Scripture, he hideth himself
with light like a garment. And I love to just try to picture
that. He takes a robe of light and
covers himself with it. That's glorious. I've entitled the message for
this evening, The King Before Pilate. And I would like you
to turn to 1 Timothy chapter six for just a moment. I don't know if you've ever noticed
this verse, but this verse gives us some idea of the significance
of this transaction between the Lord Jesus and Pontius Pilate. Paul says to Timothy in verse
13, I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth
all things and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate
witnessed a good confession. Now if you and I are interested
in what a good confession is, here it is in the Lord and what
he said and what he didn't say to Pilate. Now, who was Pontius Pilate?
He was the Rome-appointed governor of Judea under the reign of Caesar
Tiberius, and his name will forever be associated with infamy because
of his role in the crucifixion of Christ. I think it's interesting
how he tried to get Christ off the hook, so he thought it couldn't
be done. But he said, why do you wanna
crucify this just person? And he ended up washing his hands
before the multitude saying, I'm innocent of the blood of
this just person. But was he? No, he was complicit
in what took place. It's true the Lord said to him
that the scribes and the elders had greater guilt than he did,
but he was still complicit in this. Now Pilate was a savvy
politician. Look in verse nine of Mark chapter
15, but Pilate answered them saying, will you die releasing
to you the king of the Jews? for he knew that the chief priest
had delivered him for envy." You see, Pilate had a long history
with the Jews. As a matter of fact, you can
read about some of the conflicts between Pilate and the Jews in
the Jewish historian, Josephus. They were at odds quite often,
and Pilate really despised the Jews. You can see that by what
he did. He is still bound to make his
constituents happy. He did what he did to content
them and to satisfy them. And he was actually torn over
this. In Matthew's account, his wife
sent him a message during these proceedings saying, have thou
nothing to do with that just man. For I have suffered many
things in a dream because of him. Look in Matthew chapter 27 for
a moment. We're gonna look at different parts of the account
in Matthew chapter 27. Verse 21, the governor answered
and said unto them, whether of the twain were you that I release
unto you? And they said, Barabbas. Pilate
saith unto them, what shall I do with Jesus, which is called Christ?
They all say unto him, let him be crucified. And the governor
said, why? What evil hath he done? But they
cried out the more saying, let him be crucified. When Pilate
saw that he could prevail, nothing. And that word prevail is profit
or benefit, nothing from this. He saw that this was a no-win
situation for him. No win. No benefit to him. It was a no-win situation for
him politically. Look in Luke chapter 23, verse
1. And when the whole multitude
of them arose and led him into Pilate, and they began to accuse
him, saying, here's the accusation they brought before Pilate, we
found this. And look at the way the word
fellow is in italics. It's basically saying we found
this zero. He's not even worthy to be given
a name. We found this nothing perverting
the nation. and forbidding to give tribute
to Caesar saying that he himself is Christ the King. Now that
obviously bothered Pilate because that puts him in Not in reality. He wasn't in competition with
Caesar. But in Pilate's mind, that puts him in competition
with Caesar. And Pilate knew that that could get him in trouble.
And they're saying he told the people not to give taxes to the
Roman government. For one thing, that was a lie.
He never did that. As a matter of fact, he taught
them to do that. But this is the accusation they
brought against him, thinking that that would help their cause. Look in John chapter 19. Verse 12, and from henceforth Pilate sought
to release him. I mean, he gave every effort
that he could to make sure that he didn't go to the cross. He
sought to release him. It's not gonna work because that's
God's purpose, but he sought to release him. He knew this
was a just man. But the Jews cried out saying, if thou let
this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend, whosoever maketh himself
a king. speaketh against Caesar. And Pilate knew it would be political
suicide for him to let this go on. Look in verse six of chapter
19, when the chief priest, therefore, and the officers saw him, they
cried out saying, crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto
them, take ye him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.
