Last Saturday, in “Lessons From Jesus’ Trial,” Part 2, we learned from the courts of Caiaphas the High Priest that we don’t need to defend ourselves. There are times, however, when we are forced to respond, and at those times, we must speak nothing but the Truth, and we should not be afraid of the outcome, for we know that God is in control, and He will work everything for His ultimate good.
But wait a minute: Why didn’t Jesus fight back?
As you read through the story of Jesus’ arrest, you know that He commissioned His disciples to carry a sword (see Luke 22), yet when Peter tried to use one of them, he was rebuked (See John 18:11). As we continue to read through John 18, we see that Jesus is asked to defend Himself. He responds with, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.'” (John 18:20-21, NKJV).
Now you and I might have seen this as a perfect opportunity to “preach” to the chief priests, to “win them” to Truth. We most definitely would have seized the opportunity to defend ourselves. But Jesus simply referred back to His former teaching.
Why didn’t Jesus fight back?
The next stop in Jesus’ trial is the court of Pontius Pilate, and here, in front of a pagan ruler, Jesus answers our question. When Pilate asked Jesus if He was, indeed, the King of the Jews, as was His accusation, Jesus simply answered:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:26)
And therein lies the answer to why Jesus didn’t defend Himself: Because His kingdom is not of this world.
But I’m not sure I completely understand. What does the fact that Jesus’ kingdom is in Heaven have to do with Him not defending Himself?
Pilate didn’t understand either, and his response speaks of his confusion: “Are You a king then?” (John 18:37a).
Jesus’ response, so full of wisdom, is poignant: “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:36-37, NKJV)
In other words, Jesus’ whole purpose was to bear witness to Truth, and everyone who is of the Truth will hear His voice. What this means is that those who will hear Truth will hear it, and those who won’t, will not. Jesus didn’t need to restate everything He had been teaching, for only those who were of the Truth would have heard anyway, and these had already heard.
What can we learn of the Kingdom of God through this part of Jesus’ trial?
The Kingdom of God IS Truth, and Truth speaks for itself. Nothing we say or do can convince people of Truth, for either they will believe it, or they won’t.
So if our efforts are useless, then do we just sit back and do nothing? What is our role in the whole picture of Truth proclamation?
We are to follow Jesus’ example. We are to openly live by Truth. We are to speak forth nothing but Truth, and we are to trust Jesus’ words, that those whose ears are opened will hear.
But that doesn’t seem like much, does it? Isn’t there anything else we can do for our lost brothers and sisters in this world?
Once again we return to Jesus’ example, when He lifted up His voice in His great pre-arrest pastoral prayer: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.” (John 17:1-2, NKJV).
We are to pray that God will open hearts, that as many as possible will hear, will recognize Truth, and will believe!
There were two more stops in Jesus’ trial. Join us on Thursday for “Lessons From Jesus’ Trial,” Part 4: Standing Before Herod.
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.
(To Access the entire “Lessons From Jesus’ Trial” mini-series, please click here.)