John 18:33–38 (ESV)
My Kingdom Is Not of This World
33 So Pilate
entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your
own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over
to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear
witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I
find no guilt in him.
This world is all we know. We understand the laws of science in which our world is enslaved. We know the four seasons, the rotation of the earth and that there are 12 months
in a year for a total of 365 days. We understand all to well, that humans cannot be trusted, and are sinners. We know that a hurt feelings can be just as painful as a broken arm. We experience all types of pain. But Jesus says “My
kingdom is not of this world.” This brings much confusion, because we actually know very little about the Kingdom of Heaven. It really is beyond our imagination, because we are so calloused from sin... that we can’t even start to properly
comprehend a world without sin. Pilate is questioning Jesus about being a King. Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. Never-the-less, Pilate recognizes him as a king. Pilate comes back and asks “What is truth?”
That is actually a bigger question. Remember Jesus saying “I Am the way, the truth, and the Light!” Jesus IS the truth!
I pray: O Lord, I understand that you are my Prophet, Priest,
and King. I may not know much about your Kingdom, but I know that you have gone before me to prepare a place for me. The only way into your kingdom is through faith in you for the forgiveness of my sins. Lord... I believe. Forgive me
of my sins. Amen.