What Is the Focus of Today's Sermon?

This morning we'll be looking at just a verse and a half a verse and a half and I think Next Lord's Day Lord willing is something similar to that as well. So we'll be looking at John 18 verse 37 and 38 a this morning verse 37 and 38 a last week was part two of this series and And last week we looked at just four verses but we looked at a very important question a very important question that Pontus Pilate asked of Jesus and in fact that question became the topic of discussion the entire topic of discussion for Jesus and Pilate as well as the topic of discussion for last week's sermon and this week's and And this question that Pilate asked of Jesus it arose because the Jews had accused Jesus of this very question The question that Pilate asked of Jesus was this are you the king of the Jews?

What Was Pilate's Important Question?

Are you the king of the Jews?

How Did Jesus Answer Pilate Initially?

Now up until this point verse 37 Pilate has hasn't received a clear answer from Jesus Because as soon as Pilate asked this question of Jesus Jesus responded but not with an answer with another question and The second time that Jesus responded to Pilate He simply made a statement about his kingdom Jesus made a statement about Jesus Kingdom But it didn't answer Pilate's question, are you the king of the Jews? In fact, it only Revealed to Pilate what Jesus Kingdom was not Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world And so last time we looked at how that meant that Jesus Kingdom wasn't all about power and prestige and wealth The goal of Jesus Kingdom was not conquering lands In other words Pilate Yes, I have a kingdom But it's not what you're thinking It's an alien kingdom. It's from another world It is spiritual And so Pilate still hasn't received his answer. Are you the king of the Jews?

What Does Jesus’ Kingdom Entail?

So this week Pilate's going to try the question again. He's going to try that question one more time Last week we looked at what Jesus Kingdom was not and This week in Jesus reply. We'll look at what Jesus Kingdom is and The purpose for Jesus Kingdom This is Jesus reply to Pilate are you the king of the Jews Pilate? Pilate are you the king of the Jews Pilate? I'm going to tell you the purpose for my kingdom It's not what you're thinking It's not conquering peoples or land It's not money It's not world dominance. It's not power. It's not fame It's something far greater It's truth the purpose of Jesus Kingdom is Truth if You remember from last week our point that we were to go home and to remember from God's Word was this Seek the alien King Seek the alien King this week. It's a very similar statement Except as we look at these one and a half verses I want all of us to leave this place with what God intended for us to learn and it's this follow the truth King Follow the truth King that means obey

What Is the Sermon Title?

