The Death and Resurrection of Jesus: The Trial - SERMON NOTES

Intro: (1) series recap (2) setup of v.28-32 (3) v.28 → MAP, “early morning” on Friday (4) v.29a-31a → Pilate the Roman governor of Judea, not interested in religious squabbles (5) scene of blasphemy charge not recorded by John (6) v.31b → capital punishment taken away from Jews (7) v.32 Jesus guarantees his death by Roman crucifixion (cf. 3:14, Num. 21:9, Is. 52:13 (8) v.33-38 → three areas “on trial”

Our Source of Value (33-34)
(1) v.33 → primary threat to Roman authority presented by Jewish leadership (2) v.34 → Jesus’ response a dismissal of Jewish leaders’ charge (3) Rome concerned with treason (cf. Barabbus), Jews with blasphemy (4) another dynamic → emphatic “you” Pilate’s dismissal of Jesus (5) LESSON → values of Jesus/Pilate very different (6) 1 Cor. 1 → “having it together” by world’s standards make it harder to submit to God (7) where do you derive value from? (cf. CEO productivity)

Our source of belonging (35-36): 
(1) v.35 → further eluding of dealing with Jesus → only concern is whether anything truly “wrong” has been done (i.e. threat against Roman rule) (2) v.36 → Jesus here claims kingship, but not kind that is geopolitical threat to Rome (3) one proof of this is that his followers are not uprising (4) LESSON #1 → followers of world seek belonging through power/performance (5) LESSON #2 → followers of Christ belong to their him regardless of externals (cf. Philipp. 3:20, Buzz)

Our source of truth (37-38): 
(1) Pilate seemingly intrigued, Jesus continues to emphasize kingship of a different kind (i.e. based in “the truth” → cf. 8:31-34, 14:6, 17:3) (2) feeding of 5000 in John 6 → eventual response (3) v.38 → Pilate too worn down, concerned with practical (4) LESSON → we often prefer practically over truth (cf. Pilate, parenting, tape over car light) (4) living for the practical leads to defining truth however we want to (5) only living for what works shrivels our soul (cf. “a hole to dig”)

Conclusion: 1 John 2:15-17 → Do not love this world or the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a physical craving, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our possessions and achievements. These are not from the Father, but from the world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.