God and the Journey to Truth
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GOD AND THE JOURNEY TO TRUTH Foundations of the Faith
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Session Reference
Subject
Page
1
John 18:33-40
What Is Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
2
2 Timothy 3:10-17
The Truth about the Bible . . . . . . . . . . .25
3
Matthew 16:13-20
The Truth about Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
4
Matthew 6:25-34
The Truth about What Is Important . . . .41
5
John 3:1-21
The Truth about the Afterlife . . . . . . . . .49
6
Luke 10:25-37
Living the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
7
John 14:15-27
The Spirit of Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
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W H AT I S T R U T H ? S C R I P T U R E
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WELCOME WELCOME TO THIS STUDY FOR THOSE, IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN SEEMS SO DOMINATED BY FALSEHOOD, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TRUE. YOU JOIN A DEDICATED GROUP: FROM ANCIENT GREEKS WHO JOURNEYED TO THE ORACLE AT DELPHI TO ROYALTY LIKE THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, WHO SOUGHT OUT SOLOMON’S WISDOM, PEOPLE HAVE TRAVELED LONG AND FAR TO FIND THE TREASURE WE CALL TRUTH. WE WILL NOT NEED TO TRAVEL AS FAR PHYSICALLY, BUT WE WILL TAKE A JOURNEY TOGETHER THAT MAY LEAD US FAR FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.
Of course, there are those who believe that the search for truth is a little like a snipe hunt: it’s a nice adventure, but the object of the hunt cannot be delivered. We, however, go into this study believing that we can find what we seek. The reason behind this confidence is not belief in our own intellectual prowess or spiritual perception, but rather belief in the God who seeks to reveal Himself to us. The main tool we will need in our journey is a willingness to ask questions. Some people are afraid to ask their questions because they think others will think they are “dumb questions” or “irreverent questions.” But in this group, we will follow the principle that there are NO dumb or irreverent questions. A question is a good question if it asks what people sincerely want to know. We will, in fact, organize this study around questions. They will be questions that are frequently asked and often appear in the Bible itself. The questions we will look at include: • What is truth? Since this is basic to our study, we will begin with this question in Session One. We will find that it was asked in the Bible by Pilate when he was confronted with Jesus. What exactly is this abstraction we call “truth,” and can it be found? • What good is the Bible in our search? This question was dealt with by Paul when he wrote to his young friend Timothy. Is the Bible just another book, or does it have special insights into what life is about? We will consider this issue in Session Two. • Who is Jesus? What is the importance of this man who is at the heart of the Christian faith? Jesus confronted His followers with this very question. Their answer and how He responded to that answer can help us decide for ourselves who Jesus is. We will look at these matters in Session Three. • What should be our highest priority? If truth is just an abstraction that has nothing to do with how we live, of what use is it? In the midst of a life that is often hectic, what does truth mean for how we prioritize our lives? Jesus dealt with this topic in his Sermon on the Mount, and we will look at it in Session Four. • How can a person have eternal life? While most people in our culture try to avoid thinking about it, we will all face death one day. Is there something after this life, and how can a person find eternal life? We will look at the story of a man who came to Jesus at night
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to ask this very question. Eternal life will be our focus in Session Five. • What kind of life should we live? Once we learn who Christ is and put our trust in Him, how does this affect the way we live? Jesus dealt with this question when it was raised by an expert in the Jewish law, and He even told a famous story to illustrate His point. We will look at this question in Session Six. • Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does the Spirit do? Most people have some kind of idea of who God is, and most have at least heard of Jesus, God’s Son. But what about the Holy Spirit? We will explore the One called “the third person of the Trinity” in our final session. Of course, these are not all the questions a person might want to ask about the Christian faith! You will want to make sure that your own unique questions are not overlooked. Be sure to raise them during the course of this study. As you do, each of us—no matter how much experience we have with Christianity or the Bible—will learn more. Every session has three parts: (1) Icebreaker—to get to know each other and introduce the topic, (2) Bible Study—to share your life through a passage of Scripture, and (3) Caring Time—to share prayer concerns and pray for one another.