The title of the sermon this morning is remanded to Rome part 3 The truth King would you look with me, please at verse 37 of John chapter 18? Then Pilate said to him so you are a king Jesus answered You say that I am a king For this purpose I was born and For this purpose I have come into the world To bear witness to the truth Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice All right, so Pilate tried again First time it didn't work out. Are you the king of the Jews? Boy, I wasn't getting anything out of him. But this time so you are a king Goes in for the kill tries again Looking for an affirmative response, but what prompted Pilate to ask the question that way What was it that made Pilate say so you are a king? Was one little word One little word That Jesus spoke in verse 36. We looked at it last week and it's the word my my my Kingdom My kingdom is not of this world. He said that twice Now Jesus didn't say the kingdom is not of this world Nor did he say a kingdom is not of this world nor did he say their kingdom or his kingdom or your kingdom? He said my kingdom That little word my makes a phrase what's called possessive a Possessive phrase my kingdom Now when we use the word my we mean that we have control of something. And so if you say my car Means it belongs to you. You own it you decide what you do with it No one else gets to decide And so if Jesus says my kingdom my kingdom What is the implication of that well, it's exactly what Pilate infers logically If it's yours Then you must be a king Because who can own a kingdom unless they're a king Jesus responds to Pilate's question is this You say that I'm a king Now I'm not quite sure the tone of voice that Jesus used to respond with that phrase But I almost think it was a little cheeky Not that Jesus can be cheeky, but that's the kind of tone of voice that I think he used Because when Jesus says you say that I am a king that is a Greek idiom Meaning it's a phrase in their language. That means this Yep That's what it means. Yep And I'll give you an example of an idiom that we use in our language so you can understand that When I was a kid in school one of the most popular phrases to use as a comeback Was this You said it not me Right and so so one kid says something to another kid and and he it's a put-down he says only dumb people do that The kid thinks for a second says I think that was directed at me So they reply with are you saying I'm dumb? To which the non-committal answer is this you said it not me Yep, it's exactly what I'm saying So you are a king You said it not me you say that I'm a king Now you might be sitting there. I didn't get that out of that phrase I didn't get that out of that phrase. How do you how do you know Jesus is answering in the affirmative? Aha, because he's used this phrase before This phrase is a clear admission in Luke chapter 22 in verse 70 The Pharisees come to Jesus and they really want to know if he's claiming to be God They really want to know the answer to this question. So they all said are you the Son of God then? Doesn't that sound very similar to Pilate's question. So you are a king. Are you the Son of God then? And in Luke 22 we read and he said to him to them you say that I am Are you the Son of God then you say that I am Same thing here with Pilate and Jesus. So you are a king You say that I am You say well that still doesn't convince me how how do you know that that means? Yep Because we keep reading in Luke chapter 22 and verse 71. Listen, if you're not there, please Then they said what further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips In other words that response you say that I am is yep Pilate finally gets his answer. It's a yes. Are you the king of the Jews? You said it not me Yes I'm a king But listen, the reason does Jesus doesn't just answer with a yes or a no is because it's not such a simple Yes, or no question In fact, Jesus immediately gives a disclaimer. I told you last week when we were in the desert A disclaimer I told you last week. We looked at what Jesus kingdom is not and this week We're going to look at what Jesus kingdom is And so immediately after Jesus says you say that I'm a king He follows it up with another sentence for this purpose. I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world. This is Jesus disclaimer. This is his explanation of his answer Up on the screen behind me, hopefully you'll see a picture of a small torn fragment maybe There we go It's there a small torn fragment This that you're looking at is the oldest surviving manuscript of the New Testament Manuscript of the New Testament The oldest surviving manuscript of the New Testament. It was discovered in Egypt. It dates back to about 125 to 175 75 AD It's a very small fragment. It's about 9 centimeters by 6.4 centimeters and it's on display at the Rylands library in Manchester I Don't know how many out here can read Greek in all capital letters on that fragment, but if you can You might be able to make out what the first line of that fragment is By the way, this fragment was torn from what's called a papyrus codex Which was what we would consider to be a modern book and so it's actually front and back and on the front this is the back by the way on the front was the Passage that we looked at last week and on the back is the passage we're looking at this week but that top line of text in Greek reads like this this I Have been born From John 18 37 this I have been born But Before Jesus actually gives the purpose statement the purpose for which he has been born. We don't want to miss the sentence leading up to it For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world because Jesus just made two statements about his origin and his nature born and Come into the world Now when Jesus says for this purpose I was born that's physical He was born physically as a man When he says I have come into the world. That's divine That's his origin I Have come into the world and what we have here is an explanation of what we call the hypostatic Union meaning that Jesus of Nazareth was 100% God is 100% God and 100% man the hypostatic Union for this purpose. I was born Physically, that's the 100% man and for this purpose. I have come into the world That's the 100% God divine born physically but Originated from heaven. This is what he's telling Pilate. This is my kingship my friend In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God And the Word became flesh For this purpose I was born and For this purpose I have come into the world Pilate I just want to let you know that you're in for a big surprise Yes, I'm a king but not like what you're thinking

What Is Jesus' Purpose According to His Response to Pilate?

