Title: Born to be King
Text: John 18:33-40
Now if you remember from last time, Jesus is on trial before Pontius Pilate. The Chief Priests and Pharisees have had a sham of a trial, and they accused Jesus of blasphemy… They want Him dead, but they don’t want to be the ones to kill Him because they’re afraid of the mobs that might come against them if they did. So, their plan is to get Rome to kill Him, and so, they’ve brought Him before Pilate to get Jesus tried for treason, which is punishable by death.
We’re in John 18 this morning, but before we turn to our text, I also want to read to you from Luke 23:2, so that we can get a more full picture of what is going on here.
Ok… So, the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate, they basically came in and presented Jesus and were like, “This guy needs to be put to death!” But Pilate wasn’t just going to rubber stamp their execution… And so they actually did bring charges against Jesus. They say “He’s ‘misleading the nation.” In other words, He’s saying false things in order to manipulate and spark revolution. “He’s refusing to pay taxes to Caesar”, meaning He’s not paying allegiance to Caesar and Rome. And He’s claiming to be a King – a sovereign outside of the rule and jurisdiction of Rome.
So now let’s go to John 18:33-40 (READ).
Again, I don’t know that I’ll get through all of this today, but Lord willing, there’s always next Sunday.
Verse 33 begins by telling us that Pilate went inside again, He called Jesus forward, and asked Jesus plainly, “Are you the King of the Jews?” This is when the custody of Jesus has been transferred from the temple guards to the Romans. He’s now in the hands of the Empire.
So now they’re inside the Praetorium. Pilate is seated upon the judgment seat. And he asks Him, “Are You the king of the Jews?”
Now understand, he’s asking Jesus this in the political sense. And when we read text… we don’t get the nuances that were used in person. Pilate could have asked this in a very somber tone, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Or he could have asked it jokingly, amused, or in disbelief that the chief priests were even trying to pull something like this off, “Are you the king of Jews? (LOL).”
Which is actually how I think we should read this based on the Greek grammar here. But here’s the thing right… Pilate was told that this man standing before him, was some kind of revolutionary leader. Some kind of rebel who was plotting a revolt against Rome. Now that he sees Him before the judgment seat, Pilate can’t believe that the Jews are trying this. What did this guy do to make them so angry at Him? He sure didn’t dress like a king. The callouses on His hands were more like what you’d find on a carpenter. He was of no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him (that’s Isaiah 53:2 BTW).
So Pilate asks the question and Jesus says, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?”
Now I want you to understand what’s taking place here. Perry Mason and Matlock don’t have anything on Jesus. Jesus has answered Pilate’s question with a question. And it’s a question to get Pilate to either align with the charges that the Jews have brought against Him, or disassociate himself from them. And that’s what Pilate does. He says, “Am I a Jew? Your OWN nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me.”
In other words, Pilate was saying, “Listen, I’m not stupid enough to believe these charges. I’m not the one who brought you here for trial. It was your own people. So you must’ve done something to really rile them up… what have You done?” Do you see that in verse 35? Pilate has abandoned the Jewish charges and is asking Jesus what He’s done to make them so angry at Him.
Now Jesus answers. And He stays on that train of thought about being a king… Because… technically, He is a king – The King of kings! And Lord of lords! But he explains it to Pontius Pilate.
He says, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
Now church – that’s been the whole problem all along hasn’t it. That’s why so many walked away from Jesus during His earthly ministry. That’s why Judas ultimately decided to betray Him. And I think we could even argue that’s why Peter denied Him three times. Because they wanted a king whose kingdom was of this world. It’s also why the Jews missed Him as the Messiah…
They all – EVERYONE – was looking for an earthly king! Someone like David or Solomon.
So Jesus says, “My kingdom is not OF this world…”. And then He says, “My kingdom is not FROM the world.”
HIS KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT!
Jesus isn’t interested in ruling a world full of sin. He’s going to destroy it and remake it. He’s not interested in political affairs, and negotiating trade deals. His rule is supreme, and sovereign. He doesn’t have to negotiate as if we were all on a level playing field. He commands and we obey.
You accept His terms, or you perish.
So YES, He is a King, but not like the Jews are accusing Him of being.
Now look at verses 37 & 38 (READ).
Now I hope you’re catching this. Jesus just said that His kingdom is not of this world, nor does it come from this world. And Pilate says, “SO YOU ARE A KING?” There’s more to that… it’s a prodding question… “If you’re a king, what kind of king are you?” But remember, Jesus is a King of a Kingdom that is not of this world, and so He says, “For this purpose I was born.”
For the purpose of being King over this Kingdom, and bearing witness to the truth!
Jesus was sent here, born of a virgin, in order to claim His kingdom! In order to be King of His Kingdom! Someone of this world, can’t be king of a kingdom that’s not of this world.
Bruce Springsteen said he was “Born to Run”, and Steppenwolf said they were “Born to be Wild”. But Jesus was born to be King.
For this purpose, He was born!!! Jesus had eternally co-existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit in eternity! But according to the plan of redemption, He left that glory in order to be born as a man, and bear witness to the truth!
This world, with all its kings and kingdoms are based on lies and manipulation. This is why so many politicians are losing their minds as their fraud and schemes are being exposed. This is why the Pharisees and chief priests wanted to kill Jesus, because He was exposing them, and their corruption. He was going about Judea telling people. All of these external things can’t get you to heaven. He was going into the temple and chasing out the money changers. He was preaching the truth. He was telling people, “You’re ‘best life’ is not, nor will it ever be NOW! It’s in the Kingdom to come!” And it comes by knowing Him as Lord and Savior. By trusting Him, and in Him alone!
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
And then look at what Jesus says at the very end of verse 37, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” What Jesus is saying is that true disciples are identified by the way they respond to the truth – As Christ Himself has revealed it.
Pilate’s mind is darkened by sin. He exposes himself as a relativist. He says, “What is truth?”
Four-year-olds can understand the concept of truth. You must be educated into questioning it. What is truth?
Men can’t have babies or breast feed – THAT IS THE TRUTH!
You can’t change the gender you were born – THAT IS THE TRUTH!
There are only two genders: Male and Female – THAT IS THE TRUTH!
There is a heaven, and there is a hell, and we will all spend eternity in one or the other – THAT IS THE TRUTH!
And the only way to be saved is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone – THAT IS THE TRUTH!
When Pilate says, “What is truth?” He basically shows himself to be someone who is not of the truth. Jesus had just said, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”
And Pilate is like, “Ah truth’s relative. What’s true for You might not be true for me.”
That’s relativism…
That’s the arrow that was used to undermine modern academia today. You get someone to be a relativist, and you can get them to believe just about anything – EXCEPT for objective, factual, truth.
You get someone to be a relativist, and they’ll go along with the mob and execute an innocent man, while setting a known criminal free.
Let me just read something from 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO LOVE THE TRUTH, and so be saved.”
Jesus is the truth!
His Word is the truth!
What it teaches is the truth!
I pray that you love it.
How do we know? If we love Him and His Word, we will follow Him and keep His Word. We will obey it, we will live it. Jesus even says as much, “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.”
I pray that each one of us does.
CLOSING
