Jesus Before Pilate Part 1 - Lowly Majesty and Magisterial Crime - John 18:28-32

0:54It may appear that first the Jews and then Pilate is sitting in judgment upon Jesus, and certainly that is the case, but they are being judged by the way they judge. They are being judged by Jesus in the way they judge Jesus. Same is true with us. It's not simply that Pilate summoned Jesus, but God summoned Pilate to examine the king. And so here we go into these chambers. And we will watch Pilate, a man caught in the middle of all this, summoned by God to examine who Jesus is and make his verdict.

1:43Likewise, through the preaching of this word, you and I are summoned to examine this king of the Jews. And as we do, I want us to be mindful of our own inclinations to not give Jesus a fair hearing. That religious man and that political man, beware of that religious man and that political man inside of you. Today, we'll look at verses 28 through 32 and look at the magisterial crime of the religious men, religious men in their strength. Next week, we'll look at verses 33 through 40 at the magisterial crime of a political man in his strength. But today, we want to focus on these religious men at the top of their game.

2:42And I want you to be aware that there's a puppet master behind all of this, right? The prince, the ruler of the world has come. He is the one that is coming to take Jesus, to tempt, to try, to find something in him unworthy of being the beloved. Son of the Most High. He's the one orchestrating this. And I want you to see the forces that he uses to put Jesus on the cross so that you will dismiss them and come under truth. Beware of the forces that put Jesus on the cross so that you will not give any thought to them in your own heart. Well, first, I want to look at the magisterial crime of the Jews, the religious leadership. And this is Jesus before what I call religious man, the religious man of the age. So let's just pick it up in verse 28, and notice that there is a geographical movement. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. And it was early, and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled but might eat the Passover. So there's movement from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. Now it's interesting that John does not record the trial before Caiaphas. The other gospel writers all speak quite a bit about that trial. John, he talks about Annas, spends a lot of time looking at Peter's denial, and then in 28, he just simply moves them. From Caiaphas into the Praetorium. So, what transpired through the night and that trial before Caiaphas would have ultimately made its way to the official gathering of the Jews on the Temple Mount. Jesus would have been led there and they would have made their verdict about him. But John doesn't give any of those proceedings.

4:57But he's already given enough to get a flavor of what they were like by looking at Annas and his trial before Annas, who, by the way, was really the guy who was really in charge, probably the most influential over the priesthood and his role, Caiaphas being his son-in-law. But John has already shown us that they were predisposed against Jesus. They circumvented the legal process. They were aimed at intimidating Jesus. They were brutal. They were characteristically and thoroughly evil, as John depicts. And the trial under Caiaphas was of the same kind.

5:45And the conclusion of that trial, it happens right in verse 28, then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. The Praetorium is that official. Palace or official residence of the governors. Some would put that as the Antonio Fortress up right next to the Temple Mount. More, and I'm inclined to be persuaded that it's probably more the Herodian palace area. If you've been to Jerusalem on the western side, it's archaeological. It was certainly a palatial quarters, large.

6:30It's unlikely that the governor would be hanging out in what really was, or had his official residence in the barracks, what would have been the fortress. If you go to see the commander-in-chief today, you don't go to the barracks, you find him in a much finer palace. Same with the governor, same with. So I think that it's very likely that he's staying in Herod's palace when he comes. It's the praetorium, very nice, certainly early in the morning. That was where he would be.

7:10But throughout the night, they had been trying Jesus. And in between verses in 28, you see they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. So they took him from there. But what they did all night is they were trying to come up with witnesses. Witnesses. That would stick. They wanted some kind of charge that they could all agree, aha, we got him. Let's take this to the governor. And then after all the night, they kept coming up with these failed attempts to come up with consistent evidence. Let me just read to you what happens. In Matthew 28, verse 63. But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said, I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God. In other words, he's saying, okay, look, we can't find anything. I'm just going to ask you point blank. I want you to condemn yourself because we can't find any accusation to condemn you, consistent accusation. Jesus said to him, You have said it yourself. Nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Reference to Daniel. Then the high priest tore his robes and said, He has blasphemed. What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They answered, he deserves death.

8:48And all this took place on that temple mount, where one would expect if there was ever a place on planet earth where justice would be expected to be. Given due process, where justice would reign, would inquiry into truth would be there. And if there was one place, we would expect it to be on the very temple mount of God, right? Where he said he would establish his name forever. But it wasn't to be so on this occasion. It had been hijacked by religious tyrants that did not want to lose control of their own lives.

9:40They learned very quickly that Jesus did not come to fit into their religious system, but came to be their religious system. Likewise, he doesn't come into our lives to fit somewhere into our religious system. He comes to be our system. He comes to be our king. He comes to be the one we follow. And it's important to understand that both the religious left and the religious right were in on this decision. Sadducees and Pharisees could come together, not in what they agreed upon, but who they despised. Antichrist.

10:30They were known by what they were against. That's what they shared in common. But it is comforting to know as you work through this narrative that the one who is coming to reign as Daniel saw him in the vision, the one who's coming to reign over earth, the one who comes to reign and be king, rule, enduring forever, is one who knows what it's like to be unjustly tried and oppressed by tyrannical regimes. Second thing to notice here is the hypocrisy that John points out. Look back at verse 28. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early, and they themselves did not enter the praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. So now there's this heightened sense that we don't want to be defiled by going into a Gentile's residence. I mean, we could be defiled anywhere from a day to seven days.

12:00And boy, that would blow our ability to eat the Passover tonight. So they wanted to keep themselves pure before the Lord. You see what they were doing? They were making a big deal out of something of relatively minor importance before God. Because even in the law, if they had been defiled, they could eat the Passover in a month. There was a special provision that they could then, okay, yeah, you may miss the big celebration, but you can still make up for it later. There's a provision for that in the law. But they were making a big deal out of something relatively minor while making a little deal out of something very important to God. They neglected justice and mercy. They perjured themselves. They lied.

13:09They were at that moment in the process of committing judicial murder. And with all the premeditated lies and bribes and brutality that went along with it. But they didn't want to defile themselves by going into someone else's house. I liken Jesus in some ways to an unwanted pregnancy today. You see, Jesus didn't fit into that system because of what he would do to that religious system. They didn't want to give up control, much like today, unwanted pregnancy would require a dramatic change in lifestyle.

14:11And we're guilty of this judicial murder in this country on a whole scale, wholesale level. Judicial murder. That's what they were involved in with all the lies and brutality that went along with it. I remember there was a time when I lived at Still Creek Boys Ranch, boys' home not too far from here, and I lived in the big house where all the older boys were. And each morning we would gather for breakfast. Now they had chores to do before that breakfast, and some of them had chores in the pig pen.

15:01And so I can remember on occasion, if you know anything about working in a pig pen and all the slop and getting in there, I mean, it is about the most foul smell ever. They'd come in for breakfast, you know, with pig mess all over them, sit down at the table and be like, yeah, but I wash my hands. Yeah, but can't even stand. You know, you have to go out and take off all those clothes, leave all those out there, then come in for breakfast. Well, that's kind of the picture of what's happening here. But we are not wanting to defile ourselves. We want to be pure.

15:46We want to keep the Passover. Meanwhile, they have totally perverted justice. They have used the system to judicially murder somebody. But it's murder nonetheless. It's just the mechanism by which they did it. Judicial murder. Well, this is Jesus before the religious man of the day, religious leaders. Look back at verse 29. Therefore, Pilate went out to them. You see the geographical movement. They came out to outside. The praetorium, but they wouldn't come in because, well, they didn't want to defile themselves.

16:38So Pilate had to go out to them. And that's where the Roman proceedings begin. Look at verse 28, or 29, I'm sorry. Therefore, Pilate went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man? So he begins the Roman proceedings appropriately. The normal procedure of a Roman hearing really had three steps. First, they had to bring a specific accusation. Second, the accused had to be brought before his accusers, and then he had to have the opportunity to defend himself. So Pilate starts the proceedings much better than Annas did.

