John 19:10-12 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
 
PILATE must have felt quite helpless. Even though he said he had the power to free Jesus crucify him, he really didn’t. Nothing he says has an impact on either Jesus or the Jews. He is caught in a cosmic battle. Pilate is not the governor here. He is being governed by God’s sovereign purpose to fulfill his salvation promise to mankind begun in Genesis.
   Jesus’ statement, “Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” is a bit difficult to understand. In essence, he told Pilate that   Pilate was less guilty of Jesus’ circumstances than Judas, Caiaphas and the Jews. Their betrayal, rage and hatred against Jesus was a direct assault on God from his own chosen people. This is an outrage against God’s gracious love for the Jews.
   Then once more Pilate attempted to release Jesus. John 9:13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
   The chief priests spoke against the law they pretended to defend. To call Caesar their king is to unseat the King of Glory from his throne. They confess to preferring Rome’s authority over the LORD God’s authority. The pompous law defenders rejected the laws, traditions and promises God had given to them. How deeply sin ran through their hearts and minds to fulfill their evil intentions.
   But then Pilate had enough. The raging Jews wore him down. John 19:16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
          Evil seemed to win that day. But the Father was about to fulfill his plans for Jesus as prophesied long before then: Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  

John 19:1-3 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.
 
THIS is the first of three days on John 19:1-16. It is good to contemplate our suffering Lord’s humiliation, so we can more fully know the cost of our sin and the depth of his love.
 
ISAIAH spoke several prophecies of Jesus’ suffering. One is Isaiah 50:6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. This passage acutely describes Jesus’ experience in Pilate’s court.
   It seems that Pilate hoped that flogging Jesus would keep Jesus from the cross. His soldiers added more misery to Jesus with the awful crown of thorns. How strange it is that Pilate, the man of absolute power in Jerusalem, could not use his authority to free an innocent man. Evil cannot be appeased. The more we abide with it, the more it will control us.
   Then perhaps with hope for Jesus’ pardon, Pilate presented Jesus to Caiaphas and the mob: John 19:4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
   Pilate tried to diminish Jesus in the Jews’ eyes. With, “Here is the man.” Pilate declared Jesus is a man who has received his just punishment. He’s counting on the Jews to be sympathetic to the brutalized, barely recognizable man before them. But evil was anchored in the Jews’ heart, and their quest for Jesus’ death only increased.
   John 19:6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
   Once more Pilate was unwilling to use his authority to free Jesus. So he put pressure on the Jews to do their own dirty work against this innocent man. But the Jews gave Pilate their reason: John 19:7 The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.
   “Pilate was even more afraid.” Why was Rome’s ruler afraid? Suddenly he seemed caught between two very strong forces. Did Jesus’ claim as the Son of God mean this man was some deity who had the powers of gods to avenge his abuse? And was Pilate afraid the Jews would begin to riot? Was he afraid he had no control at all?
   Pilate struggled to appease the Jews, and he struggled to appease his conscience. And it seems he even wanted to appease Jesus. Without a firm place to stand, he could only react to the circumstances. And the circumstances began to control him.
   Of course, God was in control that day. He had said this would happen. He used the Jews and the Romans to brutalize his Son. We can scarcely know the depths of God’s love that he would make us whole through Jesus’ broken body.

John 18:37d-40 (Jesus said) “Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” 40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
 