ICEBREAKER
15 min
CONNECT WITH YOUR GROUP
LEADER Be sure to read the introductory material in the front of this book prior to the first session. Remember to stick to the three-part agenda and the time allowed for each segment. To help your group members get acquainted, have each person introduce him or herself and then take turns answering one or two of the Icebreaker questions. If time allows, you may want to discuss all three questions.
There used to be an old TV show called Queen for a Day. If you could be king or queen of your own kingdom for a day—or longer—what would it be like? Share something about your own history and aspirations by answering the following questions. 1. When you were in school, what area was your kingdom? ❑ The sports arena—I dazzled ’em. ❑ The nerds—I was their leader, but couldn’t figure out where to lead them. ❑ The popular kids—everybody wanted to be like me. ❑ My own little island—I kept to myself.
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❑ The undistinguished—I was just an average kid. ❑ Academia—I assumed “A’s” as my natural right. ❑ Other ____________________________________. 2. Were you to have your own kingdom today, what would be your motto or operating principle? ❑ Sadness and negativity are not permitted. ❑ All taxes are to be paid in chocolate. ❑ Everyone must take time to PLAY each day. ❑ Regulations are outlawed. ❑ Everyone is entitled to four hugs a day. ❑ All evenings are family time—solicitor calls and useless meetings are not permitted. ❑ Other ____________________________________. 3. What one principle would you want your kingdom to stand for at any cost?
BIBLE STUDY
30 min
READ SCRIPTURE AND DISCUSS
LEADER Select three members of the group ahead of time to read aloud the Scripture passage: one to read the part of the narrator, one to read for Jesus, and one to read for Pilate. Then discuss the Questions for Interaction, dividing into subgroups of three to six. Be sure to save time at the end for the Caring Time.
Sometimes we think that it is only in the present day that people have questioned whether there is really anything we could call truth. However, in the following story we find this question coming from a government leader two thousand years ago. He asked, “What is truth?” as a rhetorical question. But he didn’t understand that if he would have stopped to really listen, the One he was asking could have given him the answer. As we read the following, let us not make the same mistake. Read John 18:33-40, and note how Jesus responds to Pilate. Jesus Before Pilate Narrator:
33
Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him,
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Pilate:
“Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus:
Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?”
Pilate:
35
Jesus:
“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.”
Pilate:
37
Jesus:
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”
Pilate:
38
Narrator:
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them,
Pilate:
“I find no grounds for charging Him. 39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Narrator:
40
34
“I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” 36
“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
“What is truth?” said Pilate.
They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. John 18:33-40
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QUESTIONS FOR INTERACTION 15 min
LEADER
Refer to the Summary and Study Notes at the end of this session as needed. If 30 minutes is not enough time to answer all of the questions in this section, conclude the Bible Study by answering questions 6 and 7.
1.
What does this incident before Pilate most remind you of in your own life? ❑ Being sent to the principal’s office when I was a kid. ❑ Some brushes with the law in my younger years. ❑ When I got in trouble with my parents as a kid. ❑ Being called on the carpet by my boss. ❑ Nothing like this has ever happened to me. ❑ Other ____________________________________.
2.
How do you respond to Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” ❑ It’s my question too. ❑ It sounds like he was honestly searching. ❑ It was probably just a philosophical question. ❑ It was his way of avoiding responsibility through relativism. ❑ He didn’t really want to know. ❑ Other ____________________________________.
3.
What do you think is the most important thing Jesus is saying to Pilate about His status as King?
4.
What is the connection between Jesus’ role as King and His role of testifying to the truth (v. 37)?
5.
What does it mean to be “of the truth” (see notes on verse 37)? Why does a person who is “of the truth” listen to Jesus’ voice?
6.
What has been your own track record for listening to Jesus’ voice? ❑ I don’t even know what this means. ❑ I want to, but don’t know how. ❑ I used to as a child, but have grown away from that. ❑ I find myself seeking His voice and direction more and more. ❑ I feel that Jesus is beside me all the time, directing me.
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Given your own experience and understanding of Jesus, how would you have responded to Pilate’s question, “What is truth?”
