John 18:36-37:
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."
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
There is magnificence of Jesus Christ revealed in those verses! We will also learn why, as King, He excelled and dominated all the other kings in this world.
First, let’s find out the ordinary way of understanding those verses.
There are those who taught that the Kingdom of God is not yet operational in this world because of the words, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Notice, however, it does not say: “My kingdom is not IN this world.” It does say, “…not OF this world” -- it does not belong to this world! It belongs to Him – “My kingdom.” It is the Kingdom of God, not kingdom of this world.
And this kingdom did not come just from any place in this world, but “from another place” – in heaven. Primarily, it’s authority is not derived from this world , but from heaven. That’s why it is also called “kingdom of heaven.” People tend to argue over “where, what, when, etc…” of the kingdom, but Jesus, testified “to the truth” – to Himself, as the King.
Many tried to refer this “truth” to the true church, true mode of baptism, true manner of worship, true preacher, etc.
But in this context, could it be Jesus was thinking about Himself, as the King of the kingdom, when He mentioned “the truth,” just as He referred to Himself in other Scripture as ”the truth” (John 14:6)? In this Scripture, was He actually telling Pilate who He was, when asked: "Are you the king of the Jews?" in verse 33? Or, was He thinking about the truth of other things?
There is great possibility He was referring to Himself – not even to the truth about the kingdom – when He said He came “to testify to the truth.” And even in our time, especially to the elect, He was referring to Himself in those verses! He was making Himself – the God who reigns -- known to His people -- to those people who belong to Him – to “Everyone who is of the truth.. “ (John 18:37, NAS),
As He made Himself known to those He had chosen, He also made known to them the Father (Matthew 11:27; John 14:7). We also read, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (John 1:18, NIV).
He concluded His prayer in John 17: “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them" (verse 26, NIV).
As Jesus Christ is making Himself known in John 18:36-37, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (verse 37, NAS) – those who belong to the King – “of the truth” – listen to Him. He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them..” (John 10:27, NIV).
Are we ready to listen to His words, as He testified to the Truth -- to hear His declaration about Himself?
He said, “MY kingdom…” -- Christ had a kingdom and, therefore, Pilate was right: Jesus was a king, then! As a king, He reigns specially over those people “of the truth” – who belong to Him. They belong to Him, because the King bought them at a great price “by His blood” (1 Cor. 6:19-20; Rev. 1:5).
No earthly king bought a people by his own blood, so they could belong to him. And He made the great sacrifice to have them not to oppress them, but to give them rest and delight in His presence!
But there is greater than that.
The King of kings excelled the other kings, because His kingdom is “not of this world.” His kingdom is “from another place” – from heaven – the divine realm. For He – the King Himself is “from another place” – from the divine realm, or as He expressed it: in John 8:23: “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world” (NIV).
Jesus Christ is not an ordinary human king!
John the Baptist knew it, when he said: “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all” (John 3:31, NIV). He who is “above all” is God. Jesus who came from above is not just a man. He is also God. That’s why His kingdom is called the Kingdom of God.
And another wonderful thing about Jesus as King is that He does not need to be defended. His servants do not need to fight to protect Him. His people do not need to save Him. The kingdom of this world requires the servants to protect and to save their king. They need to work for and pay taxes to provide for their king.
In the kingdom of God, the King protects and saves His servants! The psalmist declared, “The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me” (Ps 116:6, NIV).
We also read in Ps 91:14-16:
"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation" (NIV).
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the kingdom that is not of this world, declared: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28, NIV).
He also said to the Father, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled” (John 17:12, NIV).
He also prayed for their protection: “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11, NIV).
He came to this world to save His people (Matt. 2:21) from their “great need” – not from disease, poverty, trouble, etc. – but sin that alienates us from the glorious presence of the King. And when the Sovereign King came to seek and save His people who were lost – He didn’t just offer them salvation, He GAVE them (Ephesians 2:4-9)!
“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom 8:30, NIV). When this Divine King saves, He does not just initiate. He sustains and finishes it.
He provides His sheep – the people who belongs to Him -- the people God rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son he loves (Col 1:13, NIV) – not only with their daily bread, but with salvation and complete security that will guarantee their eternal fellowship with the King, enjoying His Presence in His kingdom for all eternity!
Jesus Christ – the true God – has testified of what kind of King He is. Would you believe His testimony? Will you listen and follow Him and submit yourself to His rule?
May the people of God elevate more the worth of Jesus in their life and find greater satisfaction in Him as their King!
