The Gospel Of John Chapter 18 Pt. 3 Judaizers Opposed Christ. Pilate Declared Christ's Innocence!

The religious leaders took Jesus to the Roman governor. 

John 18:28  Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 

Matthew and Mark contain details of how Jesus was mocked, beaten and spat upon before the Jews took Him to the Roman governor (See Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65). 

Early the next morning, the Jews led Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor over that province. 

It is worth noting that Pilate was trained to be a skilled interrogator, so that he could rightly judge legal disputes. 

Pontius Pilate was skilled at inquisition and ascertaining facts. 

John 18:29-30  Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30)  They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 

When the court was in session, Pilate made a standard inquiry about specific charges the Jews made against Jesus. 

Instead of charging Jesus with a specific crime, they asserted that He was a malefactor, an evil doer. 

Pilate told them to judge Jesus because it was a religious dispute. 

John 18:31-32  Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32)  That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. 

The complaint lodged by the Jews against Jesus, did not involve breaking any Roman laws. Therefore, Pilate told them to judge Jesus according to their Jewish law. 

However, the Jews wanted to kill Jesus and Roman law forbid any entity by the imperial government, from imposing a death sentence. 

Seeking a death sentence against Jesus, was a fulfillment of His own words about His death on a cross (See Matthew 20:19; 26:2; Luke 18:32-33; John 3:14; 12:32-33).

Pilate began questioning Jesus. 

John 18:33  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

Pilate began an earnest inquisition into this matter, because capital punishment was involved, and Roman law required clear evidence of wrong doing by the accused.

The Jewish leaders alleged that Jesus was promoting Himself as King of the Jews, and Pilate asked Him if this was true (See John 12:12-16; Luke 19:39-40). 

John 18:34  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 

Jesus asked Pilate if he arrived at this conclusion himself or if the Jews had informed the governor. 

It was important for Jesus to establish whether the word “King” was meant in a political sense or not. If used politically, then it became a case Pilate had legal authority to deal with it. 

The Jews who accused Jesus of being a malefactor, had no authority to charge Him, except regarding a religious matter.  Religious matters were not under Pilate's jurisdiction.

Pilate perceived that this was a religious matter. 

John 18:35-36  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36)  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 

Pilate responded by saying  "I am not a Jew, and cannot judge whether you are the Christ, the king of the Jews." 

"It is your own countrymen, and religious rulers, who delivered you up to me with this accusation."

Thus, Pilate asked Jesus what He had done, in order to determine whether any Roman law had been broken by Christ. 

Jesus explained that His kingdom was spiritual not earthly.

Matthew 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus' reply was that His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. Indeed, He had often preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, ready to be revealed by God. 

Matthew's gospel records 33 times where Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven. 40 times in Mark, Luke and John, it is called the kingdom of God. 

Jesus explained the kingdom of God to the Jews. 

Luke 17:20-21  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21)  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 

Jesus said if His kingdom was an earthly one, His servants would fight and prevail against the Jews. However, His kingdom is a heavenly one, and spiritual in nature. 

Luke's gospel tells us that the Jews demanded to know when the kingdom of God should come, or when it would be implemented.

Jesus' answer corresponds to His reply to Pilate. The kingdom of God is spiritual in nature. It involves the Spirit of God regenerating people's hearts, such that they are born again. 

It is not a military power that will throw off Rome's yoke. 

(Of course, the reign of Jesus Christ on earth for a thousand years, will involve a physical kingdom and He will rule all nations with a rod of iron). 

Pilate asked Jesus if He was a King.

John 18:37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 

Pilate continued questioning Jesus and asked Him if He was a king. Jesus said "You say that I am a king and this is the reason why I was born, to bear witness of the truth. Those who know the truth of God hear my voice." 

The sheep follow the Good Shepherd and know His voice. 

John 10:4-5  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5)  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 

Jesus' reply to Pilate connects with His teaching about being the Good Shepherd. His sheep are those who believe on Him. 

They know the voice of Jesus Christ, their shepherd. They follow Jesus, but flee from strangers who do not speak truth.

John 10:14-16  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16)  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

Jesus was willing to lay down His life, in order to save His sheep. His sacrifice paved the way for future generations of people to hear the gospel preached, and be born again when they repent and turn to Christ. 

Pilate questioned what truth is. 

John 18:38  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. 

Pilate merely shrugged off the idea of absolute truth. His question to Jesus "What is truth?" indicates that truth was malleable and changeable, rather than ironclad and absolute. 

This certainly reflects our modern culture, where absolute truth is increasing rejected. 

Moral absolutes are contained in the scriptures. God alone defines what is holy and acceptable, or what is unholy and depraved.  

Our culture rejects the concept of moral absolutes. Instead, many choose to believe morality is defined by situational ethics, relative to an individual’s circumstances. 

Pilate reached his legal conclusion concerning the Jews accusations about Jesus. 

He found no fault in Him. This is a clear declaration of Jesus' innocence by a Roman governor, trained in finding the right conclusion. 

This means that Pilate found Jesus innocent of all charges against Him. 

Pilate found no fault in Christ and offered to release Him.

John 18:39-40  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 40)  Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. 

The Romans allowed the Jews to request the release of one Jewish prisoner at each Passover. 

Pilate offered to release Jesus because he found no fault in Him. The Jews rejected the release of Jesus and wanted a terrible criminal named Barabbas, to be released. 

Matthew 27:18  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

Matthew's gospel tells us that Pilate discerned that the Jews delivered Jesus because of envy. 

Jesus taught truth from God rather than man's traditions that the rabbis propagated. 

Jesus did the works of the Father but instead of being filled with joy, they plotted to kill Jesus. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

This is more historical narrative and not something that is personally applicable to how we make moral decisions.

However, there are some good reminders for us.

Jesus was put on trial for speaking the truth of God's Word to people. 

We know that Jesus gave us the Great Commission to preach the gospel to all nations. 

Will we be faithful to preach gospel truth in a place that prohibits it?

Organized religion will always be hostile to gospel preaching and exalting the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Organized religion is more concerned with propagating their own dogma instead of advancing clear Bible preaching.

Will we remain faithful to preach God's Word when organized religion is opposed to it?

Our culture is being destroyed because the absolute truth of God's Word is rejected by many. 

There are many groups of people promoting depravity who mount vile and hateful opposition to the gospel.

We will be faithful to speak the truth of God in love to them?

I pray that the Lord will strengthen us in the face of mounting opposition to gospel preaching. 

I pray that He will give us opportunities to share our faith in Jesus Christ so that others can be born again. 

Bob