MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD

Passage: John 18:28-40

Key verse: 36,37

NIV

Jesus Before Pilate(A)

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.(B) By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace,(C) because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.(D) 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.(E)

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace,(F) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”(G)

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom(H) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.(I) But now my kingdom is from another place.”(J)

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.(K) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”(L)

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.(M) 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.(N)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Before Pilate

28 (A)Then they led Jesus (B)from the house of Caiaphas to (C)the governor's headquarters.[a] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, (D)so that they would not be defiled, (E)but could eat the Passover. 29 (F)So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, (G)“Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 (H)This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken (I)to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 (J)So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, (K)“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, (L)“My kingdom (M)is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, (N)my servants would have been fighting, that (O)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, (P)“You say that I am a king. (Q)For this purpose I was born and for this purpose (R)I have come into the world—(S)to bear witness to the truth. (T)Everyone who is (U)of the truth (V)listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, (W)he went back outside to the Jews and told them, (X)“I find no guilt in him. 39 (Y)But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, (Z)“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.[b]

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Footnotes
  1. John 18:28 Greek the praetorium
  2. John 18:40 Or an insurrectionist
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Pilate and the Jews (28-32)

These men who did not want to be ceremonially unclean did not hesitate to condemn an innocent man to death. Since they had no legal power to pronounce a death sentence, they asked Pilate, the Roman governor, to execute Jesus as a criminal. Pilate's actions toward the Jews revealed his compromising attitude. It looked as though Satan were in control of the world, but God was quietly working to fulfill his purpose and his promises.

2. The true kingdom (33-40)

Pilate, looking for a basis for a criminal charge, asked Jesus, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' He knew that Jesus was not leading a rebellion against Rome. Jesus admitted being a king. Then he taught Pilate about his spiritual kingdom which is based on truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Jesus; everyone who obeys Jesus belongs to his kingdom. Perhaps Pilate had once longed to live by truth, but found the cost too high.

Prayer: Lord, help me to renew my hope in your eternal kingdom every day, and live according to your truth.

One Word: Stand on Jesus' side