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Tag: Gospel

The Gospel is Good News to all who will humbly accept Jesus and listen to His teaching.

We refer to the four books of the Bible which tell the story of Jesus Christ as the Gospels. These books are named for their authors: Matthew, a Jewish Apostle; Mark, a disciple of the first generation who recorded accounts of Peter and the Twelve; Luke, a gentile Physician and disciple of the first century; and John, one of the Twelve Jewish Apostles chosen by Jesus.

What is Truth?
Opinion Poll | Vote today:

Which politician do you believe?

democrat

republican

NONE of the above in 2020

Who will vote for Truth?

A vile venom of political and religious rhetoric is nothing new under the sun in the 1st century A.D. or this 21st century.

If you share any of my political views or religious convictions, you’ve likely been agitated by escalation of accusations in current events.

We find many parallels in history, but none with more impact that a 1st. century trial of Jesus Christ by Jerusalem’s Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

Truth on Trial

1st c in the year of our Lord
- “Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel
- 20th c media
- 1984 prophesy of 2020?
- 9/11/2001
- Entering an election year
- 20th c political humor
- US or them?
- less deaths by COVID-19
- continuous media updates
- another phone alert!
- Political accusations
- Revelation of Jesus Christ to John
- Sin’s punishment after death!
- Aesop – 5th c. B.C. Classic quote about politics
Previously in 2020..

We have been following the Gospel (Good News) of John:
- April 11 – Easter – DEATH cries out! from many perspectives – John 12
- May – The Hour Is Come – John 17
- June – Jesus’ Power to give Eternal Life – John 17
- July – From This World to the Next – Truth – John 17
  - (You won’t want to miss this study of our topic: TRUTH.)
- August – Social Media is not the world – John 17 & much more
  - in a slight departure relevant to today’s look at truth
- September – The Politics of Religion – Righteousness on Trial – John 18
- October – Kings, Governors, Politicians & Priests 2– Pontius Pilate – John 18
ALL took place in 1st century Jerusalem in the brief span of one week!

Continuing Jesus’ trials..

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.”
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there…
John 18:37-38a NIV

Jesus has already been found guilty and tried by the Jewish leaders Annas and Caiaphas during the wakening hours of this day. Then they brought the Messiah to the governor Pilate, who has just questioned their prisoner in his own judge’s quarters (which the Jews would not enter).

John 18:

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

Now Pilate brings Jesus back into the public spotlight.

And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him…

What an amazing statement of truth!

Prior to questioning Jesus in his Judge’s chambers, Pilate had already acquitted Jesus in public.

What accusation do you bring against this Man?

We read previously in Kings, Governors, Politicians & Priests 2 – 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.”

In effect, the Roman Governor of all the province of Judea acting as High Court Judge of Jerusalem tells them, ‘Case dismissed.’

Now, after private questioning of Jesus about their accusation, Pilate once again finds Jesus, Not Guilty!

But now begins the politics of playing the crowds.

Justice by Public Opinion – a Poll of the people

Once again, some time passes as the Jerusalem crowds gather for the preparation for the Passover feast. The buzz of the multitudes outside must have reminded Pilate of the great accolades for Jesus as He had approached Jerusalem just five days before.

As Governor of Judea, Pilate also had to placate officials of the Sanhedrin who Jesus offended in the Temple courts on Monday.

What’s a politically correct way to please the crowds who followed Jesus AND the Jewish leaders who help Pilate maintain the peace of Jerusalem?

The Judge of Judea will show mercy to this innocent man.

So the Prefect likely sent guards to the prison to bring a second previously condemned man to the governor near to Pilate’s position above the crowds. Now the Jews will see the truth of an innocent Man compared to an insurrectionist murderer like this prisoner Barabbas.

“I find no grounds for charging him. 39 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?”

IF you didn’t already know the ending of this Good Friday, you might jump up and applaud Pilate’s political correctness.

Everybody wins when the governor shows mercy. This powerful Roman governor of Judea seems to judge truth with great fairness.

BUT, as you know, crowds may be easily swayed from doing what is right.

40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”
Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
CSB

John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
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To be continued...
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Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.
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Yes, it’s a POLL

Your political opinion about religion

& politics A.D. 2020

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October 22, 2020
Are You a King?
Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him,
“Are You the King of the Jews?”
John 18:33 NASB

The Politically Charged Question

Pilate interrogates Jesus by beginning privately with a loaded question.

