11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,
“Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you
say,” Jesus replied. 12 When he was accused by the chief priests
and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you
hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no
reply, not even to a single charge — to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen
by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want
me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For
he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message:
“Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great
deal today in a dream because of him.” 20 But the chief priests and the
elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered. 22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is
called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted
all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting
nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his
hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said.
“It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “Let his blood
be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them.
But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
- Matthew 27:11-26, The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House) 1984.
In the name of Christ Jesus, dear friends:
Unless you are an amateur historian, you probably cannot give me the name of a single Roman procurator who served during the golden age of Rome—except one. Out of the hundreds or even thousands who served as a governor within the vast territories of the Roman Empire, only one is a household name. His place in history was guaranteed when his name was included in the Apostles’ Creed: "suffered under Pontius Pilate."
Since then Pilate’s name has become synonymous with adjectives like unscrupulous and unethical. He was willing to sacrifice principle on the altar of expediency. He has gone down as one of history’s great compromisers.
The opposite poles of ugly compromise and principled integrity came together when Jesus stood before Pilate. Pilate was looking out for himself. Jesus was looking to the needs of others. Pilate wanted to save his own skin. Jesus wanted to save our souls. In Pilate’s case, justice failed miserably. In the case of Jesus, justice triumphed for us all, because of his uncompromising loyalty to the truth.
Tonight we resume our Lenten journey. Tonight we again walk in our Savior’s footsteps. Tonight we...
Follow Jesus – With Uncompromising Loyalty to the Truth
I. Pilate, a model of unprincipled compromise
II. Jesus, a model of uncompromising loyalty
The exchange between Jesus and Pilate centered on Jesus’ claim to be a king and then, on the nature of his kingdom. The trial began with this accusation leveled by the Jews: "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king" (Luke 23:2). Jesus’ enemies were not dumb. They believed that this charge would get the governor’s attention, especially the word king. And they were right.
Pilate asked Jesus: "Are you a king?" and Jesus responded, "Yes, it is as you say" (11). John reports that Jesus asked Pilate a counter question: "Pilate, are you asking me this because you want to get at the truth, or because you are personally interested in my claim, or because you see me as a potential threat?" Pilate fired back at him: "I’m not a Jew. Your people brought me here. Your people want to see you dead. So why don’t you just tell me? What have you done?"
Jesus tried to explain that Pilate represented one kind of kingdom, whereas Jesus’ kingdom was totally different. He said: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). That concept was difficult for Pilate to understand. He replied: "You are a king, then" (John 18:37), because in Pilate’s mind there could only be one kind of king. Either Jesus was or he wasn’t.
That led to an exchange about the subject of truth. Jesus said: "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" (John 18:37). Pilate’s famous response came in the form of a question: "What is truth" (John 18:38)?
From that moment on, things began to unravel for Pilate. He was not compelled to do what was right. He was driven to do what was necessary. Self-preservation was his motive. Self-advancement was his goal. When principle is thrown to the winds, justice flies out the window. And the only remaining option is compromise.
Pilate went back to the crowds and said: "I find no basis for a charge against him" (John 18:38). That was a good start, but Pilate didn’t go far enough. We can appreciate what Pilate did, but we must also consider what he failed to do. If he believed that Jesus was truly innocent, he had the authority to tell the Jews: "I find no basis for a charge against him...Therefore, I am going to release him immediately with my most sincere apologies for everything that has happened. And then I am going to deal with you." But things didn’t happen that way. Instead, Pilate compromised.
First, Pilate tried the Barabbas ploy. "Surely the Jews won’t want to see Barabbas out on the streets. He’s a rebel. He’s a murderer. And he’s dangerous. Besides, I know that even if Jesus is guilty of something, the people have to choose to release him over such a notorious criminal." Was Pilate ever wrong! The crowds chose Barabbas. Pilate compromised, and a guilty man was set free.
So then did Pilate do what he should have done in the first place? NO. He tried to play on the people’s emotions. With no just cause and no regard for justice, Pilate had Jesus flogged, crowned with thorns and robed in purple.
"Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, ‘Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him" (John 19:4). Then he pointed to the pathetic figure that stood next to him and said: "Here is the man" (John 19:5)! But the crowds were not sympathetic. In fact, that only made them more furious. Pilate compromised, and Jesus suffered.
Pilate could see that his options were running out. He was a Roman citizen, and Romans prided themselves on justice. But Pilate was also a politician. Like many politicians before and after him, his primary interest was personal. The Jewish leaders knew that Pilate was vulnerable. The Jewish leaders knew that Pilate needed to keep the peace or else... he may be demoted...or called back to Rome...or even worse. To make matters even worse, the Jews were threatening to go directly to Caesar if they didn’t get what they wanted.