You all need to deal with this. The Jews answered him, we have
a law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself
the son of God. This man says he is the son of
God without a natural father, equal to God. And the only way you can be equal
to God is to be God. Verse eight, then Pilate therefore
heard that saying, he was the more afraid. He didn't know what
he had on his hands. He had some kind of respect and
fear of the Lord Jesus. And he went again into the judgment
hall and saith unto Jesus, whence art thou? But Jesus gave him
no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, speakest thou not to
me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee and I have
power to release thee? You know, I love the fact that
that's something the Lord could not leave alone. Jesus answered. He speaks here. Thou couldst have no power at
all. except it were given thee from
above, therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater
sin. I turn back to Mark chapter 15. Verse one. And straightway in the morning,
After he had been mistreated all night long, abused physically
all night long, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation
with the elders and scribes and the whole council and bound Jesus
and carried him away and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, art thou
the king of the Jews. Now that is obviously their chief
accusation. He wasn't being arrested for
healing people. He wasn't being arrested for
feeding people. He wasn't being arrested for
the miracles he performed that only God could do. He was arrested for this. King
of the Jews. You know, He is the King of the
Jews, isn't He? I'm a Jew. He's my King. The King of the Jews. I think it's so interesting that
over His cross, Pilate had placard and he did this because he hated
the Jews. He did this trying to irritate them. Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews. And it was written in Hebrew,
the language of the religious. It was written in Latin, the
language of the educated. It was written in Greek, the
language of the common man, and they all had the same message. Jesus of Nazareth, that Jesus,
king of the Jews, and they said to Pilate, write not king of
the Jews, but that he saith, I'm the king of the Jews. Pilate,
just to dig in a little deeper, said, what I've written stays
written. He was doing this to get at the
Jews. Now, in all four accounts, it's
pointed out how when the accusations were brought against the Lord
before Pilate, he remained silent. He didn't reply. Why? Well, let me give you two reasons.
More could be given, but here are two reasons. Scripture said
he would remain silent. That's enough, isn't it? Scripture said he would remain
silent. But this is what amazes me. He didn't defend himself because
he was numbered with transgressors and he was guilty. And I think
of that scripture in Romans 3, 19, where it says, we know that
whatsoever things the law saith, it saith to them who are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped in all the world that
come guilty before God. At that time, the mouth of the
Lord Jesus Christ was stopped because he was guilty. He was guilty. Understand he did not merely
bear the punishment of our sin. And I say that merely in a way
that, that was an awesome thing of itself, but he bore the guilt
of the sin because he bore the sin itself. Who his own self
bear our sins in his own body on the tree. crucified between two thieves.
Now the gospel of John gives us the most detail with regard
to Christ's good confession before Pontius Pilate. So I'd like us
to spend the remainder of our time in John. Would you begin
in John chapter 18? Verse 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."
Now, I think the irony there is amazing. We're getting ready
to murder the Son of God, but we don't wanna get defiled. And
here's another reason why Pilate despised these people. They were
saying, we're not gonna come around you because we'd be defiled.
You know what they were saying by that? We're better than you.
And you know that irritated Pilate. That just got at him because
he saw the hypocrisy of these people. He saw the envy of these
people. And it irritated him that they
would, oh, we don't wanna be defiled so we can eat the Passover.
Pilate then, verse 29, went out unto them and said, what accusation
bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him,
if he were not a malfactor, a criminal, a menace to society, an evil
man, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate
unto them, take ye him and judge him according to your law. I'm
not gonna have anything to do with this. You guys do what you
want. Go to the scriptures, find out what you need to do with
him. I'm not having anything to do with this. The Jews therefore
said unto him, it's not lawful for us to put any man to death.
And you know why they said that? Here's exactly why they said
that, that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled. You see,
he said, if I'd be lifted up, crucified, I will draw all men
to me. You see, the Bible said, cursed
is everyone that hangeth on a tree. He's gonna have to hang on a
tree. And this is God's purpose. They didn't realize this, but
that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake,
signifying what death he should die, die on a cross by Roman
crucifixion. Then Pilate, verses 33, then
Pilate entered into the judgment hall again and called Jesus and
said unto them, art thou the king of the Jews? This is what
they're accusing you of. And I love what the Lord says.
