Tag: Minister

“What is truth ?” – Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them – “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’ ?” (18:38-39)

But they shouted back – “No ! Not this man. We want Barabbas !” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.) (18:40)

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him. “Hail ! King of the Jews !” – they mocked, as they slapped Him across the face. (19:1-3)

Pilate went outside again and said to the people – “I am going to bring Him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said – “Look – here is the Man !” (19:4-5)

When they saw Him – the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting – “Crucify Him ! Crucify Him !” (19:6a)

In Part 8 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18 into 19 – where John remembers when Jesus was sentenced to death.

The Roman Governor – Pontius Pilate – determined that Jesus was not guilty. He committed no crime, and He was no threat to the Roman Empire. Pilate offered to release this ‘King of the Jews’, but the mob rebelled. They wanted Barabbas released instead. (Barabbas was guilty of murder and insurrection !)

Jesus was mocked and beaten by Pilate’s Roman soldiers, and then He was paraded in front of the mob outside so that they could see that He was punished – even though He was not guilty of any crimes. The leading priests and Temple guards wanted far more punishment for Jesus. They wanted Him crucified. Pilate challenged the mob to crucify Him themselves.

Pilate had another conversation with Jesus inside, and he tried to release Him again. The mob threatened Pilate if he released Jesus claiming that he (Pilate) would be no friend of (Julius) Caesar – just as Jesus was a rebel against Caesar.

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. (19:16)

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 19 – next Sunday Scripture.

Missed the first 7 parts of this sermon ? Check them out – PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5 / PART 6 / PART 7

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Jesus answered – “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were – My followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But My Kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate said – “So You are a King ?”

Jesus responded – “You say I am a king. Actually – I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

In Part 7 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. Today I’m preaching on just those 2 verses – 36 and 37.

The Roman Governor – Pontius Pilate – asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews. He asked Jesus this in order to determine if He was a threat to the Roman empire. Jesus answered that His Kingdom is not of this world. While He was a “King” – He was certainly not a King of an earthly Kingdom. He was no threat to Rome or any other existing or emerging empire. His Kingdom was spiritual. He was a ruler through the devotion and obedience of those who follow Him. He was born and came into this world to testify the truth – God’s Truth.

Christ said “Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.” (John 8:47a)

In John’s first letter he states that he and the apostles belong to God, and those who know God listen to them and agree with their teachings. If they do not belong to God – then they do not listen to them. That is how they know if someone has the Holy Spirit living within – or the spirit of the antichrist. You either have one – or the other.

Last Sunday I preached a unique sermon to my church family. It was a sermon that was entirely unrehearsed and unscripted. It was based on about 30 social media memes. I presented each meme on our screens, and then I spoke on them. That’s it. I had no idea what I was going to say until I actually said it. Dangerous ? Perhaps. Honest ? Definitely. It’s a different way for me to branch out to be a more effective Preacher of God’s Word. It was the second such sermon that I’ve preached over the past 14 months. This meme was not part of it, but it seems to fit right in with my message today:

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

Missed the first 6 parts of this sermon ? Check them out – PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5 / PART 6

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then He was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate – the governor – went out to them and asked – “What is your charge against this Man ?”

“We wouldn’t have handed Him over to you if He weren’t a criminal !” – they retorted.

“Then take Him away, and judge Him by your own law” – Pilate told them.

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone” – the Jewish leaders replied. (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way He would die.)

In Part 6 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. In Verses 28 to 32 John writes about Jesus’ trial before the Roman Governor – Pontius Pilate. He was ruthless as a ruler – especially against the Jews – committing many atrocities against them. But in this particular case he wanted the Jewish leaders to handle Jesus Himself. He didn’t really want to have anything to do with this case against Jesus. But they wanted Jesus executed, and only Pilate could do that under Roman law. Pilate was nevertheless hesitant to take any action against Jesus.

As an aside the Apostle John wrote his Gospel as an Elder during the late-First Century – some 50 to 60 years after these events of Christ’s final days on earth. He mostly wrote on the Roman trial leading-up to His crucifixion. During the time of his writing the Jewish nation had been scattered by Rome, and Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Romans.

John 18:33-35:

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters, and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are You the King of the Jews ?” – he asked Him.

Jesus replied – “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about Me ?”

“Am I a Jew ?” – Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought You to me for trial. Why ? What have you done ?”

Pilate began calmly questioning Jesus inside. He was looking out for the safety and security of the Roman Empire that was under his control, and he wanted to know if Jesus was a threat to it. Jesus would soon clarify His position as a King, but first He wanted to know what Pilate really meant when he asked Him if He was “King of the Jews”. Jesus would soon answer with a very specific response.

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

Missed the first 5 parts of this sermon ? Check them out – PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries