Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
John 18:28-38 ESV
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and 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? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”
Key Points
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Jesus defends us from:1) AccusationJesus was accused to become our Advocate.2) CondemnationJesus endured condemnation so there would be no condemnation for all who are in Christ.3) DeceptionJesus is our Truth spoken and lived out for us to receive and follow.
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
-Hebrews 7:25 ESV
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: Jesus was perfectly capable of defending himself, but he chose not to.
- When someone accuses you of something – big or small – what is your most natural response?
- Why do you think we often feel the need to defend ourselves?
- Why do you think Jesus did not feel the need to defend himself?
- How are you challenged and encouraged by the way Jesus responded to his accusers?
2: What are you trusting your life to these days?
- Have you ever trusted in something or someone and ended up deceived?
- Did that experience send you running from God or toward God?
- What hope is there is knowing Jesus is the truth?
- What is the meaning of life in Christ?
3: Reflect on this week’s memory verse (Hebrews 7:25) and answer the questions that follow.
- What does this Scripture mean to you?
- How are you encouraged to know Jesus is forever interceding for us before the Father?
4: What is the primary truth God revealed to you today?
- How will you respond?
- Who do you know who you can encourage with the truth this week?
Pray
Lord, in the face of grave accusations, you stayed silent. Let us not mistake your silence for idleness. You prayed in the garden, you prayed through the trials, you prayed from the cross, and you’re still praying on our behalf in heaven. Teach us to pray like you do – before everything, through our trials, from our suffering, and on behalf of others. Help us to trust you as our true defender and our perfect defense.
references
For those interested in further study, our pastors want to share resources that have aided them in their sermon preparation (in conjunction with the Bible and the Holy Spirit):
- Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund
