What we can learn about ourselves from Pilate

in
Speaker: 
Andrew Fountain
Date: 
Sun, 2020-06-21

Video cover image by Carole Raddato —Wikimedia Commons

  • Pilate was faced with a choice that in some ways is very similar to ours, even if we are a Christian.
  • If you have trouble viewing this video, you can try watching it directly on Vimeo
  • Play Audio

Sermon Outline - What we can learn about ourselves from Pilate

Goal:

To read the story of Pilate closely
and see how directly relevant it is to us

Plan for today

  1. The Storyline: Seven Conversations
  2. Walking with Pilate through the story
  3. How do we respond to a similar challenge to Pilate’s

Structure of John

1–12
”Book of Signs” 		13–21
”Book of Glory”

John 13–21 “Book of Glory”

13 A meal with the disciples

14–17 New Teaching
      from Jesus
      to the disciples
18–20 Arrest
      Crucifixion
      Resurrection

21 A meal with the disciples

Last time: John 18:1–27

  • Betrayed, Arrested, Abandoned, Denied and Abused
  • Can’t fail to remind us of injustice and abuse in the world today
  • Yet we first have to hear what the passage is telling us on it’s own terms
  • Then we can ask what it says about world events
  • The disciples should have stood up against the injustice done to Jesus, even if it had cost them their lives.
  • We should not be passive in the face of injustice

Takeaway last time

  1. Appreciate what it was like for Jesus to love at this moment
  2. The core of following Jesus is to show this kind of love
  • Get into a quiet place and ask Jesus what it was like for him at this point
  • Ask him to bring to your mind how his love could flow out of you in your life situation right now
  • Take a step in faith, and show love

1. The Storyline: Seven Conversations

1. Storyline: Seven Conversations

  1. Pilate comes out and talks to the Jewish leaders
  2. Pilate goes in and questions Jesus
  3. Pilate comes out and talks to the Jewish leaders
  4. Jesus is flogged and mocked by soldiers
  5. Pilate comes out and talks to the Jewish leaders
  6. Pilate goes in and questions Jesus
  7. Pilate comes out and talks to the Jewish leaders

The Converstaions

  1. Leaders demand Jesus’ execution.
  2. Pilate questions Jesus about being a king
  3. Pilate comes out and says “I find no fault”
  4. Jesus is flogged and mocked by soldiers
  5. Pilate comes out and says “I find no fault”
  6. Pilate questions Jesus about being God
  7. Leaders granted Jesus’ execution.

Pilate’s four release attempts

  1. Why are you bothering me? Judge him yourself!
  2. I can free him or Barabbas?
  3. I have flogged humiliated him. How weak and pathetic he is—not a threat!
  4. Why would you want your “king” crucified?

2. Walking with Pilate through the story

Note colour coding

  • Pilate: Yellow
  • Jesus: Green
  • Jewish leaders: Red
  • Movement in/out: Inverted
  • Link to John 18:28–19:16

3. How do we respond to a similar challenge to Pilate’s

What it was like for Jesus?

  • Betrayed, abandoned, denied and abused by the very people he was going to lay down his life for
  • Sometimes it is far worse to know things before they happen
  • Now they were trying to manipulate the government to commit brutal injustice & murder
  • But Jesus even offers the truth to Pilate

My main thesis

  • By taking us in and out seven times with Pilate,
    the passage is forcing us to walk in Pilate’s shoes
  • He is caught between two forces, two choices
  • The passage makes us to think about the pressures in our own lives when making choices

Takeaway

  • There is a risk in standing with Jesus
  • It might be deciding to follow Jesus. Is he truth?
  • It might be simply identifying yourself as a Christian—will people reject you, or mock you?
  • Is Jesus really your King, Is Jesus really your Truth?
  • What do you want me to be doing, right now Jesus?

Updated on 2020-06-21 by Andrew Fountain