Sermon Notes - John 18:28-19:16 - Littleby Baptist Church - November 26, 2023

 1.     Our calendar is getting closer to Christmas.

a.      As we walk through John we are heading to Good Friday and Easter.

2.     Last week we saw Jesus following through with the Master Plan.

a.      He headed to the garden.

b.     He showed He had the power by knocking those coming to get Him down.

c.      But He allowed Himself to be arrested.

d.     He let them take Him away, knowing that it was needed.

e.      The disciples fled, but two wanted to see what was going on.

f.      Peter did exactly what Jesus prophesied that he would do.

g.     He denied Jesus three times and immediately the rooster crowed.

3.     These events happened because of the Love Jesus has for us.

a.      His hour was coming, the price for our sin was about to be paid.

b.     Jesus came to complete the work, to wipe us clean and give us new life.

c.      These painful events were needed.

4.     John 18:28-29

a.      They wrongly tried Jesus and treated Him like someone who had already been proven guilty.

b.     Then they turn Jesus over to Pilate.

c.      They are worried about remaining clean for the Passover meal, but they are plotting to murder an innocent man.

d.     One more way we see that they have lost sight of the God they claim to Love.

e.      They are focused on the rules that were to remind them of the Father’s love.

f.      Passover was to be celebrated in remembrance that God spared their ancestors in Egypt during the final plague.

g.     One thing for us to remember, our focus in to be on God.

h.     The sacrifice that was made for us.

i.       Not some list of rules.

j.       I wonder if some of those who have fallen away over the last decade, were more rule followers than Jesus followers.

5.     John 18:30-32

a.      You can almost feel the tension between Pilate and the Jewish leaders.

b.     Pilate did not want to play their game.

c.      The Jewish leaders needed Pilate to accomplish their goal.

d.     God was using Pilate to carry out His will.

e.      For Jesus to die without a broken bone, for Jew and Gentile alike to be guilty, and for Him to die by being lifted up… Jesus had to die on a cross at the hands of the Romans.

f.      This was the only way for these events to play out, it was time.

6.     John 18:33-35

a.      It was not like the Jews to hand over one of their own to the hated Romans.

b.     Something did not seem right.

c.      Pilate rightly questioned Jesus to see what was going on.

7.     John 18:36

a.      Jesus is not of this world.

b.     His kingdom is not of this world.

c.      Through Him, all who believe do not belong to this world.

d.     As those grafted into the family of God through Jesus, we do not need to fight as those of this world do.

e.      Instead, we are to submit to God’s will and let God fight.

f.      Today, we are not to fight at the world fights.

g.     We need to fight in love.

h.     Stand on the truth of God’s Word.

i.       Kneel to Him in prayer.

j.       AND share God’s truth in kindness.

8.      John 18:37

a.      Jesus is King.

b.     Not over a traditional kingdom that Pilate would have understood.

c.      But King over all who accept the Truth.

d.     Someday every knee will bow, and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. (Phil 2:10-11).

e.      At some point everyone will have to accept the Truth about who Jesus is.

f.      Everyone will be subject to the King of kings.

9.     John 18:38a

a.      Pilate had the Truth directly in front of him, but he did not listen.

b.     Exactly what was meant to happen, but sad.

c.      A man had the Truth close enough to grasp but turned away.

d.     Many like that in the world today, which is why we need to share the Gospel in kindness.

e.      We need to repeatedly plant and water, to share the truth of Jesus.

f.      In Hope that many will turn to Jesus before it is too late.

10.  John 18:38b-40

a.      Pilate not freeing Jesus knowing that He was innocent, showed that he did not care for truth.

b.     Offering to release Barabbas showed that Justice really did not matter to him.

c.      The Father and the Son knew this and chose this time for these events to play out.

d.     Think about that for a moment.

e.      If we apply this to ourselves, we are here today.

f.      We are alive now.

g.     For a time, such as this.

h.     We are meant to be here today for God to use.

i.       No matter the situation, our God can use us to further His will.

j.       This is our time.

11.  John 19:1-3

a.      A beating that was not deserved.

b.     A beating that for many would lead to death.

c.      A beating that Pilate was thinking might satisfy the blood lust of the crowd.

12.  John 19:4-5

a.      Pilate halfheartedly tried to free Jesus once again.

13.  John 19:6

a.      Pilate was likely fed up and did not want to do the Jewish leader’s dirty work.

b.     He wanted to be done with this.

14.  John 19:7-8

a.      This got Pilates attention.

b.     Blasphemy was a serious charge.

c.      If Pilate did not believe, why was he afraid?

d.     Romans believed that gods had come down to earth and visited with and judged men.

e.      Pilate may have been afraid that Jesus was truly a God and Pilate had just Him flogging.

15.  John 19:9-11

a.      Vs 11 is key here.

b.     No authority – God is ultimately in control. Pilate may have been the human leader there at this time, but he was in that position because God put him there.

c.      Everything playing was all part of God’s Master Plan.

d.     The one who handed me over has the greater sin – Pilate was guilty, but Jesus put more of the blame on those who turned Him over.

e.      Some may question if one sin is greater than another.

f.      Romans 3:23

g.     James 2:10

h.     Committing a single sin will result in us falling short of the glory of God.

i.       One sin is the same as breaking all of the Law.

j.       Does not matter if one sin is greater than another, as any one of them will result in us being guilty of all of them.

k.     Any sin results in us needing a Savior, needing Jesus.

16.  John 19:12

a.      Pilate seems more interested in freeing Jesus after their one-on-one conversation.

b.     The Jewish leaders knew exactly what to say.

c.      He had to choose, free an innocent man or show loyalty to Caesar.

d.     Pilate only had one choice if he wanted to show that he honored Caesar.

17.  John 19:13-14

a.      Time was running short for the Jews as they needed to finish preparations for remembering what God did for Moses and the Israelites.

b.     The irony, as they pushed and rushed to have the true Lamb of God sacrificed for our sins.

c.      I doubt Pilate believed that Jesus was the King of the Jews.

d.     He likely was tired of the game and was goading the Jews on.

18.  John 19:15-16

a.      The Jews who were looking for a triumphant Messiah to free them from Roman oppression, sided with Caesar.

b.     They chose Caesar over their Messiah.

c.      Even knowing that this was God’s plan, it is hard to see the hate.

d.     It is hard to see that people are so far lost that they do not see the truth.

19.  We read these words and see it in the lives of the Jewish people at that time.

20.  We need to look into our hearts and even examen the world around us.

a.      This same type of hate exists today.

b.     There is hate that is justified by religious practice.

c.      There is hate that is driven by missing who God really is.

d.     Hate exists in today’s world.

21.  John 13:35

a.      We are to be known by our love.

22.  John 17:17

a.      Hold on to the truth that sets us apart.

23.  Ephesians 4:15

a.      Speak the truth in love.

24.  As Christ followers, we need to let the love of God and of others to motivate us.

25.  To share the Words of Truth in effort to reach those that our Father loves.

26.  Reach them in Love, Truth, and Kindness.

27.  If you don’t know Jesus and want to feel that love, I would love to talk to you.