GOING DEEPER If your group has time and/or wants a challenge, go on to these questions.
8.
How should a follower go about fighting for a kingdom that is “not of this world” (v. 36)?
9.
What is the connection of the Jesus’ crucifixion to “testifying to the truth” (v. 37)?
CARING TIME APPLY THE LESSON AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.
LEADER Take some extra time in this first session to go over the group covenant and ground rules at the beginning of this book. At the close, pass around your books and have everyone sign the Group Directory.
This very important time is to develop and express your concern for each other by praying for one another. 1. Agree on the group covenant and ground rules found in the introductory pages. 2. Begin the prayer time by taking turns and completing the following sentence: “The area of my life where I need to listen to Jesus’ voice today is …” 3. Share any other prayer requests and then close in prayer. Pray specifically for God to bring someone into your life to fill the empty chair (see the introductory pages).
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NEXT WEEK Today we began by looking at Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” We considered some possible responses to that question and the importance of listening to Jesus’ voice. Next week we will consider the role of the Bible in finding the truth. We will look at what the Apostle Paul told Timothy about how the Bible could help in his own search.
NOTES ON JOHN 18:33-40 Summary: The injustice of Jesus’ arrest is revealed by the lack of clarity in the charge of what
He had done wrong. The Jewish religious authorities, whose complaints initiated the arrest, were most upset because he claimed to be the Son of God, which they considered to be blasphemy (Matt. 26:62-66). However, they dared not bring such a religious charge before the Romans, who simply wouldn’t have cared about such a claim. That’s why, in the passage preceding this part of the story, the authorities are evasive when asked about the charges (vv. 29-30). All of the other Gospels say that the religious leaders officially charged Jesus with claiming to be a king while here this seems to be the concern of Pilate (vv. 33-37). However, Pilate finds no evidence that Jesus is seeking a kingship that is in conflict with Roman authority (v. 38). Why then was Jesus crucified? It seems that it happened because the religious leaders turned popular sentiment against Him: Pilate feared what might happen if he didn’t execute Him. In other words, He was crucified not because He had done anything punishable by crucifixion under Roman law, but rather for political expediency, and because authorities were able to spin the evidence in the direction they wanted. The concern wasn’t for actual truth, but for what appeared to look like the truth. In the recent Oscar-winning movie, Chicago, a good lawyer manipulated people and the legal system to create his own version of the truth. That is what happened to Jesus, only the manipulation was to put Him to death, not set Him free. 18:33 Are You the King of the Jews? The Jewish authorities do not specify this charge in John’s
account. They do, however, in Luke’s account (Luke 23:1-2). All the Gospel accounts report that Pilate asked if Jesus was the King of the Jews. Such a claim constituted the formal charge the Jewish religious leaders were bringing against Jesus, representing Him as a threat to Roman rule (vv. 34-35). 18:36 My kingdom is not of this world. Jesus mitigates any concern over sedition by specifically saying that because His kingdom is not of this world His disciples are not physically fighting to establish it.
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18:37 You say that I’m a king. Compare this to Jesus’ response, as recorded in all three of the
synoptic Gospels: “You have said it” (Matt. 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3). to testify to the truth. Jesus’ whole reason for coming into the world was to “testify to the truth.” This He did not only through what He said, but through who He was and how He lived. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Thus, He incarnated the truth. To find the truth is to find God as Jesus revealed Him. To say that a person is “of the truth” is not to say that he or she is a “know it all,” but rather it is to say that they have aligned themselves with Jesus, the One who has revealed the truth about God. listens to My voice. Physically hearing a person’s voice means nothing. Anyone can do that. But to truly hear what the person is saying is something different. When a person really hears what Jesus says, then that person will hear in Jesus’ words the truth they need to make sense of life. 18:39 You have a custom. This is unknown outside of the New Testament. It may have been a local custom during Pilate’s governorship, as an attempt to placate the Jews. the King of the Jews. This is a jibe at the authorities. He is willing to release the One claiming to be their King, for he sees no threat at all in Him. 18:40 Barabbas. The irony here is that his name means “son of the father.” Luke 23:19 says
he was an insurrectionist and murderer.
