What Is Truth?
Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of a Friend • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsPilate attempts to find the truth regarding this so called Messiah. Unfortunatley for Jesus, Pilate is seemingly powerless agains the desires of the Sanhedrine
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After sermon is written, ask these three questions to edit
What do my hearers NEED to know?
What is NICE for them to know?
Where CAN they go (if they would like to know more)?
Keep it to 45 min which is 3000 words. (Murder the Darlings)
What is the “Elevator Speech”? Make sure you have a compelling hook! Why should they listen to you?
Introduction
Attention
Greet everyone (be in front of the pulpit)
Attention (Why should they listen to you?) - What... Is... Truth?
Truth, is it malleable? Is it something that we can change to meeting our own needs and demands? Is it based on our emotions? How do we define, TRUTH?
Quote from Geisler and Turek on Truth...
For example; We demand the truth from:
loved ones (no one wants lies from a spouse or a child)
doctors (we want the right medicine prescribed and the right operations performed)
stock brokers (we demand that they tell us the truth about companies they recommend)
courts (we want them to convict only the truly guilty)
employers (we want them to tell us the truth and pay us fairly)
airlines (we demand truly safe planes and truly sober pilots)
We also expect to be told the truth when we pick up a reference book, read an article, or watch a news story; we want the truth from advertisers, teachers, and politicians; we assume road signs, medicine bottles, and food labels reveal the truth. In fact, we demand the truth for almost every facet of life that affects our money, relationships, safety, or health.
On the other hand, despite our unwavering demands for truth in those areas, many of us say we aren’t interested in truth when it comes to morality or religion. In fact, many downright reject the idea that any religion can be true. As we’re sure you’ve noticed, there’s a huge contradiction here. Why do we demand truth in everything but morality and religion?
Why do we say, “That’s true for you but not for me,” when we’re talking about morality or religion, but we never even think of such nonsense when we’re talking to a stock broker about our money or a doctor about our health?
Although few would admit it, our rejection of religious and moral truth is often on volitional rather than intellectual grounds—we just don’t want to be held accountable to any moral standards or religious doctrine. So we blindly accept the self-defeating truth claims of politically correct intellectuals who tell us that truth does not exist; everything is relative; there are no absolutes; it’s all a matter of opinion; you ought not judge; religion is about faith, not facts! Perhaps Augustine was right when he said that we love the truth when it enlightens us, but we hate it when it convicts us. Maybe we can’t handle the truth.
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (pp. 35-36). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
Truth is true at all times and in all places for all people.
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (pp. 35-36). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
This goes for the things listed as well as morality and religion. Something cannot be true and false at the same time...
Just at 2+2 is always 4 and can’t equal 5 ever, so Islam and Hinduism can’t both be right simultaneously. They can both be wrong at the same time but they can’t both be right.
And this is the challenge we face as Christians in a pluralistic, relativistic world. We deal with a culture that asks the same question Pontius Pilate asked of Jesus 2000 years ago. “What is truth?”
Well, I’ll tell you, we know intrinsically what truth is because God has built it into us. We know what is right and wrong because God has placed it our hearts...
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
We all, the unbelieving and the believing alike across the world know truth. The real question is do we like it or not?
Why do we say, “That’s true for you but not for me,” when we’re talking about morality or religion, but we never even think of such nonsense when we’re talking to a stock broker about our money or a doctor about our health?
Although few would admit it, our rejection of religious and moral truth is often on volitional rather than intellectual grounds—we just don’t want to be held accountable to any moral standards or religious doctrine. So we blindly accept the self-defeating truth claims of politically correct intellectuals who tell us that truth does not exist; everything is relative; there are no absolutes; it’s all a matter of opinion; you ought not judge; religion is about faith, not facts! Perhaps Augustine was right when he said that we love the truth when it enlightens us, but we hate it when it convicts us. Maybe we can’t handle the truth.
