Devotion

Jesus' Kingdom

This week in Chapel, we've been looking at the idea that Jesus has a heavenly kingdom for us. We see in the Gospel of John, where Jesus is speaking with Pilate, the Roman governor of the time who condemned him to the cross, that Jesus explains this. In John 18: 33 - 37, the Bible reads: 

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Here we see Jesus, as a 'heavenly' rule and Pilate' as an 'earthly' ruler, having a pretty interesting conversation about who is truly powerful. Although Pilate and the Jewish leaders may appear to be powerful, John shows Jesus as the one who has the real authority.

The idea about kingship is the central question of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. John uses the trial and crucifixion to show Jesus’ kingship and the faithlessness of those who reject him.

Jesus refuses to answer Pilate’s charge of kingship in a direct way, instead saying that his kingdom is “not from here” in verse 36, which Pilate takes as agreement that Jesus is indeed a king.  Although Pilate declares to the Jews watching on, “I find no case against him” in verse 38, he should not be viewed as an innocent bystander as he has put them in the position of demanding the death of their own king in John 19:6.

it is also ironic that Pilate uses his own authority to declare Jesus’ kingship when he put the inscription over the cross, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews” (John 19: 19). The chief priests protest, asking him to clarify that this was only what Jesus claimed. But Pilate refuses their request, saying “What I have written, I have written” (John 19: 22).

So - Jesus’ kingship becomes most visible in his crucifixion and becomes the moment where  the declaration of his kingship is made public. The crucifixion makes clear, Jesus’ kingship is “not of this world” (John 18: 36). Worldly kings take power from others by winning battles or at least through successful diplomacy. Jesus neither fights nor allows his followers to do so. 

Instead, Jesus offers an alternative to earthly kingship. “I have been born and come into the world for this: to witness to the truth” (John 18: 38). Jesus’ testimony to the truth is embedded within the story of John’s Gospel. In chapter 19, the manner of Jesus’ death testifies to his true identity. Those who can hear or see the message of his crucifixion see a true king.

In the end, it is Jesus, and not Judas, the Jews, or Pilate, who exerts authority over life and death.

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal