The King Has Come

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.”
 
IT is clear Pilate was acting in response to the Jews. He never accused Jesus of any crime. He only tried to understand why the Jews had brought Jesus to him. The Lord, then, answered Pilate’s question, “Are you a king, then?” not with, “Yes.” but with his Kingdom’s purpose, “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.” This was Jesus’ pattern throughout his ministry. He often defined himself with a reason for his coming. For example, there are 10 “I have come.” statements in the gospels: (into the world as a light (John 12:46); to do the will of him who sent me (John 6:38); and so I can preach there also (Mark 1:38). Truly, this is God’s authority to rule the hearts of those who believe in him: John 8:23 “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” His Kingdom is the reign of truth.
   Yes, the truth is spoken from Heaven to the world through the law, prophets, Jesus and the apostles. And in the Holy Spirit-inspired Bible, our gracious Father has given to us the Kingdom knowledge to be true Kingdom citizens.
   With his eye to eternal life, Jesus firmly stood in the battle against evil. One day Jesus will come to establish his kingship over the new Heaven and earth, and all will be under his authority. 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.”
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