As Governor AND presiding judge (in chambers), the Prefect questions the defendant already declared guilty by the Jews, local leaders who have no authority in this Roman court of Judea.

Pilate’s questions (to which he must have had prepared standard answers to usual responses) went to motive.
- “What is your authority here?”
- “Are you a threat to true authority, which as Governor I represent?”
The Gospels do not record these words, but the timing and context of Jesus’ trial suggests to the Governor that he recognizes a political hot potato in dealing with this popular Rabbi during the religious festival of the Jews in Jerusalem.
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For further understanding of Pontius Pilate look back to: 
1st century Rome – an awkward embrace of RELIGION & politics
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John 18:

Very early that morning:
As the Jewish officials brought Jesus to the exterior of the Praetorium Pilate came out to them.
.. and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”

31 So Pilate 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..”

Sentenced to death by accusation

We already know of the deceptive stealth of the Temple officials, ceasing Jesus at night then bringing the Messiah of Israel to trial before them.

The Jews really had no authority in Judea and regardless of their predetermined verdict of guilt and sentence of death, Pilate dismisses their case. But now the politics come into play.

These religious emissaries want to execute the man opposed to their religious positions of power, the Man who had ridden victorious into town on a donkey just a few days before, Jesus of Nazareth (a town not even in Pilate’s Judea).

Although we seldom consider the passage of time within a single verse or two of scripture, consider this possibility in the scene about to take place:
- Certainly the Jews with their prisoner Jesus on the outside and Pilate with his advisors inside the Praetorium must ponder what to do next.
- Since Pilate is in charge of Jerusalem and responsible to Rome for any potential trouble, he makes the first move in trying to keep peace between the politics and religion of Jerusalem.
Questions with political consequences

33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him…

Although the trial of Jesus takes place like all Roman trials in the public square, Pilate begins his questioning of this prisoner of the Jews in private.

“Are You the King of the Jews?”

Are you the King?

Questions with political consequences are best asked first in private. Leaders must know the politically correct answer before asking it in public.

Remember Jesus’ accusers were not present because they would not defile themselves by their self-righteous rule of separation from this gentile Governor responsible for every civic event in Jerusalem. The Jews needed to maintain their white-washed public image before their followers.
- Pilate summoned Jesus to him.
- As a result of his summons the Jews had to release Jesus into the governor’s custody.
βασιλεύς

What is the root meaning of Pilate’s question to Jesus?

βασιλεύς basileús, bas-il-yooce’; probably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power); a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively):—king.
- leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king
What are you, Jesus?

(It’s a fair question — to which the Governor would have had a standard reply.

Imagine some of these pre-prepared political answers of Pilate.)
- We have no kings here. You are not a king of Egypt or even Herod who was once king in Jerusalem. Kings do not matter here.
- Our king resides in Rome and I am his governor. What I say comes from our king: Tiberius Caesar.
- Are you a king? It does not matter. Tiberius Caesar is king.
Rather than being led into a conversation about who He is not, Jesus asks the Governor a question.

34 Jesus answered,

“Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”
- Is this really your question
- or did someone tell you that I am a King?
The Governor immediately reminds the accused that in fact he, Pilate, is Roman (and Rome governs Jerusalem).

Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me;
what have You done?”
John 18:38 NASB

Pilate’s response confirms indictment by the chief priests, but the judge’s question, ‘What have you done?” is opportunity for the defendant to appeal His ill-gotten verdict.

Israel’s Messiah Jesus answers the Governor’s original question about His Authority.

My Kingdom – βασιλεία

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.
John 18:36a

The Accused makes no claim to Jerusalem or to Judea or any Syrian territory governed by Pilate.

Rather Jesus claims an authority of the gods (in Pilate’s understanding). In this case:

‘royal power, kingship, dominion, rule, not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom.’ – source: blueletterbible.org

Jesus continues His assurance to Pilate that He is no threat to Rome as other kings and threatening rebels fight to gain influence in places like Jerusalem.

“… If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews;

but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

What Realm?
- “..but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” – John 18:36c NASB
- “..but now is my kingdom not from hence.” – John 18:36c KJV
- “..But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” – John 18:36c CSB
A King must have a country, a realm to rule here and now. Jesus Christ makes no such claim.

