For This Reason…
John 18:33-38
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 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. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
The reason for Christmas
What is the testimony to the truth?
Does Jesus’ statement change how you think about Christmas?
What truth is Jesus testifying to?
Why does Jesus jump from Pilot calling him King to testifying to the truth?
What is truth?
What does it mean for truth to be a person rather than an idea?
Listening to the voice of truth.
What is implied when Jesus says, “those on the side of truth”?
What voices are speaking to your mind and heart?
Being witnesses of the truth.
Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Going Deeper: The Kingdom and the King!
Mark 1:15, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 4:17
TODAY’S PREACHER
Michael Pitzer is Director of Senior High Ministries