17:28He began them appropriately. And so he's asking, he asks, What is your formal indictment against this man? A perfectly legitimate question. Now look at how the Jewish leadership respond. Verse 30. They answered and said to him, If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him to you. Now, wait a second. He asked you a very specific question. Articulate your objection or articulate your offense, accusation against Jesus. Articulate it. What is it? They couldn't articulate it. And maybe it's appropriate for us to pause and ask ourselves, those of you who may have never given your life to Christ, those of you who still stand on the fence, whether young or old, let me ask you a direct question. Why haven't you given your life to Christ? Why haven't you accepted him for who he says he is? What is your charge against him? What is your reason for rejecting him? Can you articulate it? And maybe if you, and then I'd further like to ask that question to all who have given their lives to Christ in some measure. Is he Lord of all?

19:06If so, what charge do you have against him that would hold you back from giving him everything? Can you articulate it? Well, the Jewish leadership really had a very inappropriate and, let me say, pitiful response. Their response goes like this: If this man were not an evildoer, literally, one who is a worker of evil, one who is continually practicing evil, if he were not this, we would not have delivered him to you. So he said, Don't ask us what our accusation is. He's evil. We are saying he's evil, or we would not even bring him to you, Pilate. Doesn't even answer his question. What's your accusation?

20:01You know, and really, Pilate's question should have stopped them in their tracks. Articulate the reason for your hostility against Jesus. Articulate it. You've been at this for some time now. Surely you have something that you can articulate. Well, they did articulate it in Caiaphas's. He's the Son of God. He claimed to be the Son of God. Can't be. We don't want him to be. He interferes with our life. They knew they didn't have a viable charge. That's the issue. And they had spent a large part of the night trying to come up with something that could convince Pilate, but they did not. Listen to the words of Matthew 26, verse 59. This is during that trial with Caiaphas. Now, the chief priests and the whole council kept trying to. Obtain false testimony against Jesus so they might put him to death. Think about that. They kept trying to obtain false testimony. What kind of a system seeks out false testimony?

21:21This is the mechanism that puts Jesus on the cross. A religious protectionism that seeks to find some false testimony, that prefers, that actively is seeking out a false testimony to get rid of Christ. Have an excuse to get rid of him. Not only did they prefer falsehood, they desperately sought it. You see the madness, the satanic madness. And all the time, all the time, not wanting to defile themselves. Mark 14, 56 also gives us an insight into that meeting. He said, for many were giving false testimony against him, but their testimony was not consistent. So Mark's saying, yeah, they were at it all night. They couldn't even come up with a consistent accusation among themselves. So no wonder. No wonder. When they get before Pilate, they give an answer like this.

22:31They knew they had nothing substantial that would warrant even Pilate's involvement, let alone the death penalty by crucifixion, which is what they were going after. And so, what do they do? They can't articulate a charge, so they appeal to their credentials. They don't appeal to the merits of their case, they appeal to their credentials. I mean, and this is what John is doing. He's again giving us a glimpse into their hypocrisy. He's saying, it's like he's saying, these guys are saying, Look, Pilate, look, we are all holy men. Holy. I mean, look at us. We are holy. I mean, we would never, ever bring anyone before you like this unless he was a worker of evil. So you don't even need to ask any. We are holy.

23:24I mean, you're talking to the Sanhedrin. You're talking to the chief priest. You're talking to this. We are holy. So, therefore, our judgment is right. See the deception that's going on? And we've got to be careful of that even in our own hearts. This isn't just about them, it's about us and us evaluating properly, coming before Jesus and giving him what he is due. Well, look at Pilate's response. Verse 31. So Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.

24:08You take him then. You judge him according to your law. And then you see, look at their response in verse 31. The Jews said to him, We are not permitted to put anyone to death. So here's the reason they need Pilate. The Jews want to put Jesus to death. They want him crucified. And they need Pilate to do so. Now, when they make this statement, we are not permitted to put anyone to death, that's not entirely true. They did have, they were in the temple, they had a line that if Gentiles passed, they could stone them on the spot, including Romans. And obviously, they stoned Stephen, maybe in more of a mob fashion. They seemed they wanted to stone Jesus earlier, picked up stones even in the temple to stone him.

