John 18 verse 12 to 19 verse 16 On Trial

 

Introduction

 

I am sure all of us have been wrongly accused at some stage in our lives. Perhaps we got the blame for what our little sister did. Perhaps we were in the firing line for the failings of a colleague.

In those moments we may wrestle with different thoughts and emotions. We want to defend ourselves. We want to prove our innocence. We want justice to prevail.

Today, in our passage, we see Jesus endure false accusations and a sham trial. And, as we watch what Jesus endures and how He endures it, we should be filled with love for our Saviour and provoked to deeper devotion.

Today we will see:

Peter’s Denial

Jesus on Trial

Pilate’s Dilemma

As we consider God’s Word today, I want us to answer three questions:

What can we learn from Peter’s denial?

Who really killed Jesus?

What shall we do with Jesus?

All of us must eventually answer that final question- and I trust that by the end of our time together you will know the only proper response is to surrender to Him as Sovereign Lord and trust in Him as Loving Saviour.

Let us see that firstly as we consider… Peter’s Denial

Last time we witnessed Jesus humbly submit to the Father’s Will and display His divine power as the mob came to arrest Him in the dark of night. Our passage this morning begins in verse 12 with the soldiers binding Jesus. They had no need to do so- He was going with them willingly. In fact, He had planned the whole thing.

They bring him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. Jesus was about to appear before the court of a man who had already announced that executing Him would be in everyone’s best interest.

This would be no fair trial. But through this injustice God’s great purposes would be achieved.

But before we consider Jesus on trial, we are invited to consider what happens when Peter is put on trial. In verses 15 to 18 and verses 25 to 27 we see Peter’s denial. In these two sections we see the disciple who had famously claimed he would die for Jesus, denying he even knew Jesus.

So, what can we learn from Peter’s denial?

Well, most probably, John recalls the painful details of Peter’s denial for two key reasons.

Firstly, we are to heed the lessons of Peter’s fall. We see the danger of foolish self-confidence. Peter was so sure of himself that failed to watch and pray as Jesus had commanded. Then, in those crucial moments, he was depending on his own resources to overcome temptation. Peter, fearful of what others might say or do, choose self-preservation over faithful witness. Perhaps a little more time in prayer, and little more humility along the way would have saved Peter from this awful fall.

So, we are to heed the warning of Peter’s fall. And we are to remember the compassion of the Saviour. In time Peter would be restored by Jesus Himself. On Easter Sunday Evening we will consider the wonderful scene on the beach where Jesus recommissions Peter.

We must remember we too can follow Christ even after we have failed Him. We read of Peter’s failure (and consider our own) in light of the glorious truth that, when we fail, there is a way back to God again- just as there was for Peter.

If Peter can be so greatly used by God after so great a fall, then there is hope for us. After all, while Peter denied knowing Christ, Christ stood firm on the truth, walking deliberately to the death that would win forgiveness for that very denial.

With this in mind, we turn to…

Jesus on Trial

Sandwiched between the stories of Peter’s denials we see Jesus questioned by the High Priest. The reality is that that this is a hostile interrogation, not a fair trial.

Listening to John’s account, it is clear these Jewish leaders were willing to do whatever they could to get rid of Jesus. Jesus had been a thorn in their side for far too long- His teaching undermined their authority, and He was gaining followers by the day.

Ultimately, they wanted Jesus dead. So, they try every trick in the book to trap Jesus and get the conviction they wanted. But we also see Jesus endure their hatred and injustice as a gracious and faithful witness.

In verse 19 the High Priest sets the tone with an aggressive line of questioning- interrogating Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Annas basically asked, ‘Tell us all what You’re guilty of and everyone who is with You.’. He assumes Jesus is in the wrong and wants to pick holes in Jesus’ ministry.

And so, Jesus’ reply in verses 20 and 21 is brilliant. Basically, Jesus is saying that if the High Priest really wants to know what Jesus has been teaching, all he has to do is ask all the people whom Jesus has been teaching. Jesus has taught openly and declared the truth with integrity. He has not been secretive or subversive.

Notice also, Jesus wasn’t being uncooperative, only asserting His legal right. There was to be no formal charge against the accused until witnesses had been heard and been found to be truthful.

The wisdom of Christ is revealed at this trial. The High Priest, using his best tactics, soon finds himself wrestling with a mind that is infinitely greater than his own.

