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The courtyard is tense.

Religion is pretending to be righteous.
Politics is pretending to be neutral.
The crowd will soon pretend to want justice.

And in the middle stands Jesus.

Not frantic.
Not defensive.
Not shaken.

1. Authority Comes “From Above”

Jesus tells Pilate:
“You would have no authority over Me at all if it hadn’t been given you from above.” (v.
36)

The word for authority is ἐξουσία (exousia) — delegated power, not inherent power.

Pilate thinks he is in control. Jesus knows control flows from heaven.

When you know authority is delegated, you don’t panic under it.

  • Government is delegated.
  • Courts are delegated.
  • Cultural pressure is delegated.

Heaven is not. If we truly believe in the sovereignty of God, our reactions should reflect
it.

2. Truth Is Not a Concept — It Is a Person

Jesus says: “Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” (v. 37)

The word for truth is ἀλήθεια (alētheia) — reality as God defines it.

Pilate responds, “What is truth?”

Rome wanted flexibility. The crowd wanted preference. Jesus brought reality.

Truth does not bend to culture. Truth does not need validation. Truth speaks — even
when it is rejected.

3. The Great Exchange

The crowd chooses Barabbas. Barabbas was a λῃστής (lēstēs) — not a petty thief, but
a violent insurrectionist. They preferred a revolutionary over the Redeemer.

And Jesus does not resist the substitution.

This is the Gospel: The guilty go free. The innocent is condemned. Not by accident. By
design.

Substitution is not weakness — it is mission.

Reflection

  • Where am I reacting as though authority is ultimate instead of delegated?
  • Am I listening to Truth — or just to noise?
  • Do I trust God enough to stand without scrambling?

Truth stood silent when silence glorified the Father. Truth spoke when testimony was
required.

May we do the same.

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