Daily Devotionals & book resources

Jesus’ crucifixion and truth

John 18.28-19.16 Christian truth

Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) The question came during Pilate’s first interrogation of Jesus, held in his Jerusalem palace, whilst the Jewish leaders waited outside so they would not contaminate themselves during the Passover festival. The question has a very modern ring in contemporary society where absolute truths are frequently considered naïve, unless what one holds most dear is challenged. For the Christian Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are central to the gospel. Jesus’ crucifixion is the pivotal point of the Christian faith. It is the unavoidable heart of the Christian message. “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2.2) was Paul’s message to the Corinthian church. At the time of the Passover, Jesus became the lamb of God. John the Baptist called out when he saw Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1.29) For the gospel writers, the emphasis of their writing was not Jesus’ miracles, his ethical teaching, his sinless life or his many interactions with people. They all devote their principle focus upon his crucifixion and resurrection. It is in his sacrificial, substitutionary death they find truth. It is how we relate to Jesus in his crucifixion that the Christian finds truth in terms of meaning, purpose, identity and hope. Jesus’ crucifixion conveys ultimate and eternal truth for the whole world whether or not it is recognized by the world. The various stances of the parties involved in the travesty of Jesus’ trial still reflects peoples’ “truths” today.

How does knowing Jesus change your understanding of truth?

What difference does it make viewing truth through the lens of Jesus’ crucifixion?

Reflections on Thursday night. John 18:12-30

The questions below are taken from, “John 13-21 for you, Josh Moody.”

Have you ever denied Christ? If so, what should you do about it now?

Have you experienced opposition or persecution for following Jesus? How can Jesus’ example and approach encourage you as you face your attacks today?

How can you guard yourself now and prepare yourself now to be ready to be faithful to Christ even when put under severe pressure?

Integrity and deviousness – John 18 v 28-30

With no case to put before the Roman governor, Pilate, the Jewish leaders as a body took Jesus to the Roman governor in the early hours. The plotting and scheming had continued through the night but they still did not have evidence. In an act of self-righteousness and wishing to protect their ceremonial cleanliness they did not enter the governor’s palace as it would have made them unclean and unable to eat the Passover. Here we have in one act those who claim to be holy scheming to do away with the only truly holy person. When asked about charges by the governor all they could say was, ‘If he were not a criminal … we would not have handed him over to you.’ ^v30 Claiming integrity sufficient to base the crucifixion of Jesus on they were pursuing their own deviousness. They lacked personal spiritual insight and believed their own infallibility. It is a risk for all who are in power. It is a more serious form of somebody in the midst of a temper exclaiming, “Because I said so!” When all leaders but especially when spiritual leaders resort to justifying their actions on the basis of the authority of their position alone, without good reason or evidence, then it is a dangerous slippery slope towards sin and the loss of integrity.

In the open or hiding away

Courage and fear – John v 15-18, 25-27

While Jesus, alone, was facing questioning with courage and clarity of mind the disciples were in a very different state of mind. Mark records at Jesus’ arrest ‘Then everyone deserted him and fled.’ ^{Mark 14:50} John adds further detail. Two disciples, Peter and one other followed Jesus, presumably at what they thought was a safe distance. The other disciple is unknown. Many think it was John himself but there is no certain evidence. Whoever it was, was known to the high priest’s inner circle and was part of Jesus’ own inner circle who had accompanied him from the last Passover supper. The other disciple gained access to the high priest’s compound and persuaded the servant girl on duty to let Peter into the courtyard. Peter must have been highly conflicted, desperate to know what was happening to Jesus but afraid of being identified as one of Jesus’ closest associates. His mind was in turmoil. Three times Peter was challenged to admit he was a Jesus follower and three times he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. Each time it became a bit more threatening, firstly a servant girl, then a group of servants and an official, then it got very threatening and personal as he was challenged by a relative of the man he had just attacked with a sword. What experiences of in some way disowning Jesus have we succumbed to? It could be through verbal denial as in Peter’s case, it may be through persistent sin that we have denied Jesus’ lordship over our life or alternatively we may for a period have simply ignored his call on our life. Does Jesus’ restoration of his relationship with Peter and Peter’s subsequent ministry give us cause for encouragement?

While Jesus, alone, was facing questioning with courage and clarity of mind the disciples were in a very different state of mind. Mark records at Jesus’ arrest ‘Then everyone deserted him and fled.’ ^{Mark 14:50} John adds further detail. Two disciples, Peter and one other followed Jesus, presumably at what they thought was a safe distance. The other disciple is unknown. Many think it was John himself but there is no certain evidence. Whoever it was, was known to the high priest’s inner circle and was part of Jesus’ own inner circle who had accompanied him from the last Passover supper. The other disciple gained access to the high priest’s compound and persuaded the servant girl on duty to let Peter into the courtyard. Peter must have been highly conflicted, desperate to know what was happening to Jesus but afraid of being identified as one of Jesus’ closest associates. His mind was in turmoil. Three times Peter was challenged to admit he was a Jesus follower and three times he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. Each time it became a bit more threatening, firstly a servant girl, then a group of servants and an official, then it got very threatening and personal as he was challenged by a relative of the man he had just attacked with a sword. What experiences of in some way disowning Jesus have we succumbed to? It could be through verbal denial as in Peter’s case, it may be through persistent sin that we have denied Jesus’ lordship over our life or alternatively we may for a period have simply ignored his call on our life. Does Jesus’ restoration of his relationship with Peter and Peter’s subsequent ministry give us cause for encouragement?

Honesty and Corruption – John 18 v 14-21

Caiaphas the high priest had been secretly conspiring to fulfil the prophesy he had made as High Priest without understanding its significance. ^V14 ‘Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.’ ^{John 11:49-52} Once Jesus was taken into the presence of Annas the previous high priest and father in law of Caiaphas he was immediately questioned about his followers and his teaching. ^v19 Annas had been high priest from AD 6-15. “Annas was patriarch of the high priestly family, and many still considered him the ‘real’ high priest even though Roman officials considered Caiaphas to be the high priest at the time.” (NIV Study Bible, 2011) In contrast to the secret plotting of the high priestly inner circle, Jesus had been completely open and public about his teaching, purpose and identity. ‘”I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “ I have always taught in synagogues or at the temple where all Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.” Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”’ ^vv20-21 Annas was looking to trip Jesus up with a statement they could legitimately crucify him for. Jesus wisely simply asked him to bring forward evidence of what he had said that was self-incriminating. None existed and so they resorted to violence. ^v22 What challenges does this set the church or ourselves as individuals about speaking openly and honestly despite opposition?