WHAT is at the center of the Jews’ charges, Jesus’ few responses, Pilate’s actions and the crowd’s reaction?
   It is truth, isn’t it? Isn’t God’s truth his reason for the Bible? John’s gospel is very much about defining Jesus as truth: John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Still, the ruling Jews accused Jesus, the living Word, of blasphemous teaching and unlawful actions based on their understanding of God’s law. Their traditions and positions were their truth.
   And even though Pilate asked, “What is truth?” he’s really not interested in the answer. His truth is as the Pharisees. Whatever protects his position is his truth.
   What kept Pilate from taking Jesus inside his house, inviting him to a meal and asking him, “What do you mean, ‘Whoever listens to the truth belongs to you?’ How can I know what is true?” Perhaps Pilate knew if he took such time with Jesus, his life would dramatically change. He might be confronted with his past evil actions against political opponents and the Jews. The truth of his weaknesses might cause him to lose his power as a Roman governor. Each aspect of his life that defined who he was would disappear as God revealed the truth to him. Pilate’s new view of truth would open his eyes to the true God.
   Knowing truth, Pilate would have been born again. A new foundation of faith and understanding would rule Pilate’s heart. Truth would define his faith and eternal relationship with Jesus. Pilate’s life would be a new creation in Jesus Christ.
   But this was not to happen on that day. Without desire for a true answer, Pilate did what most of the world does. He washed his hands of Jesus, and Jesus was gone. Pilate washed his hands of truth, and he remained in the filthy hands of his own desires.
   Have you been close to getting to know Jesus better but then stepped back? Were you afraid of what would change in your life, what you might have to stop doing and what you might need to begin doing?
   Many people express a desire to enter into a new experience with God. They claim they want change. But then they see what the Lord requires, and they back away. God’s truth is washed away with their own desires above God’s will.
   What is truth? Hear the Father’s answer: Luke 9:35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
   

John 18:33-37 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my Kingdom is from another place.” 37 So Pilate asked him, “Are you a king, then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.”
 
IT is clear Pilate was acting in response to the Jews. He never accused Jesus of any crime. He only tried to understand why the Jews had brought Jesus to him. The Lord, then, answered Pilate’s question, “Are you a king, then?” not with, “Yes.” but with his Kingdom’s purpose, “I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.” This was Jesus’ pattern throughout his ministry. He often defined himself with a reason for his coming. For example, there are 10 “I have come.” statements in the gospels: (into the world as a light (John 12:46); to do the will of him who sent me (John 6:38); and so I can preach there also (Mark 1:38). Truly, this is God’s authority to rule the hearts of those who believe in him: John 8:23 “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” His Kingdom is the reign of truth.
   Yes, the truth is spoken from Heaven to the world through the law, prophets, Jesus and the apostles. And in the Holy Spirit-inspired Bible, our gracious Father has given to us the Kingdom knowledge to be true Kingdom citizens.
   With his eye to eternal life, Jesus firmly stood in the battle against evil. One day Jesus will come to establish his kingship over the new Heaven and earth, and all will be under his authority. Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in Heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
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John 18:28-32 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” 30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. 32 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
 
IN Judges, we twice read these terrifying words: Judges 17:6 & 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Yes, it is terrifying when we see the results of people acting as they please outside lawful rule and authority. How frightening to consider a world without God’s righteous laws. Observe where this is true today, and you will see people dominated and victimized physically, economically and socially. Judges records how this was true in Israel.
   And Jesus’ trial affirms this was true in first-century Israel. The temple priests and Pharisees were doing what they saw fit, so they could accomplish their dreadful purpose. Caiaphas’ design was to crucify Jesus, and he would do so through any means possible.
   Now before Pilate, the supposed law-focused Caiaphas and his associates became a lawless lynch mob. They claim their desire is to obey Rome’s rule. But they used Rome as a tool to cover their guilt. Caiaphas claimed Jesus is a criminal. But he has no charge against Jesus.
   In Judges, there actually was a King in Israel. His name was I AM, the living God, who formed his people and gave them the law’s way to righteousness. But Israel’s hearts denied his authority, justice and mercy. God’s people lived amid chaos, and they missed the King’s care and peace over their lives.
   On that dark morning in Jerusalem, there, too, was a King in Israel, but the Jews accused him. They denied his authority, justice and mercy. They did as they pleased, and they missed the King’s care and peace over their lives.
   Do you know and live God’s law? Does your church? Do you know there is a King who has come to rule your heart with authority, justice and mercy? Do you know the King has come to offer you his care and peace over your life?
 
