Early in the morning, the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. They did not enter the Praetorium themselves, so that they would not become ceremonially unclean. (They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal.) (Jn 18:28)
Jewish laws the church leaders broke:
(1) The trial was held in secret.
(2) The trial was carried out at night.
(3) The trial involved bribery.
(4) The defendant had no one present to make a defense for him.
(5) The requirement of 2-3 witnesses was not met.
(6) The Sanhedrin used self-incriminating testimony against the defendant.
(7) The Sanhedrin carried out the death penalty against the defendant the same day of the trial.
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, along with the elders, the experts in the law, and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. (Mk 15:1)
The whole group of them got up and brought him before Pilate. (Lk 23:1)
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man. 51 He had not agreed with their plan and action. He was looking forward to the kingdom of God. (Lk 23:50–51)
Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-two pounds. (Jn 19:39)
So Pilate went out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” (Jn 18:29)
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel! (Jn 12:13)
They answered him, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” (Jn 18:30)
Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews said, “It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death.” (Jn 18:31)
This happened so that the statement Jesus had spoken indicating what kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. (Jn 18:32)
They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow misleading our nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” (Lk 23:2)
Sometimes the truth is in plain sight but not understood.
Pilate went back into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus. He asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Jn 18:33)
Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” (Jn 18:34)
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” (Jn 18:35)
Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.” (Jn 18:36)
The Kingdom God is the ruling activity of Jesus in the heart of a believer through the gospel.
“You are a king then?” Pilate asked. (Jn 18:37a)
Jesus answered, “I am, as you say, a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (Jn 18:37b)
Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (Jn 14:6)
“What is truth?” Pilate said to him. (Jn 18:38a)
Jesus was born into this world to testify to the truth—to be the truth—to reveal that the very heart of God is love.
Points to Ponder
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message?
Why do people hate the truth?
There are a lot of people who have never picked up a Bible. God has probably placed some of these people in our life. What does that mean for you.
