John 18:33-38 - The Kingdom of Truth
King Jesus speaks truth to a world that's allergic to it.
Gospels: Week 11 — Jesus' Suffering and death
SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Jesus has been arrested, left alone by all of His disciples, including Peter, who denied Him three times. He's been carted around to multiple venues as the Jewish establishment desperately attempted to legitimatize their case against Jesus. They've sentenced Him to death for what they considered to be blasphemy, but to carry it out, they need Rome's help. So they've now brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the regional Roman governor.
John 18:33–38 (NASB95)
33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”
And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
Belgic Confession
Article 21: The Atonement
We believe
that Jesus Christ is a high priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek—
made such by an oath—
and that he presented himself
in our name
before his Father,
to appease his wrath
with full satisfaction
by offering himself
on the tree of the cross
and pouring out his precious blood
for the cleansing of our sins,
as the prophets had predicted.
For it is written
that “the chastisement of our peace”
was placed on the Son of God
and that “we are healed by his wounds.”
He was “led to death as a lamb”;
he was “numbered among sinners”
and condemned as a criminal by Pontius Pilate,
though Pilate had declared
that he was innocent.
Summary
The conversation between Jesus and Pilate revolved around two massively important topics: Kingdom and Truth. Pilate's dismissal of both topics is tragic.
Pilate begins his interrogation by asking Jesus are you the King of the Jews? This was one of the key charges that the Jewish establishment had brought against Jesus, trying to make Him appear as a rebel against Rome's imperial power. Pilate's reply was insulting to Jesus' accusers, for the idea of the Jews having a king was laughable to a powerful man like Pilate.
But at the same time, he insulted Jesus. You, Pilate asked the one whom Isaiah prophesied would have no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to one from whom men hide their face - you're the King of the Jews? John doesn't record it, but certainly Pilate must have scoffed as he asked.
Jesus answers Pilate brilliantly. He neither accepts nor denies Pilate's faulty premise. He simply reports that His kingdom is not of this world. Notice first of all that Jesus referred to His kingdom in the present tense. His is not just a coming, future kingdom; Jesus was, is and always will be the King. Secondly, Jesus' answer demonstrates that, as Robert Mounce puts it, "Jesus’ kingdom is of a different order. Unlike the kingdoms of this world, it is not based on earthly power. It is a kingdom that is spiritual and internal, in contrast to those that are external and physical."
Dig Deeper
Political kingdoms, especially like the Roman Empire that Pontius Pilate represented, rely on brute force to govern its people. Their authority was absolute regardless of the opinion of their citizens regarding the empire's legitimacy. Conquesting armies weren't sent out with a mandate to encourage people to join the empire, they went out to impose the empire upon those they conquered.
But Jesus' kingdom - the one that's not of this world - takes a different approach. He invaded, so to speak, to testify to the truth. And everybody who is of the truth hears (listens to / obeys) His voice. Jesus brought His kingdom not with conventional weapons, but with verbal weapons. He simply spoke the truth in a world darkened by lies, which is a far more powerful weapon against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:14). Paul describes Jesus' truth - the gospel - as the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).
But Pilate, as smart, erudite and powerful as he was, makes it clear he wasn't really interested in the truth, and therefore, consistent with the words Jesus had just spoken, he didn't hear Jesus' voice testifying to the truth. He missed his opportunity to serve the King of Truth. He contented himself with a world/kingdom that still remains allergic to absolute truth.
The time will come when this kingdom that's not of this world once again transcends the spiritual and internal realm it currently restrains itself to. King Jesus will come again and establish His kingdom externally and physically as well, using unimaginable force to compel those who refuse to listen to the truth of His voice (Revelation 19:11-21). Come into the Kingdom of Truth now. Listen to the voice of Jesus!
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has exalted His Son as the King of Truth;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will listen to Jesus' voice of truth as you serve Him in this dark world;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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