 

John 18:15-18 & 25-27 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” 18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself…25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
 
THIS scripture repeats from the previous lesson, so we can focus on the other disciple with Jesus in Annas’ courtyard. The unnamed disciple is likely one who is not of the Twelve. He was a disciple because he had sat under Jesus’ teachings. We must always remember that as Jesus’ story unfolds in the gospels, there are many, many people who followed Jesus to learn from his teachings.  
   What do you think this disciple was doing as people confronted Peter? Consider he was Peter’s entrance to Annas’ courtyard. Surely he stayed close to Peter. Perhaps he hoped Peter would do something to defend Jesus. Peter was a leader, and this unnamed disciple was prepared to follow his actions.
   But Peter only acted to defend himself and deny his relationship with Jesus. With each of Peter’s oaths and denials, do you think the unnamed disciple wondered, “What are you saying, Peter?” Perhaps the disciple began to wonder, “Should I do something? Should I confront Peter? He came here to stand with Jesus, but now he’s abandoning Jesus all to the Jews.” Or the unnamed disciple may have separated from Peter and quietly left the courtyard, not wanting to stand alone for Jesus.
   What happens when you are surrounded by sin, and you know the truth? What do you do when wrong is having its way over innocent people? Do you speak boldly for the truth? Or are you silent to remain in the background? Do you hope you can quietly walk away from the trouble?
   The unnamed disciple has been ignored throughout history. But is he another example of Jesus’ disciples denying him that cold morning? Is his silence as loud as Peter’s oaths?
   One thing is clear. You do not want to be an unnamed disciple of Jesus Christ. If you strive to follow the Lord’s Truth, your task is to make the LORD God known. You are to stand against evil’s confrontations to stand on God’s righteousness. God has gifted you to know him. Be disciplined to know and live his truth. May your legacy be one of a strong, sure voice for Jesus.

John 18:15-18 & 25-27 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” 18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself…25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
 
SINCE that awful early morning in Jerusalem, Peter has been judged and condemned for his sin. Sometimes, when preaching on Peter’s restoration as recorded in John 22, I will ask the congregation what comes to mind when Peter’s name is mentioned. “Denied Christ,” is almost always the first response. Eventually words such as “passionate”, “reactionary”, “impulsive”, and “rock” were mentioned. I don’t think anyone has said “apostle”. I don’t think anyone mentioned he authored two books – or epistles – of the New Testament. None said that Peter is the main source for Mark’s gospel. Neither did anyone note he is the first gospel preacher to the Jews and the first missionary to the Gentiles as recorded in Acts.
   My point here is this: Let’s focus on one’s salvation. Our human mind is naturally prone to point out and hold on to a person’s guilt. Jesus came to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” The gospel is the good news that God forgives and forgets your sins. After his resurrection, Jesus did that with Peter. Jesus would make Peter whole again, and Peter became the first voice of Jesus’ church to proclaim “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
   Peter personally knew what he was preaching. He had repented of his faith gap to become one of Jesus’ faithful apostles. Peter was a living testimony of Jesus’ glorious light of forgiveness. Joyfully, Peter’s victory over sin is an example for us in our own struggles. Do we not all find some way to deny our Lord? When we do, repentance leads to forgiveness.
   Yes, Peter denied Jesus. God then in Jesus’ death and resurrection did not deny Peter. He graciously made a way for Peter to return to him. Peter rejected his sin and lived in the Lord. What about you?

John 18:12-14 & 19-24 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people…19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” 22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”  24 Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
 
EVEN after this temple guard had fallen back in response to Jesus’ power, the Father’s will was for the Son to be arrested in a dark garden absent of public witness. Dark hearts work in darkness.  
   Why was Annas’ home the first of Jesus’ trials? Annas had been high priest until 15 A.D. In Jewish law, a high priest ruled for life. But the Romans were uncomfortable with one man ruling so long. Thus, a Roman governor appointed Annas’ four sons in succession over several years. Then they appointed his son-in-law Caiaphas. Still, the Jews’ system honored Annas as high priest. You may recall that after Jesus had raised Lazarus (John 11:43), Caiaphas urged Jesus’ death with an unintentional prophecy of Jesus’ eternal saving work: John 11:49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. God even uses people walking in darkness for his purposes.
   When Annas questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings, Jesus protected his disciples from this inquisition. And Jesus always taught in public. His teachings were well known. In truth, Jewish law required witnesses to testify against Jesus’ teaching, but there were none. It was also illegal to strike an unconverted person. Violence always attempt to silence truth.   
   Jesus’ enemies saw the light of truth, so they built a wall of violence and darkness. But the truth remains: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)  
   We thank God that through the violence and darkness of that day, Jesus’ true light eternally shines. 