Jesus Is about to give the purpose Pilate will be scratching his head Because every other kingdom every other kingdom that Pilate has experienced or imagined is won by bloodshed But Jesus says something very different The purpose for which I was born physically and the purpose for which I came into the world is to bear witness to the truth To bear witness to do that's the purpose of my kingdom Now when someone bears witness that's speaking of a court of law You know that command do not bear false witness against your neighbor So when you're bearing witness, you're revealing what you know That's what a witness does a witness saw something or a witness heard something And so they go on the witness stand and they bear witness to what they have seen. I saw this I heard this Well, what has Jesus witnessed Jesus has witnessed the truth and he bears witness about it. He testifies about it. He reveals it There's a lot on this topic of bearing witness in John When Jesus was with Nicodemus in John chapter 3 in verse 11, we read truly truly I say to you we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen But you do not receive our testimony Jesus says I bear witness to what I've seen with my own eyes For this purpose I came into the world from the father. I've seen it with my own eyes John 5 31 if I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true John 8 13 through 14 So the Pharisees said to him you are bearing witness about yourself. Your testimony is not true Jesus answered even if I do bear witness about myself My testimony is true for I know where I came from and where I am going But you do not know where I come from or where I am going John 8 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself and the father who sent me bears witness about me And so Jesus says no no, I've seen with my own eyes I've heard with my own ears and I am here to reveal that truth. I am here to testify of that truth I am here to bear witness to that truth But what is he bearing witness about? What is he revealing what is he showing to everyone? Well the truth That's what he says the truth now more on that in a moment But I have another question for you how is Jesus bearing witness Like what's he doing to testify? What's he doing to bear witness?

How Does Jesus Bear Witness?

Well, he bears witness in several ways First he bears witness with his words. He tells the truth all throughout Jesus earthly ministry he taught and he taught and he taught and he taught and With his words he bears witness to the truth, but there's a second way you might already be thinking of it It's through his signs and miracles Jesus bore witness to the truth. He revealed the truth by doing signs and miracles And so Jesus tells the truth with his words, but he proves the truth with his miracles But there's another way that Jesus testifies it's those who testify about him because the Father and the Holy Spirit also testify about Jesus and So Jesus backs up his truth But there's a fourth way that Jesus bears witness and This is the part that Pilate can't fight against This is the part that Pilate doesn't understand Jesus bears witness witness in his activity in the heart of man Jesus bears witness through his activity in the heart of man Jesus reveals truth in our hearts this is the King's Kingdom a Truth Revealing King the truth King Pilate is here expecting a revolutionary So you are a king. Well, yes Yes Pontus Pilate, but not the kind of King that you're thinking of My kingship is telling is showing is revealing so that men and women can come into my kingdom by faith Friends Jesus conquers hearts not lands Jesus says now everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice Remember in John 8 47 When Jesus said whoever is of God, here's the words of God The reason you do not hear them is that you are not of God That's a sad state of affairs in the world My children have asked me Why don't people just not want to go to hell why don't they just believe?

Who Are Considered to Be of the Truth?

I Believe that Why don't they just believe The reason why you do not hear them is you are not of God Friends to be of the truth means to be of God it means that you have been born again Now we'll tackle that more in a moment But for now those who are of the truth those who are of God they do something they do something Jesus says those who are of the truth listen Those who are of the truth listen to my voice Do you remember in John chapter 10 the unblind man? Jesus heals him of his blindness and he goes around telling everyone And the Pharisees come to him and they want him to deny that Jesus did it But he won't His parents are coward the parents won't speak up at all. We'll ask our son We weren't there And there's a big threat and the threat was coming from the Pharisees and the threat was this you will be put out of the synagogue You won't be able to buy and sell you won't be able to worship. You will have no part in our community If you confess that Jesus is the Christ And here they come to this now unblind man Don't you dare confess Jesus did this to you In the beginning of that chapter Before Jesus healed him. He said these words To him the gatekeeper opens the sheep hear his voice And he calls his own sheep by name And leads them out And after he healed him in John 10 27 Jesus said my sheep hear my voice And after he healed him in John 10 27 Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and I know them and They follow me Friends what did the unblind man do in John 10? He listened He was of the truth He listened to Jesus voice Over the threats to put him out of the synagogue and he was indeed put out of the synagogue, but he didn't care Because he was of the truth and those who are part of Jesus spiritual kingdom they know it Friends this is such an important point. I told you last week. It was seek the alien King this week. It's follow the truth King This is for us Listening doesn't just mean hearing It means putting it into practice it means this be doers of the word Those who are of the truth Listen to my voice

How Can We Identify Subjects of Jesus’ Kingdom?

