The Gospel of John: John 18.1-40

Read and meditate on John 18.37-40.
Pilate’s trial ends in a complete failure. Jesus’ trial turns from one form to another, as He enters more deeply into His passion.

                                               ³⁷Then Pilate said unto
Him, “Are You then a king?” “Yes, rightly you
have said I am a King,” said Jesus. I
was born for this cause, and for this cause I
have come into the world, to testify
concerning truth. Everyone who My
voice hears is of the truth.” ³⁸Then Pilate said
to Him, “Truth. What is truth?” And when he said
this, he went out again and said unto
the Jews, “I find no fault in Him. ³⁹But you
a custom have, that at this feast I should
release one prisoner. Does it thus seem good
to you that I release your ‘King’?” ⁴⁰They said
together, “Not this Man. Release instead
Barabbas!” Now he was a thief.

- John 18.37-40

Reflect
1.  Pilate questioned Jesus about the kingship claim. This would be a serious charge, indeed. In one sense, this interrogation is going on at two levels, Pilate thinking one thing, and Jesus answering another. Explain. Is there a sense in which this is true of us and our unbelieving friends as well? Complete this prayer: Though the world may not recognize You as such, Lord Jesus, You are King, King of…

2.  Jesus said He was born to be King, and came into the world to bear witness to truth. He made a direct connection, in Himself, between kingship and truth. How does this help us in thinking about the Kingdom He taught us to pray for and seek (Matt. 6.10, 22), and to which God has called us (1 Thess. 2.12)? How do we seek that Kingdom? How can we know when it is coming in and through us? Lord Jesus, help me today to seek Your Kingdom as I…

3.  In what sense was Jesus using the word hear in verse 37? What does it mean to hear His voice? What does hearing His voice accomplish in us, and how does this relate to our Kingdom-and-glory calling? Open my ears, my mind, and my heart, Lord Jesus, to hear Your voice, as You speak to Me in…

4.  “Oh, this is about truth?” Pilate might have said. Instead, he cast doubt on truth itself, suggesting that truth is an unknowable concept, which means that truth is merely relative and pragmatic. Compare Pilate’s view of truth with Jesus’ view of truth. Which one most represents our times? Should that affect our way of being-in-the-world, our view of truth? Explain. You are the truth, Lord Jesus, and as long as I look to and cling to You, and hear Your voice, I…
 
5.  Pilate’s trial comes to a disappointing end. He finds no fault in Jesus, but he refuses to act on that decision. Instead, he will choose the pragmatic solution. Everybody will be happy, his “Jesus problem” will go away, and the Empire can continue its efficient functioning. For Pilate, this was “truth.” How can you see this approach to “truth” in our own day? What’s wrong with living this way? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“In order that he might show that the difficulty in Pilate’s perception came from his stubborn heart and from his reluctance to admit the truth, Christ appropriately adds, ‘Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.’ For the word of truth is readily accepted by those who have already learned and love it. But it is not the same for everyone. In fact, the prophet Isaiah said to some, ‘If you will not believe, neither shall you understand.’ Pilate showed at once how true this was when he said, ‘What is truth?’ For there are those whose sight has been injured or who have entirely lost the use of their eyes and their sense of color has been entirely annihilated. They would not even be able to tell if someone placed gold before them or a brilliant precious stone. In fact, even the very light of the sun’s rays does not engage them in any kind of wonder since they have lost all perception and can gain no profit from any of these things. In the same way, to people whose minds have become warped, truth seems a foul and ugly thing even as it instills a spiritual and divine brilliance into the minds of those who behold it.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

Truth in Jesus is unchanging and absolute. As King, Jesus administers truth through His subjects, who will thus necessarily cross swords with our pragmatic and relativistic age. But the Sword we carry into this conflict will never fail. What are the implications of this for your daily life?

Closing Prayer
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 149.4-9

Psalm 149 (Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art )
Sing to the Lord a glorious song and new!
Praise Him you people, to Whom praise is due!
Let us rejoice, let us be glad in Him
Who has created us and cleansed our sin.

Praise Him with dance, with tambourine and lyre!
To be so praised is God’s one great desire.
Lord, beautify Your holy ones with grace;
Show us the mercy of Your saving face.

Sing to the Lord, exult with great delight!
Sing on your beds with joy to God by night!
Sing praise and take His Word into your hand;
Publish His grace and wrath in every land!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.