John 18 - Introduction

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

There is no more time for private counsel with the disciples. The hour of darkness has come. Between Chapter s 17 and 18 of John's gospel, the agony of Gethsemane transpires and is recorded in the Synoptics. And now in Chapter s 18 and 19 of John's gospel the darkest deeds ever perpetrated by man are recorded for all men to feel for all time their shame.

Simeon the aged prophet told Mary, the mother of Jesus, some thirty-three years before this night, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35).

In other words, Jesus was born to be a sign spoken against or a spectacle. The spectacle is about to begin. He will be betrayed by one of His closest friends. He will be arrested, mocked, ridiculed, falsely and illegally tried and condemned. He will be denied by the one closest to Him and the same one who swore that he would never let Him down. Then, declared innocent at first, He will, because of political expediency, be given over to His murderers. But through it all it was not the Son of God on trialit was mankind on trial that black night. At the end of this chapter we have a sermon entitled Mankind on Trial.

Isaiah, some 700 years before this night, had prophecied, He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7). Now it is about to come to pass.

Instead of the usual paraphrase we have chosen to follow the regularly printed text with a harmony or unification of all the gospel accounts of this section (Trials, Crucifixion and Resurrection). This unification will be a quotation from The Gospels; The Unification of the Four Gospels, by Thomas G. Deitz, published by Eerdmans.

We continue with our outline of the third section of this gospel:

III.

The Word Manifested To The Disciples and Their Acceptance of Him, John 13:1, John 20:31

B.

Public Spectacle of His Passion, John 18:1, John 20:31

1.

The Arrest and Trials, John 18:1-40

a.

Betrayal and Arrest, John 18:1-11

b.

Tried by the Jewish authorities, .John 18:12-27

c.

Tried by Pilate, the Roman authority, John 18:28-40

SERMON NO. SEVENTEEN

MANKIND ON TRIAL

Mark 14:53-65; John 18:33-38

Introduction

WHY WAS JESUS ON TRIAL? Because of the claims He made to be the Son of God, Messiah, Forgiver of sins. Because of what He did: He broke the traditions of the Pharisees and loved sinners. Because of what He was: He was righteous, sinless and condemned the evil of the rulers.
BUT WAS THE SON OF GOD REALLY ON TRIAL? Actually, those before whom He stood were on trial, These murderous judges and officials were at this moment being weighed in the balances of God. They were under the heart-searching gaze of the One who is the Judge of all the earth.
IT WAS REALLY THE MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR THOSE JUDGES, He is not a prisonerbecause He is powerless, but because He wills it to be so. He made His claims, performed His deeds and lived His life, and substantiated it all by great miracles which were done openly and before His enemies.
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ATTITUDE OF MEN FACED WITH JESUS CHRIST TODAY. THEY DEMAND THAT HE STAND TRIAL BEFORE THEIR PERSONAL COURT. If He conforms to their desires or ideals He can go free. IF HE DOESN-'T BOTHER THEM TOO MUCH. But men and women must awake to the fact Jesus has made such tremendous claims to deity, with such undeniable testimony and evidence to back them up, that THEY ARE ON TRIAL.

For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12. HIS WORD WILL JUDGE MEN AND DOES JUDGE MEN NOW. John 12:48.

Discussion

I. RULERS OF THE JEWS. It is near midnight, and Annas is questioning Jesus about disciples and teachings. After this Jesus is taken to the Sanhedrin gathered at night and is condemned to death on charge of blasphemy (the whole trial was illegal). Dignified religious leaders then act like hoodlums as they spit upon Him, strike Him, mock Him. To make the trial appear legal, they call the Sanhedrin together again after daybreak and try Him again. THE TRIAL WAS ILLEGAL IN MANY RESPECTS. IT WAS AFTER DARK, CONDUCTED WITH BRIBED WITNESSES, FORCE WAS USED, THE ACCUSED WAS MADE TO TESTIFY AGAINST SELF, THE WITNESSES COULD NOT AGREE, THE JUDGES HAD DETERMINED HIS GUILT AND SENTENCE BEFORE COURT WAS HELD.
Truth mattered little to these evil men. These rulers did not want a Messiah. Jesus stood before them condemned because He was upsetting their apple carts. He cleansed the temple and publicly exposed and condemned their graft which ran in the millions annually. He openly taught the multitudes of people and exposed the unbelief and greed of the rulers. IT WAS FOR ENVY AND JEALOUSY AND GREED THAT THEY DECIDED TO KILL JESUSEVEN PILATE KNEW THIS. It was because He was hurting their pocket-books that they were trying Him. IF HE HAD NOT BOTHERED THEM OR THEIR BUSINESS, HE COULD HAVE PREACHED ALL HE WANTED TO.

