Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.” “It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. They said this so that Jesus’s words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.
John 18:29-32
As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
John 12:32-33
Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?” “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” “You are a king then?” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” “What is truth?” said Pilate. After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging him.”
John 18:33-39
Jesus’ kingdom grows in this world by His people speaking the truth of who Jesus is.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of truth and His kingship is one that is trustworthy.
Modern secular people would say that the thing we need to be saved from is the idea we need to be saved. The thing we need redemption from is the idea that we need redemption and the only sin is to tell people that they sin. Which means the only way to be free is to actually liberate yourself from Christianity. Which means our modern secular culture is not just post-Christian, in some ways it’s actually very Christian because it has all the Christian values, but it wants them without God. - Tim Keller
The Pharisees ironically tried to their best to adhere to the Law while falling majorly short by killing the most innocent Man to ever live. This highlights the dependency on self to honor God. How does dependency on yourself look like in this season of your life? How can you get to a place where you acknowledge a dependency on God?
When you think of “God’s Kingdom,” what are some traits and attributes that define it? How is it similar with the other “kingdoms” of this world (e.g. Nationalism, the elevation of the self, etc.)? How is it different from the other “kingdoms” of this world?
“Do you trust Jesus?” When people say that phrase, how do you interpret that question? What does trusting Jesus in your life look like? What are some practical ways you can trust Jesus this week?
Our current modern culture shares many values as Christians do, but these values exist without God. How would you explain the difference between values such as justice, equality, and love between Christians and the modern secular culture? How would you explain the similarities between these values between these two groups?
