Sermon on John 18:33-37

Text: Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 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.”
37 “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.”

Over the years there has been confusion about Jesus’ kingdom. We see it already in Jesus’ day, when the people were looking for a person who would come and overthrow the hated Romans. He would establish Israel as a kingdom on the same level as it enjoyed during the days of King David and King Solomon. Yet, that is not the last time that people have tried to use religion, including Christianity, to set up a kingdom or government. We might think of the Crusades during the Middle Ages when the church promoted liberating the Holy Land from the hands of the Muslims. During the time just after Martin Luther, some Reformed church leaders were using the government in Geneva, Switzerland, to enforce morals and Christian teachings. It is seen today, as well, as churches get more and more involved in politics and social reform. They forget what Jesus is clearly teaching us here. CHRIST’S KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. 1. It Is Of Spiritual Origin. 2. It Uses Spiritual Weapons. 3. It Has A Spiritual Purpose.

The events of our text took place on Good Friday. The Jewish leaders had already condemned Jesus as being worthy of death, because of his supposed blasphemy. Because they did not have the right to carry out the death sentence, they turned him over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate had already spoken to Jesus. He knew that he was no threat to the Roman government. We learn from the other gospels that Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to be killed out of jealousy. Just after our text, it says Pilate told the Jews, ““I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John 18:38) Yet, the Jews had claimed that Jesus was claiming to be Christ, a King, who was subverting the people. As a result, Pilate summoned Jesus to himself and asked the question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Verse 33)

Jesus replied, “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?” (Verse 34) Jesus was not challenging Pilate. Rather, he was giving Pilate an invitation to confess faith in Jesus. After all, Pilate, as the Roman governor, would have heard of Jesus. He would have known his reputation as a healer and a preacher. So, with the question, Jesus is extending an invitation. ‘Are you saying this from yourself?’ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me.” Pilate scoffs at Jesus’ invitation, rejecting him as a Jew. However, in case there was something Pilate did not know about, he asked, “What is it you have done?” (Verse 35)

In answer, Jesus goes back to the idea of a king and a kingdom. He said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Later, he added, “My kingdom is from another place.” (Verse 36) Earthly kingdoms rise and fall. As you look across the centuries, you can see one world power after another. The kingdoms or empires or countries all had a beginning. They rose to prominence. They declined and were, eventually, replaced by another. The Babylonians were followed by the Persians, who were followed by the Greeks, who were followed by the Romans. All of them had their origins when there was a vacuum of prominence by another world power.

Jesus’ kingdom is different in its origins. Jesus’ kingdom has always been. We are reminded of the verse from Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” There has not been a time when Jesus has not been the ruler of the universe. Again and again, through the Scriptures, you find phrases, such as “The LORD reigns.” Just as there was not a beginning to Jesus’ kingdom, there will be no end. For example, we find these words in 2 Peter 1:11, “You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Moreover, earthly kingdoms have borders. You can find them on a map. This is not the case with Jesus’ kingdom. As he reminds us, “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) You find Jesus’ kingdom in the hearts of his people around the world. Earthly kingdoms have earthly origins. Jesus’ kingdom has heavenly origins.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.” (Verse 36) Earthly kingdoms have armies that fight for them. They have a stockpile of weapons that are used to conquer lands and defend the country. These weapons threaten to kill and destroy. Today, the weapons are so sophisticated. They use computers that guide missiles so that they can hit a moving vehicle. These weapons are used to terrify and keep in line. There is peace, because there is the fear that these weapons will be used against another nation. These are the weapons that the world’s kingdoms use.

