He's Not Just the King of the Jews

Introduction:

Just before Jesus was crucified, He stood trial before Pontius Pilate to be judged. His sentence would mean life or death. The bogus charges He was arrested under left Pilate wondering what Jesus had done to create such a stir.

Pilate found himself in a situation where, as governor of Judea, he would either sentence Jesus to death for no crime at all or set Him free—risking a local uprising that could end his career and possibly his life. At the very least, Rome might recall him in disgrace.

What a choice. On the one hand, Pilate held an innocent man. In the other, a raging mob.

The mob shouted, “Crucify Him!”

Reason said, “Release him.”

Pilate must judge: “What shall I do with Jesus?”

He couldn’t know it then, but Pilate will one day stand trial before Jesus. Back then, Pilate had Jesus in his hands. Now, Pilate will be in Jesus's hands.

During the time of Jesus, the Jews did not have the authority to execute someone. The Roman governor had to pass the sentence, and the Roman authorities had to carry out the execution. That's why the Jews brought Jesus before Pilate. The crime with which they charged him highlights their evil intentions.

In the Sanhedrin, the charge was one of blasphemy that he had dared to call himself the Son of God. Before Pilate, that charge was never even mentioned. They knew well that it would have carried no weight with him and that he would never have proceeded on a charge that would have seemed to him a matter of Jewish religion and superstition. The charge they leveled against Jesus was entirely political, and it has all the marks of the minds and ingenuity of the Sadducees.

Let's explore the profound truth that Jesus is not only the King of the Jews but also the King of Kings.

Point 1: The Kingdom of Jesus is Spiritual, not Political!

When Jesus says that his kingdom is not of this world and is spiritual, he emphasizes that his reign transcends earthly boundaries and political systems. He is not interested in establishing a physical kingdom on earth but rather a spiritual one based on love, grace, and righteousness.

Isaiah 58 (NET)

a day that is pleasing to the Lord?No, this is the kind of fast I want.

I want you to remove the sinful chains,

to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,

to set free the oppressed,

and to break every burdensome yoke.

I want you to share your food with the hungry

and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.

When you see someone naked, clothe him!

Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!

Then your light will shine like the sunrise;

your restoration will quickly arrive;

your godly behavior will go before you,

and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.

Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;

you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’

You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you

and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.

You must actively help the hungry

and feed the oppressed.

Then your light will dispel the darkness,

and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.

The Lord will continually lead you;

he will feed you even in parched regions.

He will give you renewed strength,

and you will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring that continually produces water.

Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt;

you will reestablish the ancient foundations.

You will be called, ‘The one who repairs broken walls,

the one who makes the streets inhabitable again.’

You must observe the Sabbath

rather than doing anything you please on my holy day.

You must look forward to the Sabbath

and treat the Lord’s holy day with respect.

You must treat it with respect by refraining from your normal activities,

and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals.

Then you will find joy in your relationship to the Lord,

and I will give you great prosperity,

and cause crops to grow on the land I gave to your ancestor Jacob.”

Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.

His kingdom is not limited to any nation, race, or culture but includes all people who believe in Him and live by his principles.

Jesus' kingship is based on spiritual values rather than political power or military might.

His kingdom will never end and will continue to exist even after all earthly kingdoms have passed away. As believers, we are called to submit to his authority and allow his kingdom to reign in every aspect of our lives.

Point 2: Pilate's Misunderstanding of Kingship

Pilate's interrogation of Jesus reveals his limited understanding of Jesus’ kingship. Because Jesus has a kingdom, he must be a king; this much Pilate inferred.

Jesus answered him, “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.”

Those born of God are “of the truth” and listen to the Word of God. We know the truth not because it is natural to us but because we have been born again, born of God, by the Holy Spirit so that we now listen to the Word of God. We get the truth from the Word of God, not from our efforts to understand.

Pilate believed that Jesus spoke the truth and was innocent of any crime. It also seems apparent that while recognizing the truth, Pilate chose to reject it. It is a tragedy when we fail to recognize the truth, and it is a greater tragedy when we recognize the truth but fail to heed it.

Despite Jesus' explanation that His kingdom is spiritual and not of this world, Pilate failed to grasp the profound nature of His reign.

As a political ruler, Pilate was only concerned with maintaining order and stability in his territory. However, Jesus' kingship surpasses all earthly powers and is based on spiritual values.

This interaction poignantly reminds us that God's ways often confound human wisdom. As followers of Christ, we are called to submit our hearts, minds, and wills to His sovereign rule, allowing His kingdom to reign in every aspect of our existence. Let us honor Jesus as the King of Kings and embrace His spiritual kingship. May we live as faithful ambassadors of His reign in this world, bearing witness to His love and truth in a world that desperately needs His redemptive grace.

Pilate's interrogation of Jesus in John 18:33-35 reveals his limited understanding of kingship. Despite Jesus' explanation that His kingdom is not of this world, Pilate fails to grasp the spiritual nature of His reign. This interaction serves as a poignant reminder that the ways of God often confound human wisdom.

Point 3: Embracing the Kingship of Jesus

Pilate was cynical; he thought that all truth was relative. Today, many government officials believe that the truth is whatever people agree with or will help advance their political goals.

When there is no standard or acknowledgment of truth, there is no basis for moral right and wrong. Justice becomes whatever works or whatever helps those in power. But when we embrace Jesus and His kingship, we have a standard for truth and our moral behavior.

Now, acceptance or rejection of Jesus as your king is still the real dividing line. You can walk into virtually any room in America and ask, “Do you believe in God?” and expect an affirmative answer. But if you push it a bit and go on to ask, “And do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the only means of going to heaven?” then you will quickly sense an altogether different atmosphere.

As followers of Christ, we are called to acknowledge and embrace His kingship in our lives. In Revelation 19:16, Jesus is described as the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Let us submit our hearts, minds, and wills to His sovereign rule, allowing His kingdom to reign in every aspect of our existence.

Conclusion:

“Who is the king?” It was none of those religious or civil leaders. Jesus is King, and he is in charge. Even in his trial and death, he is in charge. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus is a King with no sin and no guilt, and that is the kind of King that you and I need because we do have sin and guilt. We need a king who can liberate us from that sin and guilt, and the only kind of king who can liberate us from that sin and guilt is Himself, not in bondage to sin and guilt.

In conclusion, remember that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. His authority surpasses all earthly powers, and His reign is eternal. May we live as faithful subjects of the King of Kings, bearing witness to His love and truth in a world that desperately needs His redemptive grace.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the truth in Your Word today. Help us to honor Jesus as the King of Kings and to live in alignment with His kingdom values. May Your Spirit empower us to be faithful ambassadors of His reign in this world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.