Faultless Jesus! John 18:28-38

 Text:  “Pilate then went out unto them (the Jewish accusers), and said, What accusation bring ye against this Man?”

John 18:29.

Good morning, accused Christian!  When the world, the flesh, and the Devil all seek to cause us grief, invariably the charge is against our Christian faith and practice.  When every-day individual faults and weaknesses - which we all have - fail to measure up to the degree of hatred our enemies desire to level against us as Christians; the world seeks to find some fault in our worship of God.  This was Daniel’s experience, as it was the Christ’s.

First Daniel, the Jewish exile, was promoted to be one of the ‘presidents’ of King Darius’ kingdom, and was preferred over all others in authority. (Daniel 6:1-3)

This made the other local rulers envious, and they did what many do today - they conspired against Daniel to bring him down.  (Daniel 6:4)

Unable to find fault with Daniel in his public and civic duties, these envious rulers turned their microscopes upon Daniel’s religious views and practices - that there, they might find the necessary faults with which to accuse him. 

“Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”  (Daniel 6:5)

Daniels worldly accusers then turned their minds to another familiar tactic that we Christians find alive and well, and still working, today!  They began to legislate laws designed to bring Daniel into conflict with the King.  Nothing much has changed there, has it?  They ‘…made mischief by framing a law…’

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?  They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.”  (Psalm 94:20-21)

As it was with Daniel hundreds of years before Christ’s incarnation as a man; so it was with the Lord Jesus in His time; and so it will continue to be with us, Christ’s servants, until the Lord Jesus returns again for us.

These hypocritical religious leaders at Jerusalem, headed by Caiaphas and Annas, led Jesus into the "…hall of judgement…" - but "…they themselves went not into the judgement hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover.”  (V.28)  What utter hypocrisy!  What dead religion!

“Let them alone; they be blind (Spiritually blind) leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”  (Matthew 15:14)

Their total sense of self-importance, and self-righteousness, was made evident when Pilate asked them the question I have featured in today’s Bible text:  "What accusation bring ye against this man?" (V.29)

The hypocrites replied: "…If He were not a malefactor (an evil-doer, a criminal), we would not have delivered Him up unto thee."  (V.30)

False accusers frequently expose their own antichristian unbelief, with lies from their own mouths.  "By their fruits ye shall know them…"

God’s Word further exposes the real intent of these religious charlatan’s hearts in verse 31 - wrongfully punishing the faultless Jesus was not enough for them -  they really hated Christ Jesus, and wanted Him dead!

“Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye Him, and judge Him according to your law.  The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.”  (V.31)

Hearing this from the false accusers, Pilate further interrogated the Lord Jesus; questioned Him in depth concerning His religious beliefs and views.

Yet, after all Pilate’s deeper interrogation, the Roman Governor could come up with no other conclusion than you, me, or any other person who has ever lived:  “I find in Him (Christ Jesus) no fault at all.”  (V.38)  Hallelujah!

“His mouth is most sweet; yea, He is altogether lovely.  This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”  (Solomon’s Song 5:9-16)

In you and in me - and in every other Christian that ever lived, or ever shall live - the world will always find many faults and failings and sins.  However, the accusers can NEVER find faults or failings in the ever-Holy Jesus.

“We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.”  (Hebrews 4:15) 

Praise God, we have a faultless Saviour/Lord!  Let us bring our worship to Him.  Christ Jesus alone is worthy to be worshipped and praised.   All glory to His Holy Name!

Thought: Christian believers go to Heaven on Christ’s Righteousness!