John 18:33-37

Celebrating Christ the King

How to approach the gospel of John

Coming to the Gospel of John it is important to understand that John is unique. While it is one of the Gospels, it is not one of the synoptic Gospels. The synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They are considered synoptic because they all tell a similar story in a similar way. There are multiple parallels between the three. John stands out as different because it does not follow this pattern. The synoptic Gospels give more of a focus on Jesus as the human form of God but John takes Jesus’ identity and focusses on his diving nature however not just on Jesus’ identity but also shows His identity as God working through Him.

How does each Gospel begin?

Mark begins with Jesus’ ministry as an adult. There is a short intro from Isaiah and a direction to Golgotha. The intro by Isaiah links Jesus to the awaited for Messiah connecting the Jewish tradition with the new Gentile included Christian faith.

Matthew and Luke both begin with the announcement and preparations for Jesus’ birth. These Gospels tie Jesus’s birth to the importance this event will have to the world.

John, begins on a grand scale. The Gospel of John opens on a cosmic scale and ties Jesus in to the universe. Jesus is in the beginning and is the beginning. Right from the starting block, Jesus is divine and the theme throughout the rest of the Gospel illustrates this divine identity of Jesus.

Uniqueness to John’s Writings

A little more background on the writings of John helps to understand better the exchange between Pilate and Jesus during His arrest. John frequently uses irony in the form of double meaning throughout his writing. He gives meaning in the text on two different levels. He uses phrases such as light and dark to indicate perhaps day and night while at the same time speaking of spiritual light and spiritual darkness. He writes of sight and blindness in reference to physical ability to see and being blind but at the same time refers to those who see the truth of Christ versus those who remain blind to the truth.

Throughout John, Jesus performs miracles and healings as signs of Jesus’ identity. The focus on miracles and healings takes the attention away from the Kingdom and places it on the divine Jesus. We see not only Jesus’ identity but also His identity as God working though Him.

Closer view of

Moving to the passage of , we first read of Jesus’ arrest, questioning by the high priest, denial of Peter, and Pilate questioning the religious Jewish leaders and finally we come to Pilate interrogating Jesus.

John 18:33 NIV

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

We see a perfect example here of the double speak typical of John. Pilate asks Jesus if he is a King, specifically King of the Jews. While in Pilate’s mind, he is speaking of an earthly king, we know that in reality Jesus truly is the King of Jews in a spiritual way. Jesus truly is King of all including the Jews.

However, Jesus, in all His wisdom, approaches the situation uniquely.

John 18:34

John 18:34 NIV

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

Instead of answering Pilate, Jesus asks him a question. Who truly has authority in this situation?

During this time, Romans were extremely paranoid of any King or anyone who would attempt to take the power away from Cesar. Pilate’s concern at this point is to see if this Jesus is a threat to the Roman empire and Cesar. Believing that he is in control, Pilate has flat out asked Jesus if he is a King. To which Jesus also points out that Pilate lacks the authority he believes he holds. Jesus asks if this is his own idea or if he is just follow what others have told him.

John 18:35

John 18:35 NIV

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

Still believing to have authority, Pilate answers Jesus by pointing out that Pilate is not a Jew and that he has interest in Jewish concerns. Jesus must have done something within the Jewish community to stir up this much trouble. Again, Pilate must assess if Jesus is a threat to the Roman empire. Not seeing the threat the Jews perceive, Pilate emphasizes that it was Jesus’ own people who have turned him over to be dealt with in the harsh Roman manner well known throughout the region.

John 18:36

John 18:36 NIV

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.”

The response from Jesus is to explain that if this were his Kingdom, Jesus would have been saved long ago by His “servants” and he would have never been turned over by the Jews. This shows Jesus’ identity as divine but Pilate does not seem to understand that Jesus has the ulitimate authority over everything which is about to transpire. Jesus has willingly given his life over to the Jews and to Pilate so that God’s will may be carried out. Jesus has ultimate authority-divine authority which shows us His identity as God working through Him.

John 18:37

John 18:37 NIV

“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.”

To this, Pilate labels Jesus a king. Continuing to understand “King” as an earthly King. Jesus answers back with “You say that I am a King.” You say that I am a King. Pilate has not grasped the fact that the King in which Jesus truly is cannot be defined in humanly terms. The Kingdom and Kingship of Jesus is beyond the scope of human labels and human understanding. But Jesus also says to follow Him. Jesus is here to testify to the truth and the truth is heard by those who follow.

John 18:38

I want to add that Pilate continues to not hear.

John 18:38 NIV

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

Pilate counters with “What is truth?” However, one this which struck me as odd is that Pilate finds no charge against Jesus. Jesus has clearly stated a Kingship of some sort but yet Pilate doesn’t find him guilty. Perhaps this is part of God’s design so that God’s will may be carried out. Or perhaps Pilate thinks Jesus is harmless…crazy but harmless.

Conclusion

We have the truth! We have truth as revelation through Jesus Christ. Truth is a stimulant for faithful living and witness. Truth is action. It is was we do.