As those united to Christ by faith, this same wisdom is open to us when we are put on trial. When we are accused or pressured because of our faith, we can ask Jesus for the wisdom to respond.

In verse 22 we see that the last resort of those who are intellectually defeated is physical violence. At this moment Jesus has won the debate. There is nothing left for them to do other than physically attack Him.

The high priest has asked Jesus a set of questions trying to trap Jesus. Jesus has wisely exposed this trap. And they hit Jesus in response. Throughout we see Jesus responds with quiet wisdom, calm resolve, and a commitment to the truth, while His opponents lose their heads.

Throughout this sham trial Jesus was a faithful witness who spoke only truth. Indeed, throughout His whole life, even in the face of being insulted, abused and wrongly treated, He continued to speak the truth and live a perfect life before others.

This is the Jesus in whom we can place our complete trust. In this sham trial we see the love of the Saviour- that He would endure this for His People. And we are set an example to follow when we face opposition and injustice- with God’s help, we must resolve to witness faithfully as we seek to respond wisely.

In verse 23 Jesus challenges the man who slapped him, asking him to justify his physical abuse. In verse 24 the charges against Jesus must be confirmed by the official high priest, Caiaphas, before Jesus can be brought to the Roman governor.

Peter’s denials in verses 25 to 27 provide a poignant contrast between the Master and his servant. In weakness and foolish pride Peter falls in the face of a few questions. In sovereign humility and divine wisdom Jesus is a faithful witness in the face of interrogation and cruel injustice.

In verse 28 the Jewish religious leaders take Jesus to Pilate, the Roman Governor. John notes an astonishing irony: they refused to break relatively small commands regarding ceremonial defilement but broke much greater commands in rejecting God’s Messiah and condemning an innocent Man to death.

This is ludicrous! It is also instructive. We must be careful that our external acts of obedience to God- going to church, being baptised, being a church member- are never used to disguise the truth of our internal sickness. Instead, the grace of Christ calls us to bring our failings into the light in honest and open confession and receive forgiveness and restoration.

In verse 29 Pilate accommodates the Jewish leaders and meets them outside his palace. Consistent with Roman character, Pilate spoke directly to the matter at hand. He demanded to know the accusation.

Pilate asked for the accusation, but Jesus’ accusers could not produce one, so they answered with a sarcastic generality in verse 30. Pilate, apparently unimpressed, wants to send Jesus back to them. In verses 31 and 32 we read:

³¹ Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. ³² This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

Earlier we said we were going to answer three questions- the second of which was, ‘Who really killed Jesus?’.

Now, we could say that Pilate, a representative of Rome, passed sentence. We might say that the Romans killed Jesus. The Jewish religious leaders, representatives of the Jewish people, urged that Jesus be killed. We might say that the Jews killed Jesus. But any attempt to lay the blame for the death of Jesus solely at the door of either Jew or Roman does not reflect the teaching of God’s Word.

In verse 32 it is clear that all this was planned by Jesus Himself. In the most important sense, then, we should say that all this was God’s doing.

In Jesus we have a sovereign Lord. In Jesus we have a loving Saviour. Jesus was in control of the way in which He would die. Jesus willingly endured the Roman Cross to fulfil God’s will and save His People. Believer, Jesus died on the Cross for you- He did everything that was needed so that You might be forgiven and enjoy fullness of life in Him.

 

Finally, to consider… Pilate’s Dilemma

 

The remaining verses are a bit of whirlwind. We witness Pilate face a dilemma: what will he do with Jesus?

As Pilate questions Jesus he becomes convinced that Jesus is innocent. However, the Jewish leaders want Him crucified and only he could give the order. Ultimately Pilate lacked the moral courage to do what was right, choosing to crucify an innocent man rather than face the costs. Pilate’s dilemma is also our dilemma: are we willing to count the cost of following Jesus?

 

In verse 33 Pilate starts the process of examining Jesus by asking a question that is direct and specific: Are you the king of the Jews?. In verse 34 Jesus again answers a dangerous question by means of a question of His own. This question challenged Pilate to identify the source of his inquiry: did Pilate really suspect Jesus of treason or was he merely acting as the puppet of the Jewish religious leaders?

Pilate tries to deflect in verse 35. In verse 36 Jesus goes right to the heart of the matter.

Jesus is a king, but His Kingdom is not a political threat to Rome. Christ’s Kingdom originates from God. Its weapons are spiritual, and its aim is life transformation through Gospel proclamation- not political power through military force.

