John 18
Scripture
4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”
7 So Jesus asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he.”
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “… shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
21 (Jesus said), “Why do you ask me? …”
22 … one of the officers struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”
23 Jesus answered him, “… if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”
25 So they said to Peter, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
26 One of the servants of the high priest … asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it.
29 Pilate … said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
33 So Pilate …called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? … What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “… Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
38 Pilate said to Jesus, “What is truth?”
39 (Pilate asked the crowd), “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”
Observation
I’m immediately struck by the sheer number of questions back and forth between a variety of people.
17 Questions!
Jesus to the soldiers.
Jesus to His disciples.
The people to His disciples.
Jesus to the high priest.
Pilate to the high priest.
Pilate to Jesus … Jesus to Pilate.
Pilate to Jesus and Jesus to Pilate again.
Pilate, ultimately, to the crowd.
Everyone is seeking someone to give them the answer they already want to hear.
Ultimately, however, only one question and answer matters …
It’s the question Jesus, Himself, poses and answered Himself …
“Whom do you seek?” … “I am He.”
Application
I often consider myself on a “truth” quest.
I clamor for it … or at least I think I do.
But how often do I seek out an answer that I am already looking for?
In other words … am I seeking “truth” or “affirmation”?
Everything I hear must be measured against the truth of God …
Not my own thoughts or even understanding.
Jesus came to bear witness to the truth.
“… Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Jesus is not caught off guard or shocked by any of my questions …
He is first described as “knowing all that would happen …”
Jesus can handle my questions.
Can I handle His answers?
Prayer
Thank you, God, for Your Word
Help me know it as Truth
Help me know You as Truth, Holy Spirit
Help me seek you
In Jesus name
Amen