Compare that to the weapon that Jesus uses for his kingdom. While the world has its varied weapons that have changed over the centuries, the weapon that Jesus uses has never changed. That weapon is the gospel message. Yet, with the gospel message, Jesus’ kingdom has gone throughout the world. There is no threatening to kill and destroy. The gospel message comes to sinners, like you and me, with the message that we do not need to be afraid. By nature, we are terrified. This is because of that little voice inside all of us called a conscience. It tells us that there really is someone to whom we are accountable for our actions. It testifies to all the times when we have not done what we are supposed to do. We would have every reason to be terrified, because all we would know about our God is that he is powerful and holy and will punish us for all our sins. However, the gospel message has come into our hearts through the working of the Holy Spirit. It testifies that Jesus came to the earth, not as angry Judge, but as loving Savior. He came to be our Substitute. The gospel message says that Jesus lived a perfect life for us. The gospel points us to that cross outside of Jerusalem and says that there Jesus paid for all our sins. The gospel takes us to an empty tomb and tells us that Jesus rose from the dead. The fact that he rose gives us the assurance that our sins have been paid for in full.

There is such a difference between the world’s weapons and the spiritual weapons of Jesus’ kingdom. Earthly weapons have become very sophisticated. On the surface, the spiritual ones look very simple and unimpressive. They consist of some words on a page, some water, some bread and wine. Yet, appearances can be deceiving. Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” That word “power” in the Greek gives us the word “dynamite.” This gospel is powerful, far more powerful than any earthly weapon. Earthly weapons kill. The spiritual weapon brings to life. Earthly weapons destroy. Spiritual weapons build up. Earthly weapons threaten. Jesus’ weapons comfort. Earthly weapons motivate by fear. Jesus’ weapons motivate us by love. There is a vast difference in the weapons of the world and the spiritual weapons of Jesus’ kingdom.

Jesus points to one other difference between earthly kingdoms and his kingdom. He says, “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.” (Verse 37) God established earthly kingdoms for the sake of law and order. They are interested in the physical aspect of life. They want the peace and stability of society. As far as what Jesus is speaking of here, they echo the words of Pilate just after our text, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) They make their laws based on the natural law. Unfortunately, the natural law was corrupted when Adam and Eve fell into sin. As a result, there is no absolute truth. There is what most of the citizens or what the ruler says is right and wrong. The purpose of the earthly kingdom is to establish and maintain the peace and stability of society.

Contrast that with what Jesus says of his kingdom, “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.” What is the truth? Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) The purpose of Jesus’ coming was to testify, to tell others about the one way to salvation. It is only through faith in his saving work that we reach heaven. Jesus said, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Those who belong to his spiritual kingdom listen to him, that is, they believe in what he says. Jesus came to testify to the truth and, now that he has ascended into heaven, he calls upon the members of his kingdom to testify to others. Jesus said to his followers, “You also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:27) We testify to the truth that mankind is doomed without Jesus. We testify to the truth that only through faith in Jesus can a person become a part of his heavenly kingdom. Jesus’ kingdom involves the soul. The purpose of Jesus’ kingdom is that people believe in him and have eternal life.

Part of our thankfulness to Jesus for having rescued us is that we will be good citizens of the government that God places over us. We know that God has established that government and when we obey it, we are obeying him. When we give the proper honor and respect to those in the government, we are giving honor and respect to God. The only time we may disobey what the government says is if they tell us to do something that is against God’s will. Then, we must obey God rather than men. Otherwise, out of love for our heavenly King, we will obey his representatives on the earth. We show our citizenship in Jesus’ kingdom as we honor and respect the rulers in the earthly kingdoms.

Earthly kingdoms and Jesus’ kingdom have both been established by God. However, they serve different purposes. One deals with the here and now. One deals with both now and eternity. One is led by sinful human beings. The other is ruled by the perfect Son of God. One lasts for so many years. The other lasts for all time. May God help us to always see the difference in the two. We thank God for the country in which we live and the government he has given. May God help us to be good citizens of this country. We thank God for his eternal kingdom and the fact that, by his grace, we have become citizens of it. May God help us to be faithful subject of the King of kings and Lord of lords. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.” (1 Timothy 1:17) Amen.