Jesus’ answer threw Pilate into an agonising dilemma. If Jesus had proclaimed Himself an earthly king, Pilate’s decision would have been easy: execution. But a spiritual king? Politically, Jesus was guilty of nothing.

In verse 37 we read Christ’s kingly confession. Yes, Jesus is a king, but His Kingdom is not a kingdom of weapons and palaces and force but a kingdom of ‘truth’.

The implications of Jesus’ statement are devastating and comforting in equal degree. He is here for the truth, and the truth will set you free. This is the truth of the gospel, and of our human need of that gospel. It is the truth of who Christ is, and why His redemption is necessary, and how His redemption was accomplished.

It is comforting that Jesus has come to advance the truth. It is also devastating for those who consistently refuse to embrace Jesus and the truth that He has proclaimed.

In verse 38 Pilate asks, ‘What is truth?’. Pilate’s cynical question showed he thought Jesus’ claim to be a King of Truth was foolish. For Pilate, Rome was truth, Caesar was truth, and political power was what he would put his trust in.

Verse 38 also reveals that Pilate considers Jesus innocent of any wrongdoing. We know that Pilate is convinced of this because he repeats this two more times as he goes back and forward with the Jewish leaders.

So, Pilate faces a dilemma: he believed that Jesus was innocent, but he also was very aware of the tricky political situation he must navigate. As Roman governor ruling over Judea, he needed to appease the Jewish religious authorities. If he didn’t appease these men, they might cause a revolt and if word about that got back to Rome, his career would be over.

In Pilate’s dilemma do we see how this might apply to us?

In meeting Jesus in His Word and being convinced of the utter truth of the Gospel how will we respond? Will be embrace Jesus as loving Saviour and enjoy the love He offers us? Will we humbly submit to Him as Sovereign Lord and sacrifice all for Him? Or will the concerns of this world cause us to compromise?

 

John tells us that Pilate tried compromise: in verse 39 he offers to release a prisoner according to their custom. In verse 40 they reject Jesus and instead demand a terrorist named Barabbas be released.

Notice the powerful picture of God’ grace during all this: the Innocent One is condemned so that the guilty may go free. We are Barabbas- justly facing death- set free because Christ stands in our place.

 

Pilate was disappointed. His attempts to escape responsibility for Jesus had failed. So now Pilate attempted another tactic. In Chapter 19 verse 1 to 3 we read that he decides to have Jesus flogged.

Pilate must have thought that if he mutilated Jesus, the mob would pity Him and set Him free. So Pilate brings Jesus out again and tells the Jews that he has no charge against Him. In verse 5 we read:

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

It is as if Pilate says: Look at this poor, bruised, bleeding creature. What harm can this man do to you?

In verse 6 the religious leaders are not to be denied:

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pause and ponder these words spoken by sinful creatures to their Perfect Creator. And realise that in those voices crying, ‘Crucify’ we can hear our own voices too. As much as we look at the Cross and see our salvation, so we should also look at it and see how much we need a Savior.

 

Pilate still tries to get out of their request, in the second half of verse 6:

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

In verses 7 to 16 we witness Pilate’s growing unease- the way this Jesus speaks and acts unsettles Pilate; He is different. And we also witness Pilate’s frustration. He knows that Jesus is innocent, but he is neither brave enough to do the right thing or shrewd enough to bring the matter to a suitable conclusion.

We may wonder, ‘Why doesn’t he release Jesus?’.

Well, because he was cowardly and wanted to protect his position. His standing in Caesar’s eyes mattered more to him than what he saw in the eyes of the one who stood before him. And so, in verse 16 we read:

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

This was what Pilate did with Jesus.

And so, in closing, we come to answer our final question, ‘What shall we do with Jesus?’…

 

Conclusion

 

This is the question that every living person must answer.

John Stott, when confronted by this question as a young man, said:

It was novel to me, the idea that I needed to do anything with Jesus …I had been baptised … I went to church. I read my Bible. I had high ideals. I tried to do good and be good. But all the time, often without realising it, I was holding Christ at arm’s length and keeping him outside the door of my life.

We cannot, we must not keep Jesus at arm’s length. We must receive Him as loving Saviour and gratefully accept His gift of forgiveness and fullness of life. We must trust Him fully and embrace the love He freely offers in the Gospel. And then we must humbly serve Him as our sovereign Lord. He must have all our lives- He is worthy of nothing less.