Jesus answered him, sayest thou this thing of thyself? Is this
what you believe? Or did others tell it to thee? Do you merely have second-hand
information? And I want to ask myself that
question with regard to what I hang my hope on. Is it just
something somebody told me, or is it something that I, by the
grace of God, believe? Then Pilate answered him, Am
I a Jew? Thine own nation. and the chief
priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done? Jesus answered, my kingdom. He has a kingdom. Is not of this world. Now I wish all political activism
in the name of religion would hear this statement. The Lord
said, my kingdom, it's 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 him. Pilate therefore said unto him,
Art thou a king then? You said it. Are you a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am king. Literally, it is as you said. I am king. To this end was I born to be
king. Now remember, this is his good
confession before Pilate. For this purpose was I born. He was born king of the Jews. Now, I'd like to ask you a question. The verb form of the noun king
is reign. Here's my question. Who is reigning? Right now. Who is reigning? Now the universal hiss of humanity
is we will not have this man reign over us. He is reigning over you. Whether you like it or not. Now I like it. All of his people
love that. But he is reigning. and you and I have no choice,
no say. He cannot be impeached. The sovereignty. It's in the word sovereignty.
The sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is king of kings and
he was not voted into office. God said, yet have I set my king. on my holy hill of Zion." I love
that time in John chapter six when they came and tried to make
him a king by force. You know what he did? He left
him. Why? He already was king. These people can't make him king
any more than you can make him king or I can make him king. He is the eternal king. Psalm 97 1 says, the Lord reigneth. That means he's king. Let the earth rejoice. Does that
make you rejoice? That he reigns right now in absolute
sovereign control of everything and everybody. Psalm 99 1 says, the Lord reigneth. Let the people tremble. I fear
this God, not the fear of unbelief, but the fear of reverence and
awe. The Lord reigneth. Let the people
tremble. Psalm 96.10 says, say ye to the
heathen, The Lord reigneth. And you know what the unbeliever
needs to hear? The Lord reigneth. And tell them what that means.
The Lord reigneth. Somebody says, won't you make
Jesus the Lord of your life? You can't do that. He is the
Lord of your life. Now, you may see this in a willing
way or an unwilling way, but it doesn't make any difference
in this sense. He is Lord. The scripture says
he's Lord of the dead and the living. Turn to Isaiah chapter 52, hold
your finger there in John 18, turn to Isaiah 52. Verse seven, how beautiful upon
the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,
that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation. that saith unto Zion, what thy
God reigneth." Back to John 18. Pilate said unto him, aren't
thou a king then? It is as you said, I am king. To this end was I born. And for this cause came I into
the world that I should bear witness unto the truth. And what
is the truth? He is king. He is king. He does reign. He reigns over everybody and
everything. Now they were all concerned about
him claiming to be Caesar's king. Oh, he was Caesar's king. And
he's Biden's king, and he's Putin's king, and he's the guy in North
Korea's king. He's everybody's king. Always
has been, always will be. He is king, and he came to bear
witness to the truth that he is king. Now, he's the eternal
king. You see, he's always been king.
He didn't begin to be king at any time. He's always been king. When he lived, he lived as a
king. Now I want you to think about how little control you have over
yourself. Your emotions, your thoughts, your actions. There's no excuse for it, but
it's the fact. I don't know anybody that rules
over themself, but he did. Perfectly. He never sinned. He lived as a king, keeping God's
law perfectly. He died as a king. Do you know
death couldn't even take him until he gave it permission.
He was raised as a king. I love to think of, I think it's
glorious the Lord didn't let anyone see this, but he himself
in the tomb, when the Lord opened his eyes. Nobody there to witness
it, but his father. And he was raised from the dead
as a king, and as a king, every believer was justified as soon
as he was raised. He walked out of that tomb as
a king. He ascended back into glory as
a king. He rules and reigns right now
as a king. And when he comes back, he comes
back as the king of kings and the Lord of lords. When the king shall come in his
glory, that's the way he describes it, with all of his holy angels
with him. Now he, his, Good confession. And this is
our confession, this is the issue. Who's king? This is the issue. Who reigns? Who has absolute
control? For this cause came I into the
world that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that
is of the truth. That's the elect. Just make it
simple. That's the elect. He that's of
God, heareth God's words. You therefore hear them not,
because you're not of God. Everyone that's of the truth,
heareth my voice, that I'm king. And they bow, and they love my
kingship. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And I have no doubt, I've said
this for years, I think this is so true. Here's what he meant
by this. He meant, number one, is there even such a thing as
truth? You know, a lot of people say, what's truth? You know,
I mean, is there such a thing? And he meant, well, let's say
there is truth. Can we know it? Can anyone actually
know the truth? I mean, isn't that kind of presumptuous
to say, I know the truth. Why that's arrogant. You think
you've got some kind of corner on the truth? And he could have
meant, and this is what I think he meant more than anything else.
