June 11 Truly King

John 18:33-37 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. “It was your people and your chief priests who 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 Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 So Pilate asked him, “Are you a king, then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.”
 
JESUS often taught in a way to help people consider his words and then understand his truth. He does that here with Pilate. The Lord answers Pilate’s question, “Are you a king, then?” not with, “Yes.” but with his statement of his kingdom’s purpose, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.”
   Truly, this is God’s claim to rule the hearts of those who believe in him. Jesus’ kingship is not currently over a physical world: John 8:23 “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” Instead, his kingdom is the reign of truth. Pilate will next ask, “What is truth?” a question the world seems to consistently ask. But the world does not really want an answer. Otherwise, people would need to confront and confess their sin. Otherwise, truth would lead them to confess, “Jesus is king of my life. I surrender my worldly ways for his heavenly life.”
   Yes, the truth is spoken from heaven to the world through the law, prophets, Jess and the apostles. Through the Holy Spirit-inspired Bible, our gracious Father has given to us the kingdom knowledge to be true kingdom citizens. Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (“Rock” is the confession that Jesus is Lord.) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”   
   Jesus does not rule the hearts and minds who deny him. That is why Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world.” His rule, then, is not over Caiaphas, the priests and authorities accusing him. Nor is his rule over Pilate. At this time and for his purpose, God will allow evil to oppose his kingdom and reign over the physical world.
   Because Jesus knew his role then, with his eye to eternal life, he stood firm in the battle against evil with God’s “belt of truth buckled around your waist…to take up the shield of faith…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (See Ephesians 6:10-20.)
   One day Jesus will return to establish his kingship over the earth. Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
 
Prayer: We praise you, Lord Jesus, for living in the Father’s truth to prepare for your true reign on earth one day. Gratefully, we confess, “Jesus is Lord and King of my life.” Amen.