The "Irregardless" King
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Jesus' first interview with Pilate crystalizes His universal and transcendent Lordship-- irregardless of appearances.
Text: Luke 23:1-5
Date: 11/16/2025, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 215
Description:
After judging and condemning Jesus, the Sanhedrin in unison takes Him to Pilate, who alone held the "power of the sword", and was therefore necessary to accomplish their evil intention to kill Jesus. We will notice how their accusations are not only false, but take a decidedly political tone, designed to strike a nerve in Pilate and thereby force him to accomplish their will. This will highlight the power struggle between Pilate and the chief priests, as the latter finds Jesus guilty of a crime deserving death and Pilate finds Him innocent. But the emphasis of the passage centers around Pilate's question to Jesus and Jesus' response. All four Gospels carry this exchange verbatim so we will look carefully at the words and realize Pilate is skeptical that this beaten and forsaken man who stands before him, without an army, resources or supporters, is truly a king and an imminent threat to Rome. But it is Jesus' response that crystalizes the fact that irregardless of His appearance, irregardless of His situation, and irregardless of His seeming lack of power and resources-- He is not only the King of the Jews, but Pilate's King as well! For this is the King of all peoples on earth, the King of all kings, and the transcendent King of all Creation. And although His humble appearance might be deceiving, He is your King as well-- irregardless.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 23:1-5.
A. Context, John 3:16-18, 6:66; Mark. 14:37; Luke 22:48; Matt. 15:24, 26:56, 26:74.
B. Jesus' first interview with Pilate.
1. The Sanhedrin goes to Pilate, vs. 1.
a. A show of unity, Luke 22:66.
b. The trial before Pilate.
i. Why Pilate was needed.
1) For a legal execution.
2) To kill Jesus' name as well as His person, Deut. 21:23; Isa. 53:4-5; Gal. 3:13.
ii. Introducing Pontius Pilate, Luke 3:1, 13:1.
2. False accusations and lies, vs. 2.
a. The political slant of the accusations, Luke 22:70-71; Mark 14:64.
b. Three initial accusations.
i. The accusation of sedition.
ii. The accusation concerning taxation, Luke 20:22,25.
iii. The accusation concerning authority.
3. Pilate's skeptical question, vs. 3a.
a. The significance of "King of the Jews".
b. The importance of grammar.
4. Jesus' transcendent answer, vs. 3b.
a. The hidden power of Jesus' response, Luke 22:70; John 18:36.
b. The transcendent King of kings.
i. The nature of the King.
1) From the Old Testament, Psa. 2:6, 24:9-10; Mic 5:2; Zech. 9:9.
2) From the New Testament, Matt. 2:2, 25:31; Luke 1:32, 10:22; John 18:37; Rev. 17:14.
ii. The nature of the Dominion, Dan. 7:13-14; Mic. 4:1-2; Luke 1:33; Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; Rev. 11:15.
iii. The nature of the subjects, Rev. 5:9; Matt. 25:31-33, 41; Phil. 2:9-11.
c. The irregardless King.
5. The declaration of innocence, vs. 4.
a. Pointing out the power struggle.
b. The verdict of a weak man, Luke 15:8.
c. The true power.
i. The holder of true power, Acts 2:23.
ii. A lesson for the church.
6. A parting salvo, vs. 5.
III. Application
A. To the unbeliever, Jesus is YOUR irregardless King, 2Cor. 5:10.
B. To the nominal or baby Christian, Jesus is YOUR irregardless King, John 14:15; 1John 1:6,10; Matt. 7:22-23.
C. To the mature believer, Jesus is YOUR irregardless King, Matt. 26:33.
IV. Conclusion