Hey Pilate if you're looking for my subjects in my kingdom You You're not gonna find them where you think you're gonna find them Who are God's subjects friends? Not fighting men faith men What does the exercise of power for this King look like it looks like this Bearing witness to the truth Jesus the King came to call those of the truth to himself Now listen, there's one thing in this verse that we haven't dug into yet. There's just one thing left Something we haven't touched on at all. Maybe you're wondering about it.

What Prompted Pilate to Question Jesus Further?

So was Pilate verse 38 Pilate said to him what is truth? Good question That's the question to which we need an answer, isn't it What is this truth about which Jesus came to bear witness? Because we understand That he was born physically and we understand that he came from heaven and we understand what Bearing witness is and we understand what being of the truth is Witnesses and we understand what being of the truth is and We understand what listening to the voice of God is but what is this truth? What is this truth about which Jesus came to bear witness? What is? Truth Well Don't go to Miriam Webster if you want to know I Tried that have fun just have fun There's so many definitions How do you define what truth is actuality reality the state of being a fact There's a spiritual aspect to truth friends There's a moral reality In John chapter 1 first chapter of John in verse 14 we read and the word became flesh and Dwelt among us and we have seen his glory glory as of the only Son from the Father listen to this full of grace and truth Jesus Is the word and Jesus is full of truth Jesus embodies truth But in case that's not enough John 14 6 Jesus said to him I am the way and the truth I Am the truth Not only does truth fill Christ Not only does Christ embody truth, but he actually is the truth That is the answer to Pilates question. What is truth it is Christ Now Even before this this sermon this morning was having a conversation with someone about absolute truth And you've heard this phrase before absolute truth and people ask the question is there such a thing as absolute truth if You look up the definition of absolute truth. It means a truth. That's always true. No matter what I Think one example I read is that there's never a square that has rounded corners or something like that Something that's always true because there can be there can be truth. That's sometimes true like This chair is green, but not all chairs are green But what about absolute truth? Well, I want to tell you something. I think absolute truth is an oxymoron a Total oxymoron It's either true or it's not true This absolute truth It's either absolutely true or it's not This pulpit is made of wood That's an absolute truth all truth is absolute It's just redundant to add the word absolute

What Is the Ultimate Truth?

