John 18:28-38

1. God on Trial
PART 2
JOHN 18:28-38

2. God on Trial, pt. 2
•Know these guys?
•Know what they had in common?
•Charles I in 1649 and Louis XVI in
1793
•Unlike these two, Jesus has an
eternal kingdom that cannot be
destroyed or overthrown
•Jesus’ magnificence becomes very
obvious

3. “28 Then they *led Jesus from Caiaphas into
the Praetorium, and it was early; and they
themselves did not enter into the Praetorium
so that they would not be defiled, but might
eat the Passover. 29 Therefore Pilate went out
to them and *said, “What accusation do you
bring against this Man?” 30 They answered
and said to him, “If this Man were not an
evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to
you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him
yourselves, and judge Him according to your

4. law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not
permitted to put anyone to death,” 32 to fulfill
the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying
by what kind of death He was about to die.
33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the
Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to
Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus
answered, “Are you saying this on your own
initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests

5. delivered You to me; what have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this
world. If My kingdom were of this world, then
My servants would be fighting so that I would
not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is,
My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37 Therefore
Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus
answered, “You say correctly that I am a king.
For this I have been born, and for this I have
come into the world, to testify to the truth.

6. Everyone who is of the truth hears My
voice.” 38 Pilate *said to Him, “What is
truth?”
John 18:28-38, NASB

7. The 4th Trial…
•Between v 24 and 28, Jesus went through
two more trials, Caiaphas and the San
Hedrin
•Short trial, at sunrise took Him to Pilate
•Vv 28 has the most hypocrisy and human
depravity ever scene
•What Irony!

8. False Accusations/ Pre-defined verdict…
•Vv 29-32, Pilate’s 1st question was normal
•Jewish Leaders didn’t answer, because they
knew there was no crime according to
Roman Law
•Luke 23:2 says they made up three charges
•Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse Him,
saying, “(1) We found this fellow
perverting the nation, and (2) forbidding to
pay taxes to Caesar, (3) saying
that He Himself is Christ, a King.”

9. Trial by Pilate…
•The only true statement
was the Messiah charge!
•The last thing Pilate
needed was a Hebrew
Hooplah
•He thought, “Why
crucifixion over stoning?”
•Shame for Jesus

10. More Jewish Rules…
If a man has committed a sin deserving of
death, and he is put to death, and you
hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not
remain overnight on the tree, but you shall
surely bury him that day, so that you do
not defile the land which the Lord your
God is giving you as an inheritance;
for he who is hanged is accursed of God
Deuteronomy 21:22-23

11. More Jewish Rules…
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse
of the law, having become a curse for us
(for it is written, “Cursed is everyone
who hangs on a tree”)”
Galatians 3:13

12. My Kingdom not of this World…
•Vv 33-36, Pilate’s 1st
question reasonable–
insurrection not tolerated
•What was Jesus really
asking him in V 34?
•Jesus is declaring the great
and permanent difference
between God’s and earthly
kingdoms

13. What is the Truth?
•Vv 37-38, I think Pilate maybe sincere at
this moment
•Note Jesus’ answer in V37—
•“Born” to show his humanity
•“Have come into”…explains His deity
•Pay attn. to the end of v37—
•Truth? Absolutes? He didn’t want to know…

14. Take Home
•Absolute moral and
biblical truths exist
absolutely
•Anytime we stand against
them, we are taking the
side of untruth and
embracing deceit that
comes from Satan