25:12I mean, it's clear that Rome didn't want the Jews putting anyone to death. They had lost a certain privilege of putting people to death. Number one, they didn't want them killing Romans. Number two, they didn't want them killing Roman sympathizers. So their sovereignty had been taken. Taken away in that regard. But the question is: why didn't they just stone Jesus? I mean, obviously, they had picked up stones in the past, they resorted to mob rule and seemed like they could get away with it, or at least they thought they could get away with it before. Why didn't they just stone him?

25:54Well, I believe there we can probably see three reasons, probably many more. But first, I think they were afraid of the crowds. He was too popular with the crowds. The people were seriously contemplating whether or not Jesus was the promised Messiah. He had just come through just a week earlier, just a few days earlier, really, and people were shouting, Hosanna, he came in riding on a donkey. Your king is coming to you. And in John 12, verse 19, as the Pharisees are processing all this, they say, Look at this. You're not doing any good. The world has gone after him. So they realize this is a popular individual, and they've got to tread lightly. Stone him certainly would risk turning the masses against the religious establishment. But if they could get the Romans to kill Jesus, they could certainly claim a certain amount of immunity.

27:15So that's one reason. Fear the crowds. A second reason, I think the Pharisees, I mean, the Jewish leadership knew they had to convince the masses to reject Jesus. They had to do that. Now, how do you convince the masses that Jesus is not the Messiah? Well, I believe a good way to achieve this was to convince them that Jesus was cursed by God. If they could demonstrate that Jesus was cursed by God, I mean, they're witnessing all these miracles that certainly speak of his favor with God. A man could not do all these things unless God is with him. Their own number knew that. So if they could convince them that he was actually cursed, in fact, they even said that the miracles he did was by the devil. I don't think anybody really bought into that. So how do they convince the masses? Well, if they could have him crucified and hung on a tree, they could argue that God had cursed him.

28:29They could point to, Deuteronomy 21, 22 and claim he was cursed by God. Listen to this. Deuteronomy 21, 22, if a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day. For he who is hanged on a tree is accursed by God. Anyone who is hung on a tree is accursed by God. So he wants you to take them down so that you don't defile the land that the Lord is giving you. But very clear. If this individual, if God allowed this individual to be hung on a tree, he's obviously cursed by God.

29:27For he who is hung on a tree is a cursed of God. That'd be pretty convincing. It's still convincing today. Messiah doesn't die. He reigns. Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed by God. Jesus cannot possibly be the Messiah because he was cursed by God. He cannot have the favor of God. God. Keep in mind, Satan is the puppet master behind all this, right? And so you hear, you start seeing this satanic plot unfolding. And this is a skillful plot, right? It's unworldly.

30:22How skillful, how deceptive, how professional, how sophisticated, how bold, and how audacious this plot is. And you think about the challenge. Think about the challenge that these Jews are facing. First of all, they have to convince themselves that Jesus, they have to grapple with that themselves. Each individual, yes, yes, he's definitely, but how can the world he could do all this? Never a man has spoken like this. No, they've got to convince themselves. Second, then they have to convince each other. Okay, they've got to, yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, and they've got to work through all that. Then they've got to all get on the same page.

31:04We all think he should die. But then they also have to convince the crowds. Wow, now that's getting, that's a pretty big task. Well, having him crucified, could point to God could never curse the Messiah. So all this hangs upon their ability to convince Pilate. Their whole plot hinges. Upon swaying Pilate to crucify Jesus. They could not rely upon the truth of their case. Their desired hope rested upon. Let me say it like this. Their desired outcome rested upon their hope that Pilate would be more driven by political expediency than truth. Weeding a man who is going to be more driven by politics than he is truth.

32:13And they found their man, and they knew how to manipulate Pilate politically. Yet in all of this, all of this deceit, all of this evil scheming and political vacillation of Pilate, John shows us the one who's really in charge. Look at verse 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he was about to die. So John inserts his commentary there. He says, look, above all of these religious manipulations, these political masculine. And all of this, above all of this, John gives us a picture of the Son of God Himself in lowly majesty. He's the one in control, He is the one that is coming bound, He is the one submitting Himself.

