Jesus answered, “My
kingdom is not of this world,
if My kingdom were of
this world, My servants would fight,
so that I should not
be delivered to the Jews,
but now My kingdom is
not from here.”
Pilate therefore said
to Him, “are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You
say rightly that I am a king.
For this cause I was
born, and for this cause I have
come into the world,
that I should bear witness
to the truth. Everyone
who is of the truth
hears my voice.”
John 18:36–37
His
followers gave a charge of royalty to Jesus for they were looking for a King, a
Messiah, and this charge of being a king; one of royalty outside of Caesar was
a crime, a great crime. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews: “Then
Pilate entered the Praetorium again, and called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are
you the king of the Jews” (John 18:33)? Unabashedly Jesus answered Pilate: “Jesus
answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you
this concerning Me’”(John 18:34)? Pilate wanted to know what Jesus had done
as He was delivered up to Pilate by His own people and that is when Jesus cleared
the air on this subject that His kingdom was not of this world. This is sure
fact that by not disputing that He was called a king, even though as Pilate as
asked if He was the King of the Jews for He said that He was the King and the
bearer of the truth. Pilate asked: 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 fault in Him at all’” (John 18:38). Pilate had a choice, free Jesus or
submit to the shouts and clamor of the Jews: what would he do as this was an
illegal arrest and an illegal trial. Pilate desired to free Jesus so why did he
not do so, was it merely fear, fear that the Jews might riot? Let us get this
straight about Pilate; he had no influence by the opinion of the Jews. So then why
did he not free Jesus and submit to the shouting and angry Jews? Pilate’s
history with Rome was one of problems for his record of accomplishment was one
of him disregarding authority, especially those under him. Furthermore, Pilate
was an inept ruler and in time he was deposed as ruler of Jerusalem and
recalled back to Rome in 36 A.D. Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History 2.7
stated: “fell into such calamities that he was forced to become his own
murderer”. Pilate offended the Jews by hanging certain ensign, flags with
images of Caesar, and this infuriated the Jews for this images were considered
to be heathen and against the Ten Commandments. Pilate disdained the Jews and
this was an example as to how far he would go to displease them for he hated
them. Pilate even slaughtered some Galileans: “there were present at that season
some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their
sacrifices” (Luke 13:1). Pilate already having trouble with Caesar heard
the Jews shout: “From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews
cried out saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever
makes himself a king speaks against Caesar’” (John 19:12).
Why this
narrative is so important for us is that we must answer this question: “Am I deposing
my King by my actions, words, or am I becoming sanctified as I apply His truth
in my life?” Too often, we are crucifying Jesus repeatedly by not placing Him
as priority in our lives. We allow this culture, this world opinion to infect,
and affect us making our effects in this world to be more heathen than
Christian. Pilate acquiesced to the Jews for fear of reprisal by Caesar. Do you
fear this world and those who would stop you from doing what is right? Will you
relinquish you beliefs in some ways as to be not scorn by others? Jesus is
King, Jesus is Truth, and His Kingdom is not of this world: neither is yours
for you are an ambassador for Christ and to be an ambassador is to not to be a
citizen of a country, rather to be the spokesperson for the country to which
you belong. Oh! We do hold dual citizenship but this does not mean that we are
not, first and foremost, members of one country, one nation, one group of
people that are children of God, the bride of Christ. Our fight is not worldly,
it is spiritual for our kingdom, that which we are part of, the place where
Jesus went after His ascension into heaven to make for us “rooms,” where in
time we will reside forever: that is who we are. Then so being this: live as
what you are, and whose you are. How are we to be soldiers for Christ? Simple:
mow your lawn. Drive at the speed limit. Care for your children. Dress with
respect! Go to Church and worship with your brothers and sisters. Read His word
daily, and pray daily, during the day, be in prayer at all times. Are you
living for yourself and what you can succeed in this world? On the other hand,
are you living for Him? This is a question we must all ask of ourselves, and we
must apply those things that make us do what is right by the truth of His word,
and by placing Jesus Christ, our King, our Saviour first in our lives. This
question to Peter by Jesus is one for us: “He said to him ht e third time, ‘Simon,
son of Jonah, do you love Me’” (John 21:17a)?
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy
in the God
Of my salvation.
Habukkuk 3:18
Rejoice Our Saviour Lives
Richard L. Crumb
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