March 30-April 1, 2007                         JESUS IN HD!                             John 18-19, Selected

JEOPARDY!

·         Percentage of Americans who believe that there is no absolute truth: 78%!

·         Percentage of American Evangelicals who believe that there is no absolute

truth: 30%!  -- Barna Research

v Jesus was born! - John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” [New International Version]

v Jesus taught! - John 8:51 “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." [NIV]

v Jesus lived! - John 8:44-46 “You belong to your father, the devil…. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him….. [45] Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! [46] Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?” [NIV]

v  Jesus professes! - John 14:6 “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” [NIV]

*** John 18:28-38 “Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.   [29] So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" [30] "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."   [31] Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."   "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. [32] This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

                        [33] Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" [34] "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"   [35] "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"  [36] Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."  [37] "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.  Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."   [38] "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.” [NIV]

“TRUTH: the description of things as they really are.”

*** John 14:6 “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” [NIV]

*** John 19:1-3 “Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. [2] The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe [3] and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.” [NIV]

*** John 19:4-8 “Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." [5] When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"  [6] As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." [7] The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."  [8] When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid….” [NIV]

Now What Would He Do With The Truth?

*** John 19:9-12 “…and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. [10] "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" [11] Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."  [12] From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free….” [NIV]

*** Matthew 27:22-24 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" [23] "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.  But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" [24] When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" [NIV]

*** John 19:16a “Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.” [NIV]

FOUR WAYS TO KNOW TRUTH!

o        Communication!

o        Creation!

o        Conscience!

o        Comparison!

*** James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.” [NIV]

WHAT DO I DO WITH THE TRUTH?

o        Believe It! - John 6:47 “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.” [NIV]

o        Surrender to It! - John 8:51 “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." [NIV]

o        Stand Up for It! - John 3:21 “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." [NIV]

o        Spread It! - John 19:35 “The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.” [NIV]

“Then you will know the truth,

and the truth will set you free."  -- John 8:32 [NIV]