John - Week 52

Are You the King of the Jews 

READ 

John 18:33-35 

33 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. 

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

35 “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 now returned to his quarters to interrogate Jesus. Asking if Jesus was “the king of the Jews” was different than asking if He was a rival to the Roman emperor. The Romans would have no tolerance for that. Jesus wondered about the origin of Pilate’s question. Pilate ignored that and asked Jesus what He had done to cause the Jewish people and leading priests to bring Jesus to trial. 

REFLECT 

Again it is apparent that the ones most opposed to Jesus were the so-called religious people who did not believe Jesus was the promised Messiah. Don’t be surprised if religious leaders who do not believe the Bible also oppose it when you speak up for Jesus. 

RESPOND 

To whom are you relaying what you are learning about the Bible? Share with others what Jesus went through because of His love for an unbelieving world. 

Not of This World 

READ 

John 18:36-37 

36 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.” 

37 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.” 

Jesus explained to Pilate what kind of kingdom He represented; a kingdom not of this world. But a kingdom supposes a king, and Pilate asked, “So you are a king?” Instead of arguing with Pilate, Jesus told him why He had come into the world—to testify to the truth. Jesus added that those who love truth realize He speaks the truth. To disagree with what Jesus was telling others reveals that they do not love the truth.  

REFLECT 

Have you met those who do not believe the truth presented in God’s Word, the Bible? There is more evidence for the validity of the Bible than for many works the world considers reliable. Some manuscripts of biblical writing were written less than a century after Jesus lived. Some non-biblical sources about historical figures the world trusts have copies from about a century or more older. You can be confident that the Bible you are reading is an accurate reflection of what was in the original manuscripts.  

RESPOND 

Jesus contrasted the things that are seen with the things that are not seen. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 also does this. Read this passage and focus more on what is eternal. 

Prisoner Release 

READ 

John 18:38-40 

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 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’?” 

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

People are still asking what Pilate asked, What is truth? Yet, standing in front of Him was the person who was the way, the truth, and the life (see John 14:6). At least Pilate told the crowd when returning to them, “He is not guilty of any crime.” To please the Jews, however, Pilate offered to release a prisoner. The crowd did not want Jesus released; they wanted Barabbas released. Matthew’s Gospel refers to Barabbas as a “notorious prisoner” (see Matthew 27:16).  

REFLECT 

Have you been confronted by those who believe there is no such thing as absolute truth? You could ask if that also applies to their statement. Return to the Bible with confidence that you can rely on its statements. 

RESPOND 

Jesus tells you where you can find truth. His statements are found in the previous chapter in His prayer to His heavenly Father. Read John 17:16-18. You never have to apologize for what the Bible says. 

Flogged and Mocked 

READ 

John 19:1-3 

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. 

Even though Pilate said Jesus was not guilty of any crime, he had Him beaten with a lead-tipped whip. This was a radical miscarriage of justice. If Pilate thought Jesus was innocent, he should have released Him. But to pacify the crowd, Pilate and the soldiers tortured and mocked Jesus. A king should have a crown, so they made a crown of thorns. A king should wear the royal color, so they put a purple robe on Him. And they slapped Him across the face; abusing the person who had come to die for them. 

REFLECT 

Think on this passage. Let it sink in all that Jesus went through on the way to the cross to die for you—and for everyone. He could have easily wiped out the entire crowd with a word. See Hebrews 12:2-4 for the reminder of why Jesus went through all this and how it should be encouraging to us.  

Behold the Man 

READ 

John 19:4-5 

4 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.” 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!” 

Pilate tried again to clear himself before the people by repeating that he did not find Jesus guilty. His horrible actions certainly betrayed his words. Jesus must have been a terrible sight by this time. Yet, there He stood taking all this abuse and Pilate claiming He was innocent but would not release Him. It is not certain what Pilate meant by referring to Jesus as “the man.” He failed yet to realize Jesus was the Son of God. 

REFLECT 

Imagine what Jesus looked like by this time. He was probably not recognizable by His close friends. Pilate who found Him innocent was turning Him over to His enemies. 

RESPOND 

Isaiah 53:1-6 predicts what the Savior would look like and what would happen to Him. Although a comment about His entire life; nothing could be truer than what He looked like now as Pilate presented Him to the religious unbelievers. Read this passage and ponder it in the light of what the verses in John indicate.