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (pp. 35-36). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
So, my friends, I will not argue for truth this morning. Truth does not need my assistance. You know intrinsically, emotionally, experientially and intellectually that truth is true. Otherwise if truth were malleable like play-dough, I could come and take your wallet with all your money and you could say nothing about it when I do so because I believe what I am doing to be true. And who are you to say any different because truth in the moral realm is up for debate? Of course not!
Need - What we do need to process is what to do with truth. How do we handle truth? Truth is very real! Truth is alive! Truth demands a response.
Need
Need - Folks, the reality is, we need truth, for without it, we wouldn’t exist. But also we need to understand that we can KNOW
Bridging Sentences
This is exactly what we see in this morning. We see three different types of people interact with the truth. And there is much we can learn from these interactions. Perhaps you will see yourself in these interactions? Or perhaps you will learn how to minister to those with these reactions?
Subject:
Subject:
Modifier:
Modifier:
Textual Idea:
Main Textual Idea: The TRUTH was standing before the Sanhedrin, Pilate and the crowds and they had interesting responses.
Main Idea: What Will You Do With The Truth?
Sermon Idea:
Interrogative: You do have a choice...
Interrogative:
Transition: There are three choices in this text and the first is...
Transition:
Body (Satisfaction)
Body
Division 1 Statement:
1. Some People Avoid the Truth (vs. 28-32) - We all do this...
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
Explanation -
Now before we deal with verses 28-32, I’d like to get you up to speed regarding the chronology of events.
After the courtyard of Caiaphas where Peter’s denials took place, the next event was another, more formal trial with the Sanhedrin.
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Show what court with the 71 members of the Sanhedrin looked like.
Then comes the remorse and suicide of Judas Iscariot.
Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
After these things, it was 4:30 am and the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas and Jesus went to Pilate...
So there was a meeting with Caiaphas and Jesus and then another meeting with Caiaphas
Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.
And then it is John’s account of Pilate’s exchange with Jesus...
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
John 18
They led him - It was the Sanhedrin with the High Priest
They (the Sanhedrin) wouldn’t go in so Pilate came out - Does this amaze you? Here they are, the religious elite, who have broken God’s law over and over regard Jesus and His arrest and trials, are very concerned that they do not break God’s law regarding entering the Gentile governor’s headquarters lest they be defiled! Really? Wow! Talk about hypocrisy!
Jesus didn’t think very highly of this mentality...
8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
So Pilate accommodated them yet again, and came out to them and asked an obvious question for a judge to ask. “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
Their response is breathtaking! They are rather flippant and disrespectful in John account of this story, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Wow! What an insubordinate attitude to cop with the gentile Governor who rules over them. Why can they get away with this kind of attitude with Pilate?
It is interesting that extrabiblical authors like Philo and Josephus in particular paint a very different picture of Pilate than we see in the gospels. Here in the gospels, he seems broken and tired. Like someone who has lost his fire.
Philo and Josephus, describe Pilate to be “one who was greedy, inflexible, and cruel, and who resorted to robbery and oppression.” (Chronogical aspects of the Life of Christ, Hoehner. pg. 105). Why the difference?
Two men.
Tears prior to these events, Tiberius Caesar retired to the island of Capri in A.D. 26 or 27.
His second in command, Lucius Aelius Sejanus basically took over and ran the Roman government while Tiberius Caesar took his ease.
By the way, two things to know about Sejanus.
One, It was he who appointed Pilate to his post.
Two, he was a dedicated anti-Semite (he hated the Jews). In fact, he wanted to exterminate the entire Jewish race. He was a pre-Hitler.
Pilate believed it was his duty to implement the anti-Semitic philosophy of His boss, Sejanus. As you can imagine, the Jews didn’t appreciate this and rose up against him on many occasions. Complaints would be sent to Caesar only to be intercepted by Sejanus so Tiberius was none the wiser regarding what was happening in Jerusalem.
