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John

John 
Day 
Day 288

18:28-40 "A POINTED QUESTION"

Day 288 – John 18

A POINTED QUESTION

Pilate probably gave Jesus the opportunity to explain Himself. However, he probably did not fully understand or appreciate all that Jesus said concerning the subject of “the kingdom” of God. Thus Pilate had to ask Jesus a very pointed question.

“Are you a king then?”
John 18:37

What did Pilate mean by this statement?

1. He knew that Jesus was not a political king.

2. But he did not know that anyone could be a king if he did not have a physical realm to rule over.

3. How could Jesus then speak of His kingdom?

4. It was probably with a slight sneer that Pilate said these words to Jesus. What kind of a king was He when a Roman governor was judging him?

UNPERTURBED BY PILATE’S SNEER

Pilate had raised a question to Jesus. He, in turn spoke as He would have spoken to any other inquirer! He explained to Pilate what He stood for, and what He had been preaching all along. Did Pilate ask Him whether He thought Himself a king? Unashamedly, He replied,

“You say rightly that I am a king. For this
cause I was born, and for this cause I have
come into the world, that I should bear witness
to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears
My voice.”
John 18:37

Jesus refused to deny that He could be called “king”. Nevertheless, that title was not to be associated with treason against Rome. He had always spoken Truth, and He would not back away now from declaring the Truth, even if His statement could be misconstrued and used against Him, leading to His condemnation.

1. “For this cause I was born … and for this cause I have come into the world”

How did Jesus find so much strength and courage to speak as He did to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate? The answer lies in our understanding of this statement.

Jesus was most conscious of the fact that God His Father had sent Him into the world to fulfil a certain mission. He had always drawn strength from this knowledge and once again He drew strength from this truth.

Again and again, throughout His earthly ministry, He would make reference to His Mission in life. The synoptist Mark captured His understanding of His Mission in this statement.

“Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach
there also, because for this purpose (or “cause”)
I have come forth.”
Mark 1:38

2. “That I should bear witness to the truth”

This was another way of describing His preaching and teaching ministry. Jesus may have spoken bluntly, forcefully, powerfully … but always He had preached the truth!

John the Baptizer bore witness concerning Jesus (John 1:32-34) that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

Jesus appealed to His works as His witnesses (John 5:36).
He spoke of the Father as His witness too (John 5:37).
He also appealed to the Scriptures as His witness (John 5:39).
Jesus bore witness concerning Himself (John 8:14).

If Pilate were to check out all that Jesus had said meticulously, then he would agree that He had indeed spoken truthfully – consistently!

3. “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice”

How was Pilate hearing the words that came from the gracious and truthful lips of Jesus? Could he detect the ring of truth that was so obvious in His voice? How would he respond to this last statement of Jesus?

“Everyone who is of the truth” must be a reference to a person who honours and loves truth.
“Everyone who is of the truth” must be an appeal to Pilate to heed what he knew to be the truth even as he heard Jesus.
“Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” may be seen as an appeal to respond to the Gospel truth that Jesus was proclaiming to Pilate.

Would Pilate respond favourably and positively to all that Jesus had spoken to him? The interrogation had begun with examining the allegation that Jesus made Himself a king and therefore He could be charged with treason. The way this conversation was going seemed to indicate that Jesus was directing the flow of the conversation. He was Truth personified. Could Pilate understand that?

PILATE’S SKEPTICAL REJECTION OF THE TRUTH

Pilate must have felt a little sad when he looked at Jesus one more time. How could he bring himself to embrace what Jesus said? If he did that, he would have to bid farewell to his career. If he believed in Jesus, he would be committed to setting Him free. But what would the Jews, the chief priests do against him? He knew how devious and influential they were … all the way to high places in Rome.

Lamely, he hid behind popular philosophical thought, in his reply to Jesus,

“What is truth?”
John 18:38

Could anyone really know The Truth? Pilate had subtly chosen to reject the truth.