Moment of Truth

Moment of Truth
Words of Faith 3-15-17
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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John 18
[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.

Pilate suddenly found himself in a greatly perplexing situation for a powerful politician. He was confronted with more truth than he had ever known could exist! This was not your garden-variety zealot.
No doubt the very presence of Jesus was powerful. What was it like to stand in “human judgment” over the Judge of all creation? Surely Pilate could sense that the tables were turning and it was he who was on “trial” here.
It is difficult to comprehend, but Jesus loved Pilate. Jesus could manifest nothing other than love. He knew Pilate through and through. Perhaps this is why He attempted to pierce the hard façade and break through to Pilate. It certainly was not because Jesus sought to escape death.
Pilate asked about the legal charge against Jesus. Rather than be interrogated, Jesus started asking His own questions. “Is that you own idea or did others talk to you about me?”
In other words… Pilate, will you be so easily manipulated by the powers of religious hatred? You can see the truth here if you open your eyes. The discussion was no longer about Jesus but about Pilate. Pilate was losing whatever sense of control he had over this situation. Jesus has a way of doing that. Pilate was now on trial for his soul.
But Pilate resisted. Rather than consider what was really going on, he dodged responsibility for making a decision and blamed the whole thing on the Jews. Like so many in high places, Pilate wanted the power but not the responsibility to seek the truth or do the right thing.
But the truth was coming. Jesus could not lie. He was a king, the King of all kings. "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."
Pilate seized the “advantage”. It was the easy out. "You are a king, then!" That was really all Pilate needed, the technicality of the law. Anyone who claimed to be a “king” was guilty of insurrection. There was no king but Caesar. But before the matter could be dismissed Jesus had one more piercing statement.
"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."
There was the challenge. Jesus was here of His own choosing. It was His purpose to bring truth where there was none. If you are on the side of the truth, you will listen. If you really believe in truth you will look deeper. If you are really interested in truth you will acknowledge the possibility of a Kingdom not of this world and realize that this legal proceeding is a farce. If you are a seeker of truth you will see that Truth is staring you in the face.
One more chance, but Pilate dodged, this time with the intellectual escape. "What is truth?" Pilate asked. Intellect is often the final smokescreen. When we are corned by truth we sidestep with talk about philosophy and avoid the real question. Pilate simply was not going to allow the truth of Jesus to pierce his hard heart and position of power. Pilate was gripped by far too much of the world to easily let go.
There is often a place in life where we think we are making a decision about Jesus. We weigh the arguments to determine whether He is the real thing or not. Very quickly we discover that we are not the judges at all, rather, we stand before the Judge. The final question: Will you believe the truth when He stands before you? Your final answer?

Lord Jesus, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. You are Truth and I submit to You. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2002, 2017
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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