Day 20 :: The True Kingdom
“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
John 18:36(28-38a)
I don’t think it is any secret that there are many who do not want anything to do with religion because of the corruption that is there. Even though many who say this would not necessarily be able to give a specific example on the spot…it certainly wouldn’t take them much time looking online or wherever to dig up some examples.
Corruption within religion is not new. We see that within today’s passage that took place nearly 2,000 years ago - John 18:28-38a. As these Jews were bringing the Son of God in to be put to death, they were careful to keep themselves ceremonially clean for their religious activities. (v28) They were careful to not defile themselves without realising they were already defiled to their core. They were corrupt and false - the exact opposite of the One they’ve arrested.
These Jews bring Jesus to a Roman Governor named Pilate because they didn’t just want to see Jesus leave town, they wanted to see Jesus hang on a cross to die. But Pilate doesn’t fulfil their request straight away, he has Jesus brought into his headquarters for questioning.
Notice 4 of the questions Pilate asks Jesus:
Question 1: “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus’ answer: “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?”
This brought on Pilate’s 2nd question…
Question 2: “What have you done?”
Jesus’ answer: “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
Question 3: “You are a king then?” (Perhaps, kind of like a “gotcha” question or maybe Pilate is just confused.)
Jesus’ answer: “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Question 4: “What is truth?”
Jesus’ answer: had already been given 4 chapters earlier in John 14:6 when he said that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Jesus is the King of The True Kingdom. Jesus came to testify (to communicate by what He did, what He said, and how He lived) to the truth of God and how we can be made right with God the Father through him. Jesus is in fact “the way, the truth, and the life.” And as Jesus continues “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
There was indeed corruption within religion nearly 2,000 years ago in John 18:28-38, there is corruption within religion today, and there will continue to be. However, as Christians, we are not members of a corrupt religion. We are members of an eternal Kingdom that is not of this world. We are members of the True Kingdom bought with the blood of the True King Jesus himself. As we live for King Jesus, we share the hope we have with others. True hope from the True King Jesus of the eternal True Kingdom.
As my backwoods, Southern Indiana accent makes a clear statement within the scheme community that I’m not Scottish, do our lives (the way we live and talk) make it clear that we are citizens of Jesus’ True Kingdom? Praise King Jesus who died, was buried, was raised to life and lives today! Praise Jesus who alone can make corrupt hearts new!
Passages to read: John 18:28-38a
A thought to remember: Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world.
A question to ask: Are you living as a child of Jesus' true kingdom?
A song to sing: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God