Criminal or King? - The Rock Christian Church Podcast

Criminal or King, the title of today's message, is taken from Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John. In his Gospel, John focuses a lot on the word "believe". Pastor Sean explains what believe really means in this episode. Chapter 10, covers the sentencing, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ. Pontius Pilate really doesn't know what to do with Jesus. His hope is that flogging Him will be enough, but the Jews aren't satisfied with that and cry out for His death. Pastor Sean discusses how the very people who were crying out for the death of Jesus, were the same ones crying out Hosanna as He entered the city just a few days before. He also points out the lesson we can learn from this. The High Priests make the claim that Jesus "made Himself the Son of God". This made Pilate even more afraid. When Pilate asks Jesus "where are you from?", he is really asking Jesus - "Who are you?". Jesus did not answer him. Pilate claims that he has the authority to speak life or death over Jesus', but Jesus puts him straight about real authority, and that authority is His. Jesus stood before Pilate because He chose to. It was God's plan for Jesus to suffer crucifixion and death in the place of humanity to give us the opportunity to have relationship with God. Pilate had a sign made for the cross which said: "King of the Jews". The Jews refuted this, but Pilate would not change his decision. Pastor Sean goes into more detail about this in the episode. We also learn what was in the thinking of the High Priests that caused them to make the decisions they did and say the things they said. They were focused on the physical not the spiritual. But, there were two men in this story who did not follow this pattern and who recognised who Jesus really was, and caused them to take extraordinary action. Pastor Sean, in this message, shares how the story and message in this Chapter of John poses a question each of us need to answer, and once we have answered, the consequences of our answer - Criminal or King?