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GOD AND THE JOURNEY TO TRUTH Foundations of the Faith
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Session Reference
Subject
Page
1
John 18:33-40
What Is Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
2
2 Timothy 3:10-17
The Truth about the Bible . . . . . . . . . . .25
3
Matthew 16:13-20
The Truth about Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
4
Matthew 6:25-34
The Truth about What Is Important . . . .41
5
John 3:1-21
The Truth about the Afterlife . . . . . . . . .49
6
Luke 10:25-37
Living the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
7
John 14:15-27
The Spirit of Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
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W H AT I S T R U T H ? S C R I P T U R E
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WELCOME WELCOME TO THIS STUDY FOR THOSE, IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN SEEMS SO DOMINATED BY FALSEHOOD, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TRUE. YOU JOIN A DEDICATED GROUP: FROM ANCIENT GREEKS WHO JOURNEYED TO THE ORACLE AT DELPHI TO ROYALTY LIKE THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, WHO SOUGHT OUT SOLOMON’S WISDOM, PEOPLE HAVE TRAVELED LONG AND FAR TO FIND THE TREASURE WE CALL TRUTH. WE WILL NOT NEED TO TRAVEL AS FAR PHYSICALLY, BUT WE WILL TAKE A JOURNEY TOGETHER THAT MAY LEAD US FAR FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.
Of course, there are those who believe that the search for truth is a little like a snipe hunt: it’s a nice adventure, but the object of the hunt cannot be delivered. We, however, go into this study believing that we can find what we seek. The reason behind this confidence is not belief in our own intellectual prowess or spiritual perception, but rather belief in the God who seeks to reveal Himself to us. The main tool we will need in our journey is a willingness to ask questions. Some people are afraid to ask their questions because they think others will think they are “dumb questions” or “irreverent questions.” But in this group, we will follow the principle that there are NO dumb or irreverent questions. A question is a good question if it asks what people sincerely want to know. We will, in fact, organize this study around questions. They will be questions that are frequently asked and often appear in the Bible itself. The questions we will look at include: • What is truth? Since this is basic to our study, we will begin with this question in Session One. We will find that it was asked in the Bible by Pilate when he was confronted with Jesus. What exactly is this abstraction we call “truth,” and can it be found? • What good is the Bible in our search? This question was dealt with by Paul when he wrote to his young friend Timothy. Is the Bible just another book, or does it have special insights into what life is about? We will consider this issue in Session Two. • Who is Jesus? What is the importance of this man who is at the heart of the Christian faith? Jesus confronted His followers with this very question. Their answer and how He responded to that answer can help us decide for ourselves who Jesus is. We will look at these matters in Session Three. • What should be our highest priority? If truth is just an abstraction that has nothing to do with how we live, of what use is it? In the midst of a life that is often hectic, what does truth mean for how we prioritize our lives? Jesus dealt with this topic in his Sermon on the Mount, and we will look at it in Session Four. • How can a person have eternal life? While most people in our culture try to avoid thinking about it, we will all face death one day. Is there something after this life, and how can a person find eternal life? We will look at the story of a man who came to Jesus at night
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to ask this very question. Eternal life will be our focus in Session Five. • What kind of life should we live? Once we learn who Christ is and put our trust in Him, how does this affect the way we live? Jesus dealt with this question when it was raised by an expert in the Jewish law, and He even told a famous story to illustrate His point. We will look at this question in Session Six. • Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does the Spirit do? Most people have some kind of idea of who God is, and most have at least heard of Jesus, God’s Son. But what about the Holy Spirit? We will explore the One called “the third person of the Trinity” in our final session. Of course, these are not all the questions a person might want to ask about the Christian faith! You will want to make sure that your own unique questions are not overlooked. Be sure to raise them during the course of this study. As you do, each of us—no matter how much experience we have with Christianity or the Bible—will learn more. Every session has three parts: (1) Icebreaker—to get to know each other and introduce the topic, (2) Bible Study—to share your life through a passage of Scripture, and (3) Caring Time—to share prayer concerns and pray for one another.