Sejanus even at one point tried to poison Tiberius but failed. Tiberius was so trusting of Sejanus he never suspected it was him. Eventually it was found out and Sejanus was executed on October 18, A.D. 31.
Tiberius, now back to work, put the screws to Pilate to not destroy the Jews, but to keep the peace!
And so we can understand the difference between the Pilate talked about by Josephus and Philo (ruthless and unyielding under Sajanus’ influence) and the Pilate we see in the gospels (broken and weak doing the will of Tiberius).
The Sanhedrin understood this situation and played it to their advantage. They knew if Tiberius Caesar were to hear about yet another uprising in Jerusalem, Pilate would be done-for! Pilate knew this as well and was willing to do whatever was necessary to keep himself in power and alive!
Isn’t history helpful?
Okay, let’s get back to the text...
30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
Pilate then wants to hand Jesus back to them and not deal with this, but they refuse and say we cannot! By the way, do you see something very important in verse 31?
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
They have already condemned Jesus to death. They were not interested in a trial that would determine the truth. All they wanted is for Pilate to “rubber stamp” their decision to kill Jesus so they could get Him out of their way so they could go on having their own power grab over the children of Israel.
This was their play! They were avoiding the truth so they could have what they wanted.
They knew who Jesus was (; -46), they just didn’t like it because He didn’t fit their preconceived idea of who the Messiah should be. From their perspective, the Messiah should have been from them, with their frame of mind...
They were avoiding the truth because they didn’t like the implications of the truth. They were ignoring the truth because it wasn’t their way!
Illustration -
“Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” —WINSTON CHURCHILL
Handle
Handle
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (p. 35). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
Argumentation -
Argumentation - Are you dealing with people that avoid the truth because they don’t like the implications?
“Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” —WINSTON CHURCHILL
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (p. 35). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
The Sanhedrin didn’t just stumble over the truth, the truth was standing right in front of them and they wanted it/him out of their way.
Are you dealing with people that avoid the truth because they don’t like the implications? I’ve done a Bible study with someone who was willing until we started talking about the truth of sin and its implications. The bible study was done!
Bible study with someone who was willing until we started talking about the truth of sin and its implications...
Here are some ways to deal with people who avoid or ignore the truth
Application -
Build a friendship and trusting relationship with people who avoid the truth.
Allow them to ask any question they have or make any negative statement they think regarding faith. Don’t be intimidated by the way they handle truth...
Sometimes the hardest “avoiders” end up making the most committed followers of Christ because you answered all their objections to the faith so well!
Maybe you’re the one avoiding the truth this morning because there is something else you’d rather have than Jesus. I can understand that…But understand this, there is no lasting satisfaction or joy apart from Jesus. None!
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Review - What Will You Do With The Truth?
Transition (Div. 1 to Div. 2)
Some People Avoid the Truth
2. Some People Investigate the Truth (vs. 33-38)
Division 2 Statement:
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
Pilate takes Jesus away from the Sanhedrin to have a one on one conversation with the Lord. A conversation that I believe shows Pilate is genuinely trying to get the bottom of this situation and is genuinely trying to figure out who this “Jesus guy” really is!
Explanation -
I can picture Pilate, walking with him and his arm around Jesus asking, “So are you really the King of the Jews?”
Jesus wisely pushes back to find out if Pilate genuinely wants to know or if he was being used by the Sanhedrin to do their will. “So Pilate, did they put you up to this?”
I love how Jesus always makes the conversation personal. “Do you really want to know about me, Pilate?”
Pilate’s response is interesting, “Am I a Jew?” In other words, “Let me remind you who I am by letting you know who I am not! I am not of your race, I do not care about your ways. Your people need to come to me for permission to sneeze! They want to kill you and need me to make it happen.”
“What have you done?” How in the world, Jesus, did you get yourself in this situation?
Jesus responds with talk about His Kingdom. “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from this world.” In other words, “There are bigger things going on here, Pilate! This isn’t about my rescue, but instead the rescue of sinners. Of course, Pilate doesn’t understand...