Truth. This is all about truth. Is it
worth all of this? Is it worth you dying over truth? What is truth? And when he had said this, he
went out again unto the Jews and saith unto them, I find no
fault in him at all. But you 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? Then cried they out again, saying,
Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber, and
we're going to consider him, Lord willing, next Wednesday. Then Pilate therefore took Jesus
and scourged him, and the soldiers planted a crown of thorns and
put it on his head, and they put it on him, a purple robe,
and said, Hail, King of the Jews! They did so in jest. and mocking,
making fun of him, but never were truer words ever spoken. King of the Jews. King by the father's
decree, king by divine right, king by omnipotence, And these
jests will one day be seen to be reality when every knee shall
bow, and every tongue shall confess, some willingly, some unwillingly,
but all will have the same confession, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father. Verse four, Pilate therefore
went forth again and saith unto them, behold, I bring him forth
to you that you may know that I find no fault in him. Then
came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple
robe and Pilate said unto them, behold, the man. With the thorn crowned, crowned,
The blood coming down his face, beaten beyond recognition. Behold,
the man. I wish I could speak on that
the way I ought to. When the chief priest, therefore,
and officer saw him, they cried out, saying, crucify him, crucify
him. Pilate saith unto them, take
ye him and crucify him for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered
him, we have a law that by our law he ought to die because he
made himself the son of God. Now Pilate was scared to death
at this time. Pilate therefore heard that saying,
he was the more afraid and he went again into the judgment
hall and saith unto Jesus, whence art thou? But Jesus gave him
no answer. Then said Pilate unto him, Speakest
thou not to me? Knowest thou not that I have
power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee? Jesus
answered, Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except
it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that delivered
me unto thee hath a greater sin. And from henceforth Pilate sought
to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying, if thou let
this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself
a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that, he knew this was a no-win situation.
He brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment and seated
in the place that is called the pavement, but in the Hebrew,
Gabbatha. You know what that word means?
High place. There is no higher place than
Christ crucified. Higher than the heavens. What glory that He completely
obeyed His Father's will. What glory that He completely
saved His people from their sins. What glory that He completely
let us know by His death who God is. And it was the preparation of
the Passover, about the six hour, and He said unto the Jews, Behold
your king. But they cried, away with him,
away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, shall
I crucify your king? The chief priests answered, we
have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore
unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him
away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called
the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha,
where they crucified him to other with him on either side, one
Jesus in the midst and Pilate wrote a title and put it on the
cross. And the writing was Jesus of Nazareth. The King of the
Jews. This title then read many of
the Jews to the place where Jesus was crucified, was knight of
the city, and was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin. Then
said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, write not the
King of the Jews, but that he said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, what I have
written, I have written. The issue is, the issue always
has been, who is Jesus Christ? The answer to this determines
everything else. Only when I have him revealed
to me for who he is will I see my sin. and my need of Him as
my prophet to bring me the Word of God. I have no hope except
He bring me the Word of God. I see my need for Him as a priest
to bring me to God, that I can't come without Him bringing me. No man cometh to the Father but
by me. The only way I can come to the
Father is by being in the Lord Jesus Christ so that when He
comes to the Father, I do too. And I need Him as the King because
it's as King that He has the ability to be my prophet and
my priest. He has the ability to save me
by His reign. Now here is the good witness,
the good confession before Pontius Pilate. Are you king? It is, as you said, I am king. We love to sing of Christ our
king, And hail him, blessed Jesus, for there's no word you ever
heard so dear, so sweet as Jesus. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for our
King. And Lord, we pray for grace that
the King would save us, that the King would put away our sin,
that the King would give us His righteousness, that the King
would birth us by His Spirit, and that we will be enabled to
witness before this world this confession that Jesus Christ
is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Bless this message for
the Lord's sake, in His name we pray.