33:23So, why didn't the crowds, or why didn't the Jews simply stone Jesus? Number one, because of fear of the crowds. Number two, they had to convince the crowds. And number three, Jesus wanted to die by crucifixion. That's why. That's why. John 12:32, Jesus said, and if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. But he was saying this to indicate the kind of death which he was about to die. So, again, you see, this Jesus had articulated something about the future. His word was equivalent to Scripture. It must be fulfilled. So, here, Jesus's words are equated with scripture on the same authority. It must be fulfilled. But Jesus wanted to die by crucifixion, not because he was.

34:30Cursed, but in order to bear the curse for his people, he became cursed for the sake of his people. And this is what Isaiah prophesies about, right? Let me read to you Isaiah 53:4, speaking of this wonderful, majestic, lowly servant that would come. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried. Yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people? To whom the stroke was due.

36:04You see, the Messiah had to be cursed in order for his people to live. No one, no one can live under the curse of God. And Jesus knew this, even if his national leaders did not. He really did know God, he really did know his holiness, and the stroke was due to the people, but he himself bore it. Just bring that to us today. Let us be aware of every vestige, every antichrist tendency we have in our being.

36:50The Jews saw Jesus as an opposition to their way of life. Be careful that that's not you. It's a good thing, it's an act of mercy that he is in opposition to our way of life. Their goal was to get rid of Jesus and preserve their way of life. They bowed to a yoke of religious tyranny that was self-made and Christless. Let us beware of that ourselves. They were masters of double standards of hypocrisy. And they were completely blind to it. Beware of the religious man in you.

37:40And they are also blind to the judgment that awaits them. Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew, speaking of these, this very kind. Matthew 23, verse 23, woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. It's not just talking about scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, hypocrites. He's going to say that over and over. Woe to you, hypocrites. For you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law, justice and mercy and faithfulness. But these are things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you clean the outside of the cup, but the inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like whitewashed tombs on which the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

39:00You too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. And then he goes on to say, Fill up then the measure of the guilt of your fathers, you serpents, you brood of vipers. How will you escape the sentence of hell? That's the generation that kills him. Just take a moment to think about the lowly Jesus here. The temptation before Jesus at this moment is staggering. It's satanic in proportion. It is professional at all levels. It is thought through. It is the most elaborate temptation imaginable. Listen to this. Jesus' friend betrays him. That's a work of the devil, right? Personally, getting involved, right?

40:01Another one denies even knowing him. His best friends abandon him. His own nation condemned him. He didn't get a fair trial. Think about it. At this point, what would you do? Wouldn't you just give up on humanity? If this is humanity, give it up. Are they really worth all of this? Give it up. Be done with them. Are they really worth all this, Jesus? And Jesus' response, Yes, my Father loves them. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Yes, there is tremendous value, and they are worth it. And when I get through with them, justice will reign. They will do what's right. They will have a loyalty. They will reflect the very image of God.

41:27Yes, they're worth it. All of this is worth it. That's the lowly majesty of Jesus, a peasant before magisterial tyranny, loving his people, even some who were there in the act of bringing him down, he will bring to himself. So, the first thing we owe to Jesus is an honest evaluation of him. And the second thing we owe to Jesus is full jurisdiction over our lives. Who forgives like this? Just take a moment and just think in your mind about people who maybe you struggle to forgive.

42:31Maybe somebody, some people, someone who's wronged you, I don't care to what degree, to what level. Think about what happened to him. Think about his ability to forgive. Be like him. Let us forgive like he forgives. Let us love like he loves. That's what it means to take an honest evaluation of him and an honest evaluation of yourself and give him jurisdiction. Let us forgive, let us love, let us value people like he does. Let's take a moment to pray.

43:14Heavenly Father, forgive us of our flippant evaluations of you, of our unfair evaluations of you. Forgive us of our stubborn refusals to welcome you. Forgive us, Father. Of our sinful and shameless tendencies to exalt ourselves over you. Forgive our nation. Father, have mercy upon us. We are guilty of great sin, and we know that we cannot go on. You cannot sanction us forever. Bring about true change, true revival, true renewal. Discipline us. Do not destroy us. We want you in our lives. We want you in our land.

44:06We want to be children of the truth. Help us. Forgive us of our dishonest evaluation and approaches to you. Deal with us now by your Spirit.