Another Kind of King, Another Kind of Kingdom

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Scripture: John 18:33-38 (ESV)

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose, I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Devotion:

            We have been looking at Nicodemus a Pharisee who seemed unable to grasp who Jesus was and why he had been sent from the Father. Today we turn our eyes toward the end of the story. Here the Roman ruler Pilate is questioning Jesus. Pilate likewise seems puzzled about Jesus true identity. It should be noted that these two rulers were smart men. Both were literate and wise in their own ways. This should give us pause when we hear smart people, brilliant scientists, and astute politicians, who cannot seem to fathom who this person, Jesus of Nazareth, is and what is his mission here on this earth.

            Pilate as Roman governor of Palestine could obviously not allow any sort of challenge to Roman rule. Pilate was trying to discover whether Jesus really represented that kind of threat to the peace and stability Romans enforced on their conquered people. Jesus explains that yes, he is a king but not the sort of king that Pilate thinks he is. Indeed, Jesus has been handed over to Pilate by his own people because they not only did not want a king like Jesus. They wanted a military hero of some sort who would defeat the Romans and give them back their freedom. Jesus has disappointed both the Romans and the Jews. What to do with Jesus?

            Many people today misunderstand Jesus as well. Some look at Jesus and hope for someone who they can use to gain political power. They want a Jesus who will restore morality, order, and peace of bygone era. Jesus does not come with a political agenda. Some people want a Jesus who will work tirelessly to promote social justice (according to their own definition.)  A Jesus who gives them license to live as they please if they will obey certain rules of their own making. Who then is this Jesus? What kind of kingdom is he trying to bring?

            To really understand who King Jesus is we need to look at what he accomplished during his short sojourn on earth. Jesus was looking for a people to rule who would know the truth and willingly obey truths requirements. But our culture, like Pilate himself, constantly questions who can know the truth, or if there is really any such thing as truth. Jesus is trying to bring a kingdom where God reigns, and as a result people genuinely love God and each other and treat them well. As Micah 6:8 states we are “to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”

Prayer:

            Lord teach us to walk humbly and follow wherever you lead us. Help us to act justly toward our neighbors, perform selfless acts of mercy for those in need. May we begin in our own small ways to build the kingdom that will be fully revealed when you return in glory. Let our search for truth begin and end with you. Grant that in your son Jesus we may find the way into the truth that leads to life eternal. Amen.

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