ICEBREAKER
15 min
CONNECT WITH YOUR GROUP
LEADER Be sure to read the introductory material in the front of this book prior to the first session. Remember to stick to the three-part agenda and the time allowed for each segment. To help your group members get acquainted, have each person introduce him or herself and then take turns answering one or two of the Icebreaker questions. If time allows, you may want to discuss all three questions.
There used to be an old TV show called Queen for a Day. If you could be king or queen of your own kingdom for a day—or longer—what would it be like? Share something about your own history and aspirations by answering the following questions. 1. When you were in school, what area was your kingdom? ❑ The sports arena—I dazzled ’em. ❑ The nerds—I was their leader, but couldn’t figure out where to lead them. ❑ The popular kids—everybody wanted to be like me. ❑ My own little island—I kept to myself.
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❑ The undistinguished—I was just an average kid. ❑ Academia—I assumed “A’s” as my natural right. ❑ Other ____________________________________. 2. Were you to have your own kingdom today, what would be your motto or operating principle? ❑ Sadness and negativity are not permitted. ❑ All taxes are to be paid in chocolate. ❑ Everyone must take time to PLAY each day. ❑ Regulations are outlawed. ❑ Everyone is entitled to four hugs a day. ❑ All evenings are family time—solicitor calls and useless meetings are not permitted. ❑ Other ____________________________________. 3. What one principle would you want your kingdom to stand for at any cost?
BIBLE STUDY
30 min
READ SCRIPTURE AND DISCUSS
LEADER Select three members of the group ahead of time to read aloud the Scripture passage: one to read the part of the narrator, one to read for Jesus, and one to read for Pilate. Then discuss the Questions for Interaction, dividing into subgroups of three to six. Be sure to save time at the end for the Caring Time.
Sometimes we think that it is only in the present day that people have questioned whether there is really anything we could call truth. However, in the following story we find this question coming from a government leader two thousand years ago. He asked, “What is truth?” as a rhetorical question. But he didn’t understand that if he would have stopped to really listen, the One he was asking could have given him the answer. As we read the following, let us not make the same mistake. Read John 18:33-40, and note how Jesus responds to Pilate. Jesus Before Pilate Narrator:
33
Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him,
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Pilate:
“Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus:
Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?”
Pilate:
35
Jesus:
“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.”
Pilate:
37
Jesus:
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”
Pilate:
38
Narrator:
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them,
Pilate:
“I find no grounds for charging Him. 39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Narrator:
40
34
“I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” 36
“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
“What is truth?” said Pilate.
They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. John 18:33-40
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QUESTIONS FOR INTERACTION 15 min
LEADER
Refer to the Summary and Study Notes at the end of this session as needed. If 30 minutes is not enough time to answer all of the questions in this section, conclude the Bible Study by answering questions 6 and 7.
1.
What does this incident before Pilate most remind you of in your own life? ❑ Being sent to the principal’s office when I was a kid. ❑ Some brushes with the law in my younger years. ❑ When I got in trouble with my parents as a kid. ❑ Being called on the carpet by my boss. ❑ Nothing like this has ever happened to me. ❑ Other ____________________________________.
2.
How do you respond to Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” ❑ It’s my question too. ❑ It sounds like he was honestly searching. ❑ It was probably just a philosophical question. ❑ It was his way of avoiding responsibility through relativism. ❑ He didn’t really want to know. ❑ Other ____________________________________.
3.
What do you think is the most important thing Jesus is saying to Pilate about His status as King?
4.
What is the connection between Jesus’ role as King and His role of testifying to the truth (v. 37)?
5.
What does it mean to be “of the truth” (see notes on verse 37)? Why does a person who is “of the truth” listen to Jesus’ voice?
6.
What has been your own track record for listening to Jesus’ voice? ❑ I don’t even know what this means. ❑ I want to, but don’t know how. ❑ I used to as a child, but have grown away from that. ❑ I find myself seeking His voice and direction more and more. ❑ I feel that Jesus is beside me all the time, directing me.
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Given your own experience and understanding of Jesus, how would you have responded to Pilate’s question, “What is truth?”
GOING DEEPER If your group has time and/or wants a challenge, go on to these questions.