Jesus was the prisoner bound in chains, but the judges were on trial! There are those today who think they have Jesus where they want Him. He has been tried in the courts of their hearts and found guilty of being too righteous. THEY WILL NOT HAVE JESUS CHRIST TO RULE OVER THEM BECAUSE HIS RIGHTEOUS TEACHING AND SINLESS LIFE EXPOSES AND CONDEMNS THEIR EVIL. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light lest his works should be reproved. John 3:19-20. But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God. John 3:21. Men may try to hide and dress up their evil deeds all they want but the light of God's truth exposes them for what they really are. THEY MAY CRY BIGOT AND FANATIC ALL THEY WANT AND HOLD COURT IN THEIR HEART UPON GOD'S WORD AND HIS PEOPLE, BUT THEY ARE REALLY THE ONES ON TRIAL!

And so it is with people who will not give up their sinful lives and evil habits today. They demand the right to do as they please. If God's Word says different, they hold court, try God as a narrow-minded bigot and condemn Him.

Jesus stood before men, some of whom had seen with their own eyes evidence that He was the Son of God. One of their number, Nicodemus, admitted it. They simply brushed aside any facts or any truth. They tried to make it appear that Jesus was guilty instead of admitting the truth and repenting and bringing their lives into conformity to His teaching.
IT WAS NOT THE SON OF GOD ON TRIAL THAT NIGHT, BUT MEN BLIND IN UNBELIEF AND GREED AND ENVY. THEIR CHARGES WERE TOO RIDICULOUS TO ANSWER. THEIR PURPOSE WAS EVIDENT TO ALL, MURDER. BEFORE THEM STOOD ONE WHO HAD MADE CLAIM TO BE GOD AND HAD SUBSTANTIATED IT WITH GREAT MIRACLES WHICH SOME OF THEM HAD SEEN. THEY COULD NOT DISPROVE HIS CLAIMS, SO THEY KILLED HIM! I ASK YOU, WHO WAS BEING TRIED THAT NIGHT? PERHAPS YOU ARE IN THE SAME POSITION THIS EVENING. YOU KNOW HIS CLAIM TO BE RULER OF THE HEARTS OF MENYOU KNOW THAT THE EVIDENCE TO BACK HIM UP IS OVERWHELMING! YOU CAN-'T DISPROVE HIM! WHY WILL YOU STAND THERE WITH THE EVIL SANHEDRIN AND CONDEMN HIM, MOCK HIM?
II. HEROD. Actually Jesus was sent to Pilate first who then sent Him to Herod. Herod had been anxious to see the Galilean. He had heard about His miracles and wanted to see Him work one (like a magic show).
Herod was a man who had let his sensual appetites take possession of him. Everything was a lark to him. He loved only to eat, drink, be merry and luxuriate in pleasure and revelry. Even that which was from God he thought to make into a show for his amusement and diversion.

There are people judging Jesus and Christianity like this today. They are interested only in eating, drinking and merry-making. If religion will thrill them or indulge in their revelry and pleasure then they will play church and join the Sunday club. They mock and laugh at any pretension of righteousness. JESUS IN ALL HIS PURE, SINLESS DIGNITY, SPOKE NOT A WORD IN ANSWER TO THE ANIMAL HEROD. IT WOULD BE LIKE CASTING YOUR PEARLS BEFORE THE SWINE. Jesus was not on trial before HerodHerod simply showed his debased nature and judged himself. So the Son of God is not on trial by the debauched and those who delight in sin today! THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE TODAY WHO SEEM TO DELIGHT IN MAKING MOCKERY OF ANYTHING THAT IS PURE AND HOLY AND SACRED WITH THEIR FILTHY MINDS AND FILTHY MOUTHS. THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN UP BY GOD! READ Romans 1st chapter! and 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12. Those who take pleasure in unrighteousness and will not love the truth, God sends them a strong delusion, so that they will believe a lie! They are like Belshazzer who was weighed and found wanting in the balances of God!