The Lord Jesus when brought before Pilate confirms, ‘my kingdom is not from here.”

ἐντεῦθεν

Outline of Biblical Usage
1. from this place, hence
2. on the one side and on the other, on each side
Luke records an incident from earlier in Jesus ministry describing it with the same Greek word.

Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave here, G1782 for Herod wants to kill You.” – Luke 13:31

Herod, of course, is a pawn not only of Jerusalem’s Jewish politics but also of Rome. Jesus continued at that time to prophesy the events of these three days:

And He [Jesus] said to them [Pharisees who secretly followed Jesus],
“Go and tell that fox [Herod],
‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’
“Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.
Luke 13:32-33 NASB

οὐκοῦν, adverb, not therefore

This is subtle, as well as a function of speech; but don’t miss it.

Several translations of the original Greek from this passage read differently in attempts to convey the argument here of Jesus’ judge Pilate.

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?”

(You are a king, but from where {if not here}?)
- .. but it is better to write οὐκοῦν, so that Pilate, arguing from the words of Christ, asks, not without irony, art thou not a king then? or in any case, thou art a king, art thou not? cf. Winer’s Grammar, 512 (477).
- and since a speaker often introduces in this way his own opinion, the particle is used affirmatively, therefore, then, the force of the negative disappearing. Hence, the saying of Pilate οὐκοῦν βασιλεύς εἰ σύ must be taken affirmatively: – Source: Strong’s
To this end was I born

Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
John 18:37b KJV

In answer to Pilate’s restatement of his own question, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus clearly states His purpose to which He was born as Son of Man and Son of David, the Christ of Hebrew Scripture.

John began his Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ stating this same purpose. It really has nothing to do with anything kinglike, as the Jews expected of their Messiah that He would be like King David or King Solomon.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1,14 NASB

Jesus proclaims privately to Pontius Pilate:

“I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth… CSB

Pilate is about to ask Jesus the question a Judge must ask himself honestly before concluding a trial, but first Christ continues with purpose for all:

“… Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
the words of Jesus Christ to Pontius Pilate – John 18:37c CSB

Do you with ears to hear listen to the voice of Christ Jesus?
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To be continued...
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Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.
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October 20, 2020
Social Media is not the world
Looking back & ahead

Once you may have thought of the church as a building. Yet recall from reading your Bible that a true church is its people who love Christ Jesus.

Continuing reflection back on my three-score and ten, briefly:

Giving up each dream now beyond my reach and touched my the Hand of the Almighty, I press on to preach to Gospel exclusively to those whom the Lord has chosen. (You may not be one of these.)

Those not saved by the grace of God have most likely scrolled past the Light of their salvation already.
Roger Harned – reflection on why most will never talk of Jesus Christ

Social Media is not the world

Social media and broadcast media are the medium and the message to a world opposed to the Lord God.

We are in the world and of the world, born into sin and continuing in sin, unless the Lord separates us into His holiness.

Spokespersons for the world seek to sway our conversations to follow only their diverse distancing from God.

Christians must not sway back into the ways of the world — ways which demand judgment and deny the grace of Christ Jesus.

Jesus prays

Christ, the sinless man

Jesus is No More in the World (and was never of the world).

As we hear in our Lord’s High Priestly Prayer from an upper room in Jerusalem just before His betrayal, Jesus prays for those given Him — the Apostles (except His betrayer) AND for those in generations to come who will need to be protected from the evil one.

Are you one of these?

Do you need protection by the Lord God Who IS and came to the world in the Person of Christ Jesus?

Jesus, God in Person and One with the Father, prays NOT for the world but exclusively for those given to Him — souls chosen for eternal life.
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The world will hear its media but never the Truth of God.
The world will read any diverse solution except that of Scripture.
I no longer preach to a world which denies Christ Jesus.
Roger@talkofJesus.com 
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You with ears to hear and eyes to see, read what John writes to the church.

John’s Letter

Do you have ears to hear challenging preaching directed specifically to Christians who see Christ Jesus through Scripture?

If so, turn the page and read John’s first letter & my challenge to you, beloved brother or sister in Christ.

Pages: 1 2 3
August 31, 2020