[Propertalk] Sermon quotes for John 18:33-37 - Nov. 22 - Part 4

[Joe Parrish]

The suspicion lies to hand that had Jesus come among us today instead of two thousand years ago, chances are that he would be imprisoned - if not executed.
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When I was a theological student, I traveled one summer with the seminary choir. We stopped at the state prison in Deer Lodge, Montana, to sing for the prisoners. In our program one of us always told why he had decided to go into the ministry. The lot fell to me. I never felt quite so foolish as I did telling those stony-faced felons and murderers and rapists why I wanted to be a preacher. My discomfort was wiped away by another member of the choir, who was chosen to preach a brief sermon. Peter McKenzie told how Jesus came from working-class people in a small town. How he never held a steady job. How he was betrayed by a friend and given a shoddy trial. How he was summarily executed. As Peter spoke, I watched the faces of the prisoners. It seemed to me that Jesus' experience was closer to theirs than to my own.

http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=435&C=321

John C. Purdy, 1993
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As he does many times in this Gospel, Jesus maintains authority over events that seem to be spiraling dangerously out of control.


He orders Peter to put away his sword (18:11)

Under questioning by the high priest he answers openly and demands witnesses (18:20-23)

He takes a similar in-your-face approach to Pilate (18:33-38)

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=4/10/2009&tab=4

Audrey West, 2009
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Jesus is much more talkative in John during the trial, usually in a way which gives expression to central themes of Johannine faith and reflects its own history of conflict. The Jews - doubtless fellow Jews for most of John's readers - are exposed as betraying their own people and almost hailing the Emperor as a god. It is a cruel portrait and reflects the enmity present in John 8. It becomes dynamite when taken from being an inner Jewish conflict and made to serve anti-Semitism. No, 'the Jews' did not kill Jesus! The historical collusion probably included temple authorities, but not 'the Jews' - we need to tell our people that.

http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MkGoodFriday.htm

William Loader
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John wants only one thing for his intended readers: 
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31 NRSV (Emphasis added.)
Note the author's direct, personal, address to the reader - "you." John wants YOU to believe. And as M&R emphasize, not just "believe," as in, "have an opinion about," But "believe into," become bonded with Jesus, become his disciple, become a loyal, trusting and trustworthy follower of Jesus. And not just that even. John wants YOU to have the life that is in Jesus. 

http://www.holytextures.com/2009/04/john-18-1-19-42-good-friday.html

David Ewart, 2009
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One of the many things this story tells us is that Jesus was not brought down by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order allied with religion, which is always a deadly mix. Beware of those who claim to know the mind of God and who are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform. Beware of those who cannot tell God's will from their own. 

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=642

Barbara Brown Taylor, 1998
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A potent symbol of the whole trial is that of kingship, a theme that emerges as Pilate begins to interrogate Jesus (18:33-38). Pilate represents political might symbolized in the emperor's crown. But Jesus' sovereignty is not "of this world," that is, it represents a very different sort of power--one that gives life. As the prologue of the Gospel had already proclaimed in poetic fashion (1:1-18) Jesus came into the world to proclaim the ultimate truth of God's love--those who hear the voice of Jesus know God's truth and live it out in their lives (8:47). The truth of God's love--and not brute, oppressive force--is the source of Jesus' power. 

http://www.cptryon.org/xpipassio/passio/john/3pilatec.html

Donald Senior
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