Joel M Bradshaw

35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38“What is truth?” retorted Pilate.–John 18

1. Jesus was before Pilate, the politician who could either order Jesus’ death or completely set Him free.
2. You either believe what Jesus said about His kingdom (verse 36) or you do not.
3. The only options are that Jesus spoke like a crazy man or Jesus spoke like God would.
4. Imagine claiming to be on the side of truth like Jesus did in verse 37!
5. Again, Jesus was either insufferably arrogant or He was indeed speaking the truth. Even about the nature of truth, itself!
6. You are going to have to decide where you fall regarding these either/or type moments.
7. Pilate ran to relativism and simply questioned truth. You might do this if others can “live their own truth,” while you choose yours. How do you respond to the claims in this chapter?–JMB