Jesus of Nazareth stood before the prefect (governor) of the Roman providence of Judaea, who possessed the authority to pardon or crucify with a single proclamation. While recognizing the Jewish leaders were making fallacious charges, Pilate was intrigued by Jesus’ claim to be a king. He scoffed at the preposterous explanation that Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world but in another realm. If it were not so, Jesus argued, His followers would be fighting for His freedom. Absent any military might, no defined territorial occupation, and no apparent means of reinforcements, here stood a king condemned by His own people, powerless to defend His reign. While Pilate was dismissive, something was troubling him about Jesus – perhaps concerned with having drawn erroneous conclusions about the one his wife cautioned against having any dealings.
Throughout history, kingdoms have been recognized by military dominance and imposed reign over definable geographical boundaries. But Jesus declared to Pilate that His kingdom was measured not by the world’s definition. Blinded in spiritual ignorance, Pilate could not understand that the kingdom in which Jesus reigns is a “territory” of heart and soul – a kingdom in the spiritual realm. Jesus told Nicodemus that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Jn 3:5). Men in their natural state are blind to the mission of Jesus Christ and the reality of His kingdom. There must be a drawing of the Father which produces faith (Jn 6:44) – an understanding concerning the plans and purposes of God which extend beyond this worldly existence. “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’ “(Jn 3:7).
“So you are a king” Pilate said with sarcasm. The heart of Pilate was deceived, seeing yet blind, hearing yet deaf. Unable to grasp the concept of a spiritual kingdom, he was locked into temporary, worldly thinking. Looking again at his interrogator, Jesus acknowledged, “You are correct in saying that I am a king.” Indeed Pilate providentially possessed the authority over Jesus’ earthly outcome in this moment of wrongful conviction. Yet for all eternity, Pilate must deal with agony of his soul realizing that what he desperately needed was a heart of humility, falling down in worship like one of his underling centurions (Matt 8:13; 27:54). And what of us with 2000 years of hindsight as we consider the claim of Christ as King seated on the throne? In the spirit of Paul Harvey, we possess “The Rest of the Story”. The message of the gospel is a call to be “Not of this World” – to live by faith worshiping the only true King. For those who decide to reject Jesus’s call, I shudder to think of the moment when on bended knee before the King of Kings, they will face the consequences of such a denial. Hear the call of God, be rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13) – one that is not of this world.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
John 18:36
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