There is a God It's true you don't have to say yeah, absolute it's just truth Murder is wrong Murder is wrong Murder is wrong Murder is wrong Murder is wrong Murder is wrong Murder is wrong Murder is wrong Murder is wrong. It's just true It's true regardless of what you believe Because I could believe all I want that this entire pulpit was made of metal Doesn't matter what I believe It matters what's true And so let's talk about this in a different way Rather than absolute truth when we're asking the question, what is truth? Let's ask it this way What about ultimate truth What is the ultimate truth? Meaning there are things that are true like this pulpit is made of wood But aren't there more important truths than that? Aren't there truths that supersede that truth or that even govern that truth like ultimate truth? Is there a higher truth in it? What was Pilate getting at when he said what is truth? Pilate was a bad bad man In the gospel of luke we find out that Pilate actually killed some Galilean zealots But he wanted to make such an example that he forced the jews to mix those zealots blood with the blood of the Jews To mix those zealots blood with their sacrifices in the temple He was a bad bad man Pilate doesn't think there's absolute truth Pilate went about his life likely having to justify all kinds of things in his mind a completely seared conscience And here in this verse, he's too proud It's as if he scoffs at Jesus statement because we hear no more about this conversation. What is truth? Does he actually want to know no? He walks away No one can know what truth is Pilate's seen so many truths And thinks that there can't be any right way there can't be any wrong way. What is truth? There's a lot of people like that today Every way is right and no way is right What is truth Oh, but friends Pilate was wrong Pilate was wrong The ultimate truth is Jesus How How is Jesus the ultimate truth because Jesus is the revealer of the father if you've seen me you've seen the father Jesus is the ultimate truth because he is the revealer of the father if you've seen me you've seen the father second Jesus is the way to salvation I am the way and the truth and the life and no one comes to the father but by me So he is the revealer of the father and he is the gateway to the father But third Jesus is the ultimate truth because he is the creator of the universe. John 1 3 All things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made Friends Pilate was made by Jesus Pilate is standing in front of his creator asking. What is truth? Fourth Jesus is the sustainer of the universe hebrews 1 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God in the exact imprint of his nature and he upholds the universe by the word of his power Fifth Jesus is the most important thing in the universe Colossians 1 17 and he is before all things But sixth Listen to this Jesus is the purpose for which all things exist That's why I call him the ultimate truth. Jesus is the purpose For which all things exist Colossians 1 16 For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or rulers or author or authorities all things were created through him and For him Jesus is the purpose for which all things exist Including Pilate including you including me Jesus has come to bear witness to the truth so that all Who would believe in him by faith would be of the truth? Now we said this last week and i'm going to say it again. I believe this is an invitation to Pilate Pilate Listen to me anyone who is of the truth listens to my voice will you listen? Pilate Listen to my voice Pilate was afforded the opportunity To believe in the purpose for which all things exist standing in front of him But he didn't listen What is truth End of conversation What about you What about you are you of the truth are you of the truth Have you listened to the voice of the savior calling to you Have you believed in Jesus as your savior as your lord Has there been a time in your life where you have repented of your sin Humbly come to the savior And said save me I want to be yours. I want you to be mine You are the purpose for which all things exist. I want you to be my lord There is no other truth friend The purpose for which this pulpit exists and is made of wood and the purpose for the existence of wood Is the ultimate truth? Jesus All things are for him There is no other truth How ironic That Pilate would ask that question of Jesus I want to tell you that You can be of the truth And you don't ever have to wonder If you are or not If you would lay down your sin and self-rule and you would believe in Jesus right now today You will be of the truth Listen to his voice Don't be like Pilate Who washed his hands of Jesus?

How Does the Sermon Conclude?

And so friends the kingdom of God and so behold the truth king John chapter 1 and verse 5 the light shines in the darkness And the darkness has not overcome it. The darkness has not overcome it. The victory is our faith Jesus kingdom listen to this Jesus kingdom is a kingdom that Pilate can never fight against The devil can't fight against Jesus kingdom the jews can't fight against Jesus kingdom They're chasing after ghosts Oh, they can conquer lands And they can kill the body, but they can do nothing to the soul That has listened to the voice of the savior King Jesus brings subjects into his spiritual kingdom by conquering their hearts with the truth Conquering their hearts with the truth Pilate's sword will never work against that Those who are of the truth listen to his voice, but Pilate wasn't And so christian this morning I ask you have you heeded the truth If you have believed in Jesus as your savior and as your lord, then you are of the truth are you listening to him I exhort you today Follow the truth king Keep heeding his word. There is no other truth and he calls us to obey him. And so I leave you with this We read these amazing words in first timothy chapter 6 and verse 11 through 16, please listen But as for you Oh man of God flee these things Pursue righteousness godliness faith love steadfastness gentleness Fight the good fight of faith Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called And about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses I charge you in the presence of God who gives life to all things and of christ Jesus who in His testimony before Pontus Pilate made the good confession To keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our lord Jesus christ Which he will display at the proper time He who is the blessed and only sovereign The king of kings and lord of lords who alone has immortality who dwells in unapproachable light Whom no one has ever seen or can see to him be honor and eternal dominion Amen, let's pray Father we thank you for sending us the truth The only revealer of you the only reason we can even talk with you right now as we are Oh Father there is no other way to you than Jesus the truth And yet In our sin We want to rule our own lives oh God, I pray that if there's anyone here today or listening to this or watching this sermon that as they see the word of God and Pilate's reply That they might not say what is truth but that they might fall On the knees of their heart and say oh Jesus I need you I need to be saved I believe that you are the only way in truth in life I turn from my sin and my self-rule and I come humbly to you Save me from my sin oh God, I pray that If anyone here needs to do that that they would do that today and listen to the voice of the king And for the rest of us God I pray That we would follow the truth king It's in his name we pray. Amen