Pilate rightly concludes that Jesus claims is that He is a King...
But Jesus says, “Pilate, you make a reasonable assumption that I am a King. But Jesus downplays the fact that He is King of kings! That He in fact is the supreme ruler of the entire universe. Jesus downplays the fact that He could call on 10,000 angels to free Him from this humiliating situation.
He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me.
Remember folks, His Kingdom is not of this world!
But instead of protecting Himself, instead of defending Himself, He turns the conversation away from His Kingly position and turns it to His purpose...
37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
What Jesus does say is what His purpose for being born into this world. Do you see this? He came into this world t bear witness to the truth.
What does this mean? It means that Jesus Himself is a witness to the truth! He speaks the truth no matter what! And those people who are His followers or will be His followers listen to Him.
(So if you are of the truth, you will listen to His voice....)
At this point in the conversation, Pilate asks his now famous question...
38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
Why does Pilate ask this question? I’m sure he is having his own internal, epistemological struggles. I suspect that’s why he is asking the question.
He was once riding high under his mentor, Sejanus and now he is a shell of his former self under Tiberius.
But even more than this, Pilate is looking at the Sanhedrin and understands exactly what they are doing. They are using him to kill an innocent man. These religious people who supposedly have this powerful God are resorting to lies, manipulation and political power plays in order to maintain their little, pathetic power structure. I think Pilate can see the whole thing for what it is. These religious people who supposedly stand for truth are no better then he or the Roman government. “What is truth?
A great question that still is asked this day, everyday!
What is truth? Very simply, truth is “telling it like it is.” When the Roman governor Pilate asked Jesus “What is truth?” nearly 2,000 years ago, he didn’t wait for Jesus to respond. Instead, Pilate immediately acted as if he knew at least some truth. Concerning Jesus, he declared, “I find no fault in this man” (see ). By exonerating Jesus, Pilate was “telling it like it is.”
Truth can also be defined as “that which corresponds to its object” or “that which describes an actual state of affairs.” Pilate’s judgment was true because it matched its object; it described an accurate state of affairs. Jesus really was innocent. Contrary to what is being taught in many public schools, truth is not relative but absolute. If something is true, it’s true for all people, at all times, in all places. All truth claims are absolute, narrow, and exclusive. Just think about the claim “everything is true.” That’s an absolute, narrow, and exclusive claim. It excludes its opposite (i.e., it claims that the statement “everything is not true” is wrong). In fact, all truths exclude their opposites. Even religious truths.
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (pp. 36-37). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (pp. 36-37). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
As you read the rest of the story of Pilate, you see that Jesus had a significant impact on this Roman Governor...
Whether Pilate became a follower of Christ, we don’t know for sure, but I do believe He believed in His heart that Jesus was innocent of the charges leveled against Him.
His investigation of Jesus led Pilate to this conclusion.
4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”
14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.”
Over and over Pilate recognized this important truth from his investigation of Jesus. He found no fault in Him!
Jesus was innocent, not just of not committing a crime punishable by death, but He was completely innocent. He never sinned, ever!
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
Why is this important to understand? Because you need a sinless savior who can bear God’s punishment in your place!
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Illustration -
Illustration -
Did Pilate understand all of this about Jesus yet? No! But he did come to terms regarding the innocence of Christ! He moved closer to the truth! He moved closer to the right!
Argumentation -
That’s our job! Move people to the right! Challenge their thinking so they move closer to the truth. That’s your glorious privilege.
Dr. Tim McGrew told us last year at our Grow Conference to “Put a pebble in their shoe!” In other words say things that will get them to think about eternal truth..
Application -
Pebble in your shoe questions.
What do you think about God?
What do you think happens after we die?
Do you think there is a heaven/hell? What do you need to do to go to either place?
Who is Jesus Christ? Do you think He ever existed? Is He more important than other religious leaders?