So what was Pilate to do? Would he listen to his conscience or the crowds? Would he do the right thing or the easy thing? Would he save an innocent man or himself? We know the rest of the story. Pilate chose to compromise his principles. Pilate compromised, and Jesus died.
We can be thankful that we were not in the unenviable position of Pilate. We can be thankful that the life of the sinless Son of God did not rest in our hands. But we do make decisions every day. When we have a difficult choice to make, maybe a choice that will not make us very popular, maybe a choice that will make others very angry with us, there is a strong temptation to compromise.
Your employer asks you to do something that is less than honest. You know that it will help the company’s bottom line. You also know that it is wrong. You have a decision to make. Do you do what you know is right, or do you compromise? "I’m not happy about it, but I don’t want to lose my job either. I will do it just this once. But the boss better not ask me to do it ever again."
A close friend or a family member is caught up in a sin. You know what is going on. You know that this sin is a serious threat to that person’s spiritual welfare. You have an opportunity to speak the truth in love. Do you do what you know is right, or do you compromise? "I don’t want to make any waves. Besides, it’s none of my business. They can make their own decisions."
Not all compromise is wrong. Sometimes it may even be wise to find a middle ground. But when God’s Word is compromised, it is nothing less than a betrayal of the truth. God does not allow us to make peace on our own terms. God does not allow us to solve our problems our own way. And that is exactly what compromise is. Compromise is a sin, a sin that has worked its way into the world and into our dark hearts. And when Christians compromise, faith dies.
Each one of needs to ask: Am I really any different than Pontius Pilate? How has my sin affected my relationship with God? How has compromise undermined my relationship with my Savior? We need to answer those tough questions. And when we do, repentance is in order.
God’s Word clearly shows us our sin, but it also leads us to our Savior. The One who stood before Pontius Pilate refused to compromise. The guiltless One gave up his life so that guilty could go free. Jesus serves as a model for us, a model of uncompromising commitment to the truth.
Jesus demonstrated that kind of commitment throughout his life. Early in his ministry, Jesus said: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work" (John 4:34). Jesus knew exactly why he had come down to this earth. Nothing could get in his way. No one could turn him aside. But that doesn’t mean no one tried...
Recall when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, at the temple and on a high mountain peak (Matthew 4). Do you remember Satan’s third and final temptation? "Jesus, look around you. Look at the kingdoms of the world. They can all be yours. Just bow down and worship me." If Jesus was looking for a way out, here it was. But he refused. From the beginning, Jesus made it clear that there would be no compromises, no attempts to find another way to accomplish his mission.
Follow Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane. Watch him as he prays with his face to the ground. He can see everything that is about to happen. He can anticipate all the pain and suffering he will soon endure. Yet even in this dark hour, Jesus shows unwavering commitment as he prays: "Father...not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
Now follow Jesus into Pilate’s courtroom. He is treated unfairly. He is treated unjustly. But how does he respond? "When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor" (Matthew 27:12-14).
Jesus’ silence wasn’t a sign of weakness. It was a sign of strength. Jesus refused to make excuses to make up for our countless excuses. Jesus refused to compromise to make up for every time we have compromised our faith. Jesus remained loyal to the truth. Jesus remained committed to his mission. And we reap the benefits.
Let’s take just a few moments this evening to review what those blessings are. In II Corinthians, Paul says that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (5:17)! To be "in Christ" means to be by grace what Jesus was in word and deed for us. To be "in Christ" means that Jesus takes the blame for all of our compromises and gives us the credit for his uncompromising commitment to the truth. To be "in Christ" means that the outcome of Jesus’ suffering and death and resurrection is ours by faith.
There are plenty of people today who continue to scoff at the truth, but it is still the truth. And the truth of God’s Word changes us. We no longer identify with the crowds of Jerusalem who shouted: "Crucify him!" Instead, we bow before the Lord in humble awe and say: "He was crucified for me!"
Because Jesus has made us his followers, we follow him. We follow Jesus to the cross of Calvary. We follow Jesus to the empty tomb. And we follow in his footsteps whenever we stand up for what is right under pressure to do what is wrong. We follow Jesus whenever we speak a word of encouragement, or even a gentle rebuke. We follow Jesus when our words and actions tell others that we live in Christ and he lives in us.
Two worlds collided in the courtroom of Pontius Pilate. One world came crashing down. The other world was raised in triumph. Thanks be to God that Jesus held his ground. Thanks be to God that Jesus emerged victorious. Thanks be to God that our faith is built on the uncompromised truth of his Word.
In that Word, God gives us a promise. He promises that the Holy Spirit who has planted faith in our hearts will also cause it to grow. And he will give us the daily strength we need to follow Jesus. Therefore, we follow him...with uncompromising loyalty to the truth. Amen.