III. PILATE. He was intelligent enough to see that there was no valid reason for Jesus to be on trial. HE EVEN PRONOUNCED JESUS INNOCENT AND WOULD HAVE LET HIM GO. But Pilate was a coward for He knew what was right -but he would not stand for it. He allowed worldly pressures to rule him. He allowed the fear of what men would think and do cause him to do something he knew to be wrong. HE BETRAYED HIMSELF WHEN HE SAID WHAT IS TRUTH? HE WAS A MAN LIKE SO MANY MEN TODAY WHO SAY THE SAME! THEY MAKE TRUTH A RELATIVE THING! SOMETHING IS TRUE ONLY AS LONG AS IT WORKS! IF IT DOESN-'T WORK FOR ME OR FOR SOCIETY, IT ISN-'T TRUE. TRUTH IS TRUTH WHEREVER IT IS FOUND AND WHETHER IT WORKS FOR MAN'S PHYSICAL DESIRES OR NOT! SO MANY PUT THE SON OF GOD ON TRIAL TODAY BY THIS VERY SAME TOKEN! HE CLAIMED TO BE THE PRINCE OF PEACE AND THERE IS NO PEACE SO CHRISTIANITY IS UNTRUE. Jesus never claimed to give the world peace from war as men think of peace. God's word is true, whether you believe it or not, whether you like it or not, and whether it works for your desires or not. IT IS NOT HIS WORD THAT IS IN COURT, BUT HIS WORD IS THE COURT AND YOU ARE ON TRIAL!

Pilate then tried to rid himself of guilt by washing his hands and crying. I-'m neutral. Take him yourself and crucify him. AND ARE THERE NOT MEN AND WOMEN TODAY WHO STAND ALONG SIDE PILATE, SAYING. NO, I WILL NOT PUT THE SON OF GOD ON TRIAL, I WILL NOT BE FOR HIM OR AGAINST HIM. ? I MAY BE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I-'M NOT AGAINST RELIGION! My friend, you may not put the Son of God on trial, BUT YOU ARE ON TRIAL, JUST THE SAME! It is impossible to be neutral with the Lord Jesus Christ! He that is not with me is against me. and he that gathereth not scattereth.
NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS. BUT EVERY MAN SERVES ONE MASTER OR THE OTHER. IF YOU ARE NOT FOR JESUS BY SERVING HIM WITH YOUR LIFE, YOUR TIME AND YOUR MONEY. THEN YOU ARE AGAINST HIM AND SERVING THE DEVIL WITH YOUR LIFE, TIME AND MONEY! BY SERVING SELF WE SERVE THE DEVIL. FOR IF HE CAN GET US TO SERVE OURSELVES AND DENY CHRIST, WE HAVE BECOME HIS SLAVE AND WE HAVE SOLD OUR SOULS TO HIM! ELIJAH SAID, HOW LONG GO YE LIMPING BETWEEN THE TWO,IF BAAL BE GOD SERVE HIM. IF JEHOVAH BE GOD SERVE HIM.

