THURSDAY April 6, 2023

King Jesus

Pilate therefore said to Him [Jesus], “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 18:37

Jesus stood exhausted before Pilate the governor Judea. The Jewish elders had held a secret trial in the night, interrogating Jesus unlawfully. He was mistreated and struck in the face by one of the officers (John 18:12-14; 19-24). The Jews could not lawfully put Jesus to death, so they brought him bound to Pilate who could sentence Him to be crucified (John 18:31-32).

Pilate asked Jesus a very important question: “Are You the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). Jesus answered Pilate something very profound:

“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” (John 18:36).

The Roman Empire ruled the known world. Their powerful army consisted of trained and discipled soldiers who were unmatched in battle. Yet the Roman Empire was nothing compared to Christ’s coming kingdom. Curious, Pilate asked, “Are you a king then?” (John 18:37). This was Jesus’ reply: “You say rightly that I am a king.” Jesus was indeed a king, but not just any king:

…Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate… He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords… (I Timothy 6:13, 15).

…Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood… (Revelation 1:5).

Jesus died for our sins on the Cross and resurrected. He is coming again to set up His kingdom. This is our King! We are a part of His kingdom.

The great military leaders of the past have gone, their empires have crumbled and burned to ashes. But the empire of Jesus, built solidly and majestically on the foundation of love, is still growing.
~Martin Luther King Jr.~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!