What have You Heard about Jesus? (Matt 10:16 - 33)
Joh 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
Joh 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Here in the book of John; a man named Pilate (Pontius), the 5th Governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD met with another man; being sent to him (Pilate) by the chief priest of the nation of Israel.
From the Encyclopedia Britannica:
Pontius Pilate, Latin in full Marcus Pontius Pilatus, (died after 36 CE); Roman prefect (governor) of Judaea (26–36 CE) under the emperor Tiberius who (being Pilate) presided at the trial of Jesus and gave the order for his crucifixion.
According to the traditional account of his life, Pilate was a Roman equestrian (knight) of the Samnite clan of the Pontii (hence his name Pontius). He was appointed prefect of Judaea through the intervention of Sejanus, a favourite of the Roman emperor Tiberius. (That his title was prefect is confirmed by an inscription from Caesarea in ancient Palestine.) According to Eusebius of Caesarea’s Ecclesiastical History, Pilate killed himself on orders from the emperor Caligula.
Judgments of the man himself must be made inferentially, almost entirely on the basis of later Jewish and Christian writings, chiefly those of Josephus and the New Testament. Josephus’s references appear to be consistent. They seem to picture a
headstrong strict authoritarian Roman leader who, although both rational and
practical, never knew how far he should go in a given case.
Why mention Pilate in a sermon asking “what have you heard about Jesus; well,
because Marcus Pontius Pilate is a real name, of a real person, who is really
documented somewhere else other than the bible. In fact, this information is
available to anyone searching “Roman history of Pontius Pilate” on Google. And,
according to the scripture we just read; Pilate met Jesus.
Joh 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
Joh 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and
they put on him a purple robe,
Joh 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
Joh 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring
him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
Joh 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple
robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
Joh 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out,
saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify
him: for I find no fault in him.
Joh 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die,
because he made himself the Son of God.
Joh 19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
Joh 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art
thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
Joh 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou
not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except
it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the
greater sin.
Josephus was mentioned.
Who is Josephus: Flavius Josephus (c. 37 – c. 100) was a first-century Romano-
Jewish historian and military leader, best known for The Jewish War, who was
born in Jerusalem—then part of Roman Judea—to a father of priestly descent and
a mother who claimed royal ancestry.
He initially fought against the Romans during the First Jewish–Roman
War as head of Jewish forces in Galilee, until surrendering in 67 AD to Roman
forces led by Vespasian after the six-week siege of Yodfat. Josephus claimed the Jewish Messianic prophecies that initiated the First Jewish–Roman War made reference to Vespasian becoming Emperor of Rome. In response, Vespasian decided to keep Josephus as a slave and presumably interpreter. After Vespasian became Emperor in 69 AD, he granted Josephus his freedom, at which time Josephus assumed the emperor's family name of Flavius.
See, Josephus was Jewish; his father was of priestly decent, so Josephus would have known about Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and depending on how much his father taught him he would have known Isaiah said…
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
So, what did Josephus, Roman-Jewish historian say about Jesus…
Josephus said (Antiquities of the Jews – Book XVIII Chapter 3 Third Paragraph): 3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man; if it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of wonderful works; a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross;7 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him. For he appeared to them alive again, the third day:8 as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.
He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross;7 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him
For he appeared to them alive again, the third day:8 as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him
To this day; the tribe of Christians, so named from Him, well, we’re still here.
So, maybe this sounds more like a history lesson then a sermon, but maybe some need to know the history.
Maybe some need to know that Jesus was a figure known by others who were not mentioned in the bible.
Maybe if they come to know Him, they will trust Him; believe on Him?
We have been studying salvation. Here, in the church of Christ we often mention a plan of salvation; because God has a plan of salvation.
One of the key components to being saved; knowing what you’re being saved from…
Salvation saves you from…
Death, not accidental death but eternal death
Yourself, because it changes your life
Others, who would influence you in the wrong direction,
From the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the devil
Remember the 5Ws; the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of a story?
Well, tonight I’m going to attempt to give you these facts about salvation; maybe not in that order, so please bear with me…
1. Who – salvation is a gift of God, and only He can provide it and we are unable to save ourselves
2. What – the saving of your soul from the things or people mentioned above
3. When – when you place your faith in Jesus as your Savior. Change your mind from embracing sin and rejecting God to rejecting sin and embracing God through Jesus Christ. Fully trust in the sacrifice of Jesus as the perfect and complete payment for your sins.
4. Where - If you do this, God’s Word promises that you will be saved, your sins will be forgiven, and you will spend eternity in heaven
5. Why – because refusing the gift of salvation will send to hell; eternally
In the book of Acts, Paul is given an audience with a king called Agrippa, where Paul was given the opportunity to tell of his conversion; we know it as Paul’s Damascus Road experience; where Jesus intercepted Paul and temporarily blinded him…
Acts Chapter 26 starting at verse 19
Act 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Act 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Act 26:21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
Act 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Act 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
Act 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Act 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
Act 26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
Act 26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Act 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian
See, when it comes to salvation there is no almost
If you almost go to heaven, you still end up in hell
So, if that is what it takes, learn the history of Jesus; learn Jesus, because He say exactly that
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls
The bible is full of lessons; please take heed from the lesson about Lazarus and the Rich Man
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead
Now is the time to come to Christ
Now is the time to seek the Lord
Now is the time of salvation
It is the time to get to know Jesus; make him your Lord and Savior, because without a savior there is no salvation
Hear the gospel
Believe it
Repent of your sins
Confess Jesus; publically, and we’ll baptize and you not only get to put of Christ, but you get the gift of the Holy Spirit
Amen