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Which politician do you believe?
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
“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.
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.
To be continued...
Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.
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