8.
How should a follower go about fighting for a kingdom that is “not of this world” (v. 36)?
9.
What is the connection of the Jesus’ crucifixion to “testifying to the truth” (v. 37)?
CARING TIME APPLY THE LESSON AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.
LEADER Take some extra time in this first session to go over the group covenant and ground rules at the beginning of this book. At the close, pass around your books and have everyone sign the Group Directory.
This very important time is to develop and express your concern for each other by praying for one another. 1. Agree on the group covenant and ground rules found in the introductory pages. 2. Begin the prayer time by taking turns and completing the following sentence: “The area of my life where I need to listen to Jesus’ voice today is …” 3. Share any other prayer requests and then close in prayer. Pray specifically for God to bring someone into your life to fill the empty chair (see the introductory pages).
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NEXT WEEK Today we began by looking at Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” We considered some possible responses to that question and the importance of listening to Jesus’ voice. Next week we will consider the role of the Bible in finding the truth. We will look at what the Apostle Paul told Timothy about how the Bible could help in his own search.
NOTES ON JOHN 18:33-40 Summary: The injustice of Jesus’ arrest is revealed by the lack of clarity in the charge of what
He had done wrong. The Jewish religious authorities, whose complaints initiated the arrest, were most upset because he claimed to be the Son of God, which they considered to be blasphemy (Matt. 26:62-66). However, they dared not bring such a religious charge before the Romans, who simply wouldn’t have cared about such a claim. That’s why, in the passage preceding this part of the story, the authorities are evasive when asked about the charges (vv. 29-30). All of the other Gospels say that the religious leaders officially charged Jesus with claiming to be a king while here this seems to be the concern of Pilate (vv. 33-37). However, Pilate finds no evidence that Jesus is seeking a kingship that is in conflict with Roman authority (v. 38). Why then was Jesus crucified? It seems that it happened because the religious leaders turned popular sentiment against Him: Pilate feared what might happen if he didn’t execute Him. In other words, He was crucified not because He had done anything punishable by crucifixion under Roman law, but rather for political expediency, and because authorities were able to spin the evidence in the direction they wanted. The concern wasn’t for actual truth, but for what appeared to look like the truth. In the recent Oscar-winning movie, Chicago, a good lawyer manipulated people and the legal system to create his own version of the truth. That is what happened to Jesus, only the manipulation was to put Him to death, not set Him free. 18:33 Are You the King of the Jews? The Jewish authorities do not specify this charge in John’s
account. They do, however, in Luke’s account (Luke 23:1-2). All the Gospel accounts report that Pilate asked if Jesus was the King of the Jews. Such a claim constituted the formal charge the Jewish religious leaders were bringing against Jesus, representing Him as a threat to Roman rule (vv. 34-35). 18:36 My kingdom is not of this world. Jesus mitigates any concern over sedition by specifically saying that because His kingdom is not of this world His disciples are not physically fighting to establish it.
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18:37 You say that I’m a king. Compare this to Jesus’ response, as recorded in all three of the
synoptic Gospels: “You have said it” (Matt. 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3). to testify to the truth. Jesus’ whole reason for coming into the world was to “testify to the truth.” This He did not only through what He said, but through who He was and how He lived. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Thus, He incarnated the truth. To find the truth is to find God as Jesus revealed Him. To say that a person is “of the truth” is not to say that he or she is a “know it all,” but rather it is to say that they have aligned themselves with Jesus, the One who has revealed the truth about God. listens to My voice. Physically hearing a person’s voice means nothing. Anyone can do that. But to truly hear what the person is saying is something different. When a person really hears what Jesus says, then that person will hear in Jesus’ words the truth they need to make sense of life. 18:39 You have a custom. This is unknown outside of the New Testament. It may have been a local custom during Pilate’s governorship, as an attempt to placate the Jews. the King of the Jews. This is a jibe at the authorities. He is willing to release the One claiming to be their King, for he sees no threat at all in Him. 18:40 Barabbas. The irony here is that his name means “son of the father.” Luke 23:19 says
he was an insurrectionist and murderer.
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