John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back in its place! Do you think that I will not drink the cup of suffering which my Father has given me?”
 
GOD’s wrath will not come upon his earthly enemies this night. His wrath, instead, will come upon his own Son for you. No sword is needed. The Savior’s obedience is God’s weapon against evil.
   See here why we call Jesus, “My personal Lord and Savior.” Jesus drank the cup of suffering – his arrest, trial, scourging, crucifixion and death – because of our personal sin. How mournful it is to consider, “My sin is responsible for the Son of God to suffer and die.”
   Yes, that is a very difficult truth to understand for two reasons. The first is because we are not inclined to see that our sins would cause anyone to die. We see the imperfections in our lives, but certainly our sins are not so terrible to cause I AM – the eternal God – to die for my redemption, are they?
   But in truth, each sin causes a deadly divide between us and the Lord God. Adam and Eve’s sin was just one taste. But God’s judgment was death to humanity. Any stain on God’s holiness will lead to death. Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death. Indeed, our sins are deadly to our souls. That’s why we must also know Romans 6:23b But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
   A second reason it is difficult to understand Christ’s suffering for our sins is God’s gift of eternal life in Christ. Does God really love us that much? Does he truly give us eternal life through Jesus’ death? When we consider Jesus’ great cup of suffering for our eternal life is a gift, we must mourn in repentance and weep for joy! Each sin – “big” or “small” – will be cleansed from our souls with Jesus’ blood! Can we truly comprehend that?
   Jesus, in the midst of his great sorrow, lovingly and obediently welcomed the cross. He knew his suffering would fulfill the Father’s mission to save you and the church to come. Know God’s love. Believe how precious you are to your Creator and Savior.
   Yes, you were born to life on earth because God formed you in Heaven’s purpose. Chosen by God, you are born again to eternal life because this is his gift to you. Jesus took the cup of suffering. He gave you his overflowing cup of life forevermore. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 
 

John 18:7-10 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
 
JESUS said in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.” And he prayed in John 17:11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one. Now as the temple guard is about to arrest him, Jesus is being the good Shepherd. And the Father is answering his prayer. The Good Shepherd will stand between the authorities and his appointed apostles. God has a plan. No earthly force will stop him.
   Amid the disciples’ denial, doubt and fear, Jesus intercedes between his followers and the guards. Peter’s violence is put aside as Jesus heals Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51). Jesus calmed the emotional storm here as he calmed the sea in Mark 4:39-40. Jesus saved his disciples from the sea, and he saved them from harm on this dark night of evil in Jerusalem. The Good Shepherd protects.
   Do you believe Jesus’ protection is still very active for you and his church? He knows, of course, many forces oppose you. Some opposition will be your own hesitations, doubts, worries and misunderstandings about your Kingdom role. Other oppositions can be outward threats against you. Or people you call “friend” will ridicule or abandon you when you stand on your faith.
   Jesus, though, is your Good Shepherd, who has sent you his Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to inspire, empower and encourage you. Some years later Jesus’ half-brother James wrote to help us stay in Jesus’ protection: James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 
   You will be under God’s protection as you go near to God. Exceptional peace and faith will come to you as you repent and draw more closely to God. James’ second sentence here speaks of reasons we are far from God. Let’s know then, the power of Jesus’ protection over our lives. Let’s live in peace, expecting the Lord’s Good Shepherd leading. Be of confidence, knowing the holy God invites you to be near to him in your heart, mind and soul. God has called you into a remarkable relationship with him. Know he is in you to sanctify you day-by-day.