As people questions to put a pebble in their shoe. Be available to help them discover the truth!
Review - You Must Know the Truth!
Transition (Div. 2 to Div. 3)
Some People Avoid the Truth!
Some People Investigate the Truth!
Division 3 Statement:
3. Some People Reject the Truth (vs. 39-40)
39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and so he deliberately gave the Jews an out before it was too late!
Explanation -
He offered a ridiculous choice. Apparently during Passover the Romans would release someone from custody. And so this year he thought to use it to get Jesus off the hook. Surely the crowds didn’t feel the same way the Sanhedrin did about this Jesus guy?
Pilate no doubt thought, “If I give them a choice between a hardened, murdering criminal like Barabbas verses a man who healed the lame, gave sight to the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, gave speech to the mute, fed thousands, and even raised the dead on multiple occasions, certainly they’ll pick Jesus! After all Barabbas was a murdering thief! And insurrectionist!”
After all Barabbas was a murdering thief! What was Jesus’ crime? Speaking the truth. And the truth He spoke repulsed the Sanhedrin because they were not interested in the truth, they were more interested in maintaining their position and power. And because of their determined desire for these things they purposed to influence the crowd to reject Jesus. And that is exactly what happened.
What was Jesus’ crime? From Pilat’e perspective, nothing! Remember...
14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.”
Pilate hoped they would release Jesus when given such a contrasting choice. I bet he was dumbfounded by their response! “Release Jesus? Not a chance! No way! Give us Barabbas!!!”
Now remember what Jesus was guilty of? Speaking the truth. And the truth He spoke repulsed the Sanhedrin because they were not interested in the truth, they were more interested in maintaining their position and power. And because of their determined desire for these things they purposed to influence the crowd to reject Jesus. And that is exactly what happened.
20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
The same crowd that called Jesus their Messiah and the Son of David just a week earlier, now call for His death! They were fickle and easily swayed! So fickle that they rejected the only one that could save them. They rejected the TRUTH!
His crime? Speaking the truth. And the truth He spoke repulsed the Sanhedrin because they were not interested in the truth, they were more interested in maintaining their position and power. And because of their determined desire for these things they purposed to influence the crowd to reject Jesus.
20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
The crowd was fickle and easily swayed...
Can’t you hear the Sanhedrin in your mind screaming at the top of their lungs, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” as a chant, over and over until the crowd joins their leaders in a fevered pitched demanding the release of Barabbas! Pilate finally relented!
15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
I can picture the Sanhedrin shouting in favor of Barabbas and the crowd being swept along by their significant influence.
No question that Pilate was trying to save his own skin here. But the real guilt resides on the crowd. The Jews that got caught up in the hysteria. The ones who allowed themselves to not think on their own but git caught up in the opinion of others.
Illustration -
We are particularly guilty of this today on Facebook, Instagram, twitter and the like. We see a meme or some post about something (usually political) and we come out swinging! (By the way it’s easy to be bold behind a keyboard.) But if we are not careful, we can get swept up into something without giving it the proper research the question at hand deserves.
Several Years ago, after Coca-Cola aired a multilingual Super Bowl ad, a meme suggested that then U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., disapproved. The Coke ad, featuring "America the Beautiful" sung in seven languages provoked a backlash on Twitter and criticism from people who objected to hearing parts of the patriotic song performed in tongues other than English. Bachmann was quoted in the meme as saying, "If English was good enough for Jesus when he wrote the Bible it should be good enough for Coke,". But it’s fake — and not even new. PolitiFact Texas traced the gag back to at least 1881.
But oh the people that got caught up in this fake controversy thinking it were real is really sad!
JUST BECAUSE THE INTERNET OR FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM OR TWITTER SAYS SOMETHING, DOES NOT MEAN IT IS TRUE!
When I wrote any paper in Seminary I had to provided credible sources as supports to any argument I made. CREDIBLE SOURCES! That takes time, research, consideration and reading more than one opinion.
