IN John's record of Christ's trial before Pilate which begins in these verses we have different directions for our thoughts. One is the condition of Jews as represented in their leaders. Another, and the most important, the revelation we are given of Christ. Another is the condition of humanity as demonstrated in Pilate.

THE JEWS.

Here is a sad picture. The passage commences with the Jewish leaders meticulously holding on to their Jewish ceremonial duties when at the same time they were rejecting their promised Messiah. We see this in the way the Jews sought to preserve their ceremonial purity for the celebration of the Passover, while still showing the deadness of their spiritual lives in their hate of Jesus. (v28) It is plain in verse 30 that they knew their cause was unjust, seen in the fact that they avoided Pilate's question because they had no just cause against Jesus.

Then we see the weak state that the Jews had come to because of their departure from God. They were under the domination of a foreign power and could not execute their own justice. They had no power to condemn a person to death. Yet there was no sorrow for sin before God, and instead a pride in their own self righteousness. (v31).

Then we see the depth which the Jews had sunk when they would rather have a real criminal freed than agree to the release of the sinless Son of God. (v40)

Real spiritual darkness and hardness of heart against God can be hidden under an outward fa�ade which seems to be so correct and righteous. Outward action is not always a sign of a good heart within.

THE CHRIST.

What a different picture is given when we look on Jesus as he went forward into battle to redeem us. Jesus had every right to be angry at the way he was being treated, and to criticise, but he remains totally in control, and just, in all he did. We see him purposefully and deliberately going forward to complete the work his Father had given him to do and in no way seeking to escape, and at the same time testifying to who he was, and so giving witness to the truth that saves.

John reminds us in verse 32 that Jesus had spoken of his death and so we see Jesus going forward to die to redeem sinners with total commitment.

The horror of what he was to suffer, which he knew perfectly, did not deter Jesus from calmly witnessing to the truth about himself. In answer to Pilate's question Jesus confesses he is truly a king, and witnesses to the reality of his kingdom which was spiritual and heavenly, and not of this world (v36). Jesus witnesses to the reality of his eternal and righteous kingdom, and by doing so witnesses to the fact that it is different to any earthly kingdom, but also that he was born to reveal this kingdom, and open a way for people of earth to enter this kingdom. In verse 37 Jesus speaks clearly of why he came into the world � came from his kingdom into this sinful world. He came to reveal the reality of his kingdom. He came to open the way into his kingdom by submitting to death. This is the truth which those who are able to receive the truth understand.

There can be no greater witness to the work of Jesus than the one shown here. Jesus died and the real sinner went free. Jesus died � Barabbas was saved. God laid on Jesus our sins. He was wounded for our transgressions. By his stripes, his death, we are healed and saved.

What glory we see here of Jesus graciously and willingly going forward to give his life a ransom for sinners.

THE ROMAN GOVERNOR.

In Pilate we see the state of the world in darkness. He does not understand the witness of Jesus when Jesus spoke of it. He was bound by the darkness of this world and could not see anything beyond it. He was told of truth, the truth of God, and he had no clue what Jesus was talking about - �what is truth� are his words.

Here is the state of our secular world. Truth has been revealed in Jesus Christ. We have the record of the truth in God's infallible word. In darkness all the world can do and say is 'what is truth'. Light has come into the world, but the darkness is such that the world is blind to the light, and the reason at the root is that the world does not like the light, and prefers to remain in the dark.