Conclusion

And so, the Jesus revealed to you in the Gospels stands before the court of your heart this evening. He stands before you this evening as the God-man of Nazareththe One who was as truly a man as if He had been altogether manthe One who is as surely God as if he had been altogether Godlike a man, like God!
Like a man, the 12 year old tarried behind in the templelike a God he confused the teachers with his understanding. Like a man He came to Jordan to be baptized of Johnlike a God He was acclaimed by the Father. Like a man He was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devillike a God He said NO! Like a man He fell asleep in the little boat after a hard day's worklike a God He stood forth, and with His voice peace be still calmed the tempest. Like a man He wept before the tomb of His dead friendlike a God he called, Lazarus, come forth! and was obeyed. Like a man He permitted that perfect body to be spiked to the Roman crosslike a God He died forgiving. Like a man He was placed in the tomblike a God He came forth triumphant, the living reigning King. Here He stands before the court of your heart. BUT HE IS NOT ON TRIAL, YOU ARE ON TRIAL! I know you want to acknowledge His Lordship over your heart and life this evening if you have not done so. You believe in Him with all your heart. I know you do! Then step out this evening and come down front and say, Lord, be my King, rule over me. I want to obey you in all that you have commanded. I want to be immersed and baptized in water for the forgiveness of my sin.
When Paul stood before Felix, it was Felix on trial not Paul. When Paul stood before Agrippa, it was Agrippa on trial not Paul. WHERE DO YOU STAND. DON-'T BE A PILATE!
EVER SINCE GOD SENT HIS WORD MEN HAVE BEEN ON TRIAL. YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THIS FACT! YOU MUST DECIDEYOU WILL DECIDEYOU ARE DECIDINGOH, I PRAY, I HAVE PRAYED THAT YOUR DECISION WILL BE FOR JESUS!

In 1829 George Wilson, in Pennsylvania, was sentenced by the U.S. Court to be hanged for robbing the mails, and murder. President Andrew Jackson pardoned him, but the pardon was refused. Wilson insisted that he was not pardoned unless he accepted it. That was a point of law never raised before and the President called on the Supreme Court to decide. Chief Justice John Marshall gave the following decision: A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends upon its acceptance by the person implicated. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged. And he was hanged although potentially he had been pardoned. he refused it by rejecting its provisions.
Potentially the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to the whole world. All men and women mature enough to make a choice, have been potentially pardoned by the New Covenant in Jesus-' blood. But, there are provisions of accepting this pardon and if we do not meet these provisions we must suffer the sentence and penalty which God has pronounced upon us for our sins. the sentence: DEATH. ETERNAL DEATH, the pardon: LIFE. ETERNAL LIFE.

FACE TO FACE WITH CHRIST YOUR SAVIOR, WHAT WILL IT BE? WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER WILL YOU BE THERE? TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD AND DOETH IT NOT, IT IS SIN. YOU KNOW BROTHER YOU CANNOT GO AWAY TONIGHT AND NOT KNOW.

EXAMINATION, Chapter S 16, 17 and 18

Interpret These Enigmatic Sayings

1.

It is expedient for you that I go away;

2.

A little while and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me;

3.

... ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice:

4.

not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

5.

... expedient that one man should die for the people.

6.

... My kingdom is not of this world:

Identify the Following and Tell of Their Character

1.

Annas

4.

Pilate

2.

Malchus

5.

Barabbas

3.

Caiaphas

6.

The Comforter

Who said This and Why?

1.

Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark saying.

2.

Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.

3.

Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

4.

Art thou also one of this man's disciples?

5.

Answerest thou the high priest so?

6.

It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

7. What is truth?

Fill in the Blanks

1.

And he, when he is come, will _________________ the world in respect of _________________, and of _________________, and of _________________:

2.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of _________________, is come, he shall _________________ you into all the _________________:

3.

And this is life _________________, that they should _________________ thee, the only _________________ God, and _________________ whom thou didst _________________, even Jesus Christ.

4.

And for their sakes I _________________ myself, that they themselves also may be _________________ in _________________.

5.

I have spoken _________________ to the world; I ever taught in _________________ and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in _________________ spake I nothing.

6.

If I have spoken evil, _________________._________________ of the evil: but if well, why _________________ thou me?

7.

Thou sayest that I am a _________________. To this end have I been _________________, and to this end am I _________________ into the world, that I should bear _________________ unto the _________________. Every one that is of the _________________ heareth my voice.

Questions for Thought

1.

Why did Jesus tell the disciples of such dark and foreboding future persecutions? (chapter 16)

2.

Why did Jesus emphasize the word and truth so much in His prayer? (chapter 17)

3.

Why did Peter and John make a point to follow Jesus into the courtyard of the home of the High Priest?