We live in a country that is moving away from careful thinking and research over any given topic and instead we take the easy way out and rely on FACEBOOK Memes as our CREDIBLE SOURCES. God forbid! May that never be said of this church.
Argumentation -
We must carefully consider the truth. This is exactly what the crowd failed to do regarding Jesus and it cost Him His life. They rejected the truth because they got caught up in the Sanhedrin’s lie.
My friends, we have a wonderful opportunity to help people think carefully about the truth, specifically Jesus! There are so many wrong opinions about Jesus, people hardly stand a chance to understand who He truly is!
This is where you come in...
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Your job as a Christian is to help people believe! To give them a measured and reasonable response about Jesus! To move them to the right! Away from the kingdom of darkness toward the kingdom of light! Remember, if someone isn’t a Christian, they are rejection Christ. You get to help remove the obstacles to their rejection. Ultimately it is the Spirit of God’s job to save someone, but you can be used by Him to usher people into the Kingdom of God!
So How can you help remove rejection? Get them into the Word. Ask someone to do a bible study! Be bold and show them the truth. If they are going to reject Christ, at least let them be fully informed and not ignorant!
Your job as a Christian is to help people believe! To give them a measured and reasonable response about Jesus! To move them to the right! Away from the kingdom of darkness toward the kingdom of light!
Listen carefully to what they say...
Teach them about the True Jesus of the Bible (This means you must know about Him as well)
Application -
Review - You Must Know the Truth!
Review - You Can Know the Truth!
Transition (Div. 3 to Div. 4)
Division 4 Statement:
Division 4 Statement:
Explanation -
Explanation -
Illustration -
Illustration -
Some People Avoid the Truth!
Argumentation -
Argumentation -
Application -
Application -
Review -
Transition (Div. 5 to Div. 6)
Some People Investigate the Truth!
Division 5 Statement:
Division 5 Statement:
Explanation -
Explanation -
Illustration -
Illustration -
Some People Reject the Truth!
Argumentation -
Argumentation -
Application -
Application -
Review -
Transition (Div. 5 to Conclusion)
Conclusion (Visualization)
Conclusion (Visualization)
Reiteration
Reiteration
Action
What will you do with the truth? Will you AVOID it? Will you INVESTIGATE it? Will you REJECT it?
Although few would admit it, our rejection of religious and moral truth is often on volitional rather than intellectual grounds—we just don’t want to be held accountable to any moral standards or religious doctrine. So we blindly accept the self-defeating truth claims of politically correct intellectuals who tell us that truth does not exist; everything is relative; there are no absolutes; it’s all a matter of opinion; you ought not judge; religion is about faith, not facts! Perhaps Augustine was right when he said that we love the truth when it enlightens us, but we hate it when it convicts us. Maybe we can’t handle the truth.
Geisler, Norman L.. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh) (pp. 35-36). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
The title of this sermon is “What is Truth?” Perhaps a better title is “Who is Truth?” And they had the TRUTH standing right before them in flesh and blood. Jesus is TRUTH! Like it or not, believe it or not, does not change the reality of this truth!
I trust that your reaction to the truth is BELIEF! That is my hope for all of you!
But I also hope for those that believe would be committed to follow Christ in helping people to not AVOID or REJECT the Truth but instead to INVESTIGATE and ultimately BELIEVE the TRUTH!
Are you willing to so TRUST that the TRUTH (Jesus) is TRUE that you will help them not only find it, but believe it?
What if we became a church committed to this TRUTH?
Invitation
Invitation
Connection Group Questions / Reflection Questions
Connection Group Questions / Reflection Questions
Why is it important to think clearly about the truth?
What is the goal behind a relativistic worldview?
Can we convince people of the truth? Should we try? Why or why not?
Of the three groups mentioned (avoiders, investigators or rejecters), which one do you empathize with? Why?
To whom are you reaching with the truth?