On the Way to the Cross: Before Pilate (John 18:28-40)

Today's scripture: John 18:28-40

From the moment Jesus began His ministry, the religious leaders wanted to silence His message. They didn't want to hear about love and compassion; they did want to hear about a powerful king overcoming their enemies. Finally, with the assistance of greedy Judas Iscariot, they had Jesus where they wanted Him ... well, sort of.

They'd had Him arrested, but now their hands were tied. Their laws didn't allow them to put Him to death. So they manipulated the system. They brought Him before Pilate, who was the Roman leader in Jerusalem. "What did this Man do?" Pilate asked. Notice their response: “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” The "evil" He'd done? He proclaimed Himself King and Messiah.

Then began a fascinating conversation. Pilate asked, "Are you the King?" Instead of answering directly at first, Jesus answered with His own question. Pilate finally asked directly, "What did You do?" Jesus confirmed He was indeed King, but not the kind of king Pilate assumed. Jesus was—and is—King over all heaven and all earth.

Jesus ended their conversation with a powerful statement: "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  To his credit, Pilate immediately asked, “What is truth?” The tragedy? He didn't allow Jesus to answer.

Jesus came to tell us truth: He is the Savior and Redeemer. He is the one and only way for eternal life. The Jewish leaders chose not to believe this truth. Pilate didn't take the time to find out this truth.

We have the truth before us in God's word. We just need to take the time to find it out, and then we need to believe it.

After all, it's why Jesus came to earth.