Kingdoms In Conflict (Christ The King Sunday 2021)

KINGDOMS IN CONFLICT

Text: John 18: 33- 37

John 18:33-37  Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  (34)  Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"  (35)  Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"  (36)  Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."  (37)  Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." (NRSV).

Our text today, poses the question “How can God’s kingdom come on earth in the midst of conflict?” If Jesus is the King of all kings, and He is, then why does it appear that His never ending kingdom is in danger? All kings have a kingdom, but Jesus’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36)! The late Chuck Colson once said, “The kingdom of God is a rule, not a realm.” (Charles Colson. Kingdoms In Conflict. Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House, 1987, p. 83). What does God’s Kingdom mean to us?

The kingdom of God exists in the world today through the fellowship of all Christians because of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The kingdom of God is set up in the hearts of all who believe. I John 4:4 says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them [God’s enemies] for he [Jesus] who is in you is greater than he [the devil] who is in the world.” (ESV). Satan is behind all of the opposition to Jesus Christ, then in the days of Pontius Pilate, as now in modern day.

Our text today indirectly seems to illustrate how Satan seeks to deceive people in every age.

John 18:33- 37: In this moment when Pontius Pilate interrogates Jesus, we have to connect the dots. This is one of six attempts where Pilate tried to release Jesus. Pilate said to the Jews …

1) “You Judge Him according to your law” (John 18:31 CEB)

2)“I find no grounds for any charge against Him” (John 18:38 CEB).

3)According to a custom, the Jews substitute Barabbas for Jesus---the guilty for the innocent!

4)“Then Pilate had Jesus whipped” (John 19:1 CEB). This was not satisfactory to the Jews.

5)“Look! I’m bringing Him out to let you know that I find no grounds for a charge against Him. As He came out after He had been locked up, the soldiers who put a crown of thorns on His head and dressed Him in a purple robe (John 19:4 & 2 CEB).

6)The final exchange is where Pilate said, “Here’s your king.” the Jews replied that they had no king except Caesar (John 19:14- 16). (Mal Couch & Ed Hinson. eds. John: Believe and Live. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2002, p. 185). So was Pilate trying to please others or earn their approval? Don’t we all have to decide where Jesus fits into our lives? Do we treat Him as a visitor or as the King of our hearts?

Let’s explore the kingdoms in conflict, God’s rule and our decision.

How many are there today who have no idea about Jesus’s kingdom? How can they understand His Kingdom if they do not know Him as their king? It has been said that “Christ the King Sunday was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to the tragedy of World War 1 and the growth of secularism in the world”.  https://www.christgreensboro.org/news-articles/christthekingsunday What about where we are ninety six years later in 2021? How many still don’t know King Jesus or anything about His Kingdom? Did God’s creation turn the tables on God?

BEFORE THERE WERE KINGDOMS IN CONFLICT

When God created our ancestors Adam and Eve, God made our ancestors blameless and holy and placed our ancestors in the pure and undefiled Garden of Eden. God gave them free will to chose. Satan knew that sin would corrupt God’s creation which was why he targets us as he has every generation in every age since Adam and Eve.

1) Saboteur: Satan orchestrated attacking God’s kingdom from the beginning in the Garden of Eden. We know the story, the forbidden fruit, Satan’s mixing of the truth with falsehood, enticing Adam and Eve by tricking and deceiving them them to call good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20).