Transcript John 18:37

John 18:37
Therefore Pilate said to Him, So You are a
king? Jesus answered, You say correctly that
I am a king. For this I have been born, and
for this I have come into the world, to
testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the
truth hears My voice.
Jesus “Campaigning” As –
 The Promised Messiah
 The Son Of God
 The Saviour Of The World
 The King Of The Kingdom Of God
Political Campaigns
 Designed to Win “Hearts And Minds”
 To Say “Good Things”
 Promise What The People Want
 Do Those Things That Make One
Popular
 “Whatever It Takes” To Get Elected!
The Current Campaign
The Current Campaign
Strategy to Win the People
Strategy to Win the People
Strategy to Win the People
Strategy to Win the People
Strategy to Win the People
Strategy to Win the People
If Jesus Had Such An Organization,
What Would They Have Advised?
 Strategy #1 – Maximize His Image

His Background

His Education

His Family

His Accomplishments

His Appearance
His “Campaign” Quite Different
• Came In Human Form
Philippians 2:5-8
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also
in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the
form of God, did not regard equality with God a
thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a bond-servant, and being
made in the likeness of men. Being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross.
His “Campaign” Quite Different
• Not Particularly “Good-looking”
Isaiah 53:2
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground; He has
no stately form or majesty That we should look
upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be
attracted to Him.
His “Campaign” Quite Different
• Part Of A Despised Race
Jeremiah 29:17-19
thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, I am
sending upon them the sword, famine and
pestilence, and I will make them like split-open
figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness. ‘I
will pursue them with the sword, with famine
and with pestilence; and I will make them a
terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a
curse and a horror and a hissing, and a reproach
His “Campaign” Quite Different
• Part Of A Despised Race
among all the nations where I have driven them,
because they have not listened to My words,’
declares the Lord, ‘which I sent to them again
and again by My servants the prophets; but you
did not listen,’ declares the Lord.
His “Campaign” Quite Different
• A Nazarene Carpenter
John 1:45-46
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have
found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also
the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the
son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, Can any
good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to
him, Come and see.
His “Campaign” Quite Different
• A Nazarene Carpenter
Matthew 13:54-57
He came to His hometown and began teaching
them in their synagogue, so that they were
astonished, and said, Where did this man get
this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is
not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother
called Mary, and His brothers, James and
Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters,
are they not all with us? Where then did this
His “Campaign” Quite Different
• A Nazarene Carpenter
man get all these things? And they took offense
at Him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is
not without honor except in his hometown and in
his own household.
What Would They Have Advised?
 Strategy #2 – Powerful Companions

Wealthy

Impressive Credentials

Well-Educated

Experienced

Politically Powerful

Object: Make Jesus “Look Good”
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 Disciples Were Inexperienced,
Unlearned and Controversial

Uneducated Galilean Fishermen

A Despised “Tax Gatherer”

A “Politically Incorrect” Zealot

No Priests

No Scholars
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 Disciples So Flawed, That
 Argued as to Who Was Greatest

Two Got Mom to Ask Favors

Same Two Wanted To Destroy a City

One Prone to Rash Words & Deeds

One Was a Doubter

One Was a Thief!
What Would They Have Advised?
 Strategy #3 – Offer Instant Rewards

Tangible Rewards

“Chicken in Every Pot”

Reduced Taxes

An “Easier Life”

Physical Safety
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 Instead, He Predicted Hardship!
Matthew 10:34-38
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the
earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a
sword. For I came to set a man against his
father, and a daughter against her mother, and
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and a man’s enemies will be the members of his
household. He who loves father or mother more
than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 Instead, He Predicted Hardship!
son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of
Me. And he who does not take his cross and
follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Luke 9:23
And He was saying to them all, If anyone wishes
to come after Me, he must deny himself, and
take up his cross daily and follow Me.
What Would They Have Advised?
 Strategy #4 – Don’t Offend People

Be Careful What You Say!

Be Very Diplomatic!

Find The “Middle Of The Road”

Don’t Put Down Popular Leaders

“Go With The Flow”
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 “Scandalous” Statements!
John 12:5-8
Why was this perfume not sold for three
hundred denarii and given to poor people? Now
he said this, not because he was concerned
about the poor, but because he was a thief, and
as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what
was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, Let her
alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My
burial. For you always have the poor with you,
but you do not always have Me.
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 Offensive Remarks
Matthew 15:7-14
You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of
you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But
their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do
they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the
precepts of men.’ After Jesus called the crowd
to Him, He said to them, Hear and understand.
It is not what enters into the mouth that
defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the
mouth, this defiles the man. Then the disciples
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 Offensive Remarks
came and said to Him, Do You know that the
Pharisees were offended when they heard this
statement? But He answered and said, Every
plant which My heavenly Father did not plant
shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are
blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man
guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.
His “Campaign” Quite Different
 Offensive Remarks
Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you are like whitewashed tombs which on
the outside appear beautiful, but inside they
are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men,
but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and
lawlessness.
What Would They Have Advised?
 Strategy #5 – Pander To Wealthy

Support Of Powerful & Rich Needed

Careful Not To Offend Such People

Do Things To Solicit Their Favor
His “Campaign” Quite Different
Luke 18:18-19; 22-23
A ruler questioned Him, saying, Good Teacher,
what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And
Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me good? No
one is good except God alone....
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, One
thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and
distribute it to the poor, and you shall have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But
when he had heard these things, he became
very sad, for he was extremely rich.
Yet, His “Campaign” Succeeded!
 Name of Jesus Known Everywhere
 Course of History Changed
 Laws of Civilized Nations Changed
 Millions Willing to Die for His Cause
 Even Our Calendars Affirm His Life
Why Did He Succeed?
 Had A Heavenly Campaign Manager
John 8:28
So Jesus said, When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am He, and I do
nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these
things as the Father taught Me.
Why Did He Succeed?
 Had A Heavenly Campaign Manager
John 12:49-50
For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the
Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a
commandment as to what to say and what to
speak. I know that His commandment is eternal
life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just
as the Father has told Me.