Day 35
The Truth and the King
Read John 18:28-40
Summary
Early in the morning, Jesus was brought to Pilate for trial and sentencing. The Jewish leaders did not have the authority to put someone to death, so they brought Jesus to the Roman Governor, who had the authority to impose capital punishment.
Pilate was concerned about whether Jesus was politically fighting for the Jewish throne. Jesus clarified that His kingdom was not of this world. His earthly mission was to bear witness to the Truth.
Like most carnal people, Pilate cynically asked "what is truth?". He was unable to see the Person of Truth standing before him.
Pilate found Jesus not guilty of any treason and offered to release Him. But the agitated crowd demanded that the rebel, Barabbas, be released instead.
The dialogue between Jesus and Pilate was conducted at 2 different levels. Jesus, who came from heaven, was talking about spiritual matters from a divine perspective. Pilate, who was earthbound, could only discern things from a human, earthly perspective.
Reflect
1. Pilate asked a cynical question: “What is truth?” Have you ever uttered this sceptical question before? Do you still harbour any cynicism over certain Christian doctrines or church practices? If you do, how can you seek help from your church leaders?
2. On the other hand, have you ever encountered anyone expressing cynicism or ridicule over your Christian faith? How can you help these people to better understand God’s truths? What can you do?
Watch
Videos used with permission by Michael Hoff
YouTube.com/@digitaltheologian
www.digitaltheologian.com
This trial gives us a glimpse of the contrasting motivations at play:
Pilate, known for his cruelty, was indifferent to Jewish theological disputes and only cared about any potential insurrection.
The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead even when they could not clearly accuse Jesus of any specific crime.
Jesus was on His mission to fulfil the Father’s will and die for the sins of the world.
The irony emerged among the crowd. Just a few days ago, they were welcoming Jesus as their King. Here, they were swayed to choose the release of Barabbas, a violent revolutionary over a peaceful Messiah.
Reflect
3. Have you ever experienced any injustice in life? Were you able to commit this injustice to the Lord? How did this experience affect your faith in God?
Closing Prayer
Ask God to help you focus on His truth and not get swayed by all the sceptical noises around you. Live for His Kingdom. Pray for wisdom and grace to know how to interact with cynical people.