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His Kingdom

John 18: 36 “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” [1]

I.   Distant

     A. His

     B. Heaven

II. Detached

     A. Disciples

     B. Deliverers

III. Disconnected

     A. Now

     B. Not

Introduction:  Last week we discussed just how not at home Jesus was here.  For the beginning of His ministry there were those crowds that wanted so to hear from Him.  His group of twelve often argued about who might be closest to Jesus.  Jesus Christ was popular with those who knew Him and of course He knew them even more than they knew themselves but Jesus was not at home.

Would Jesus be at home here today with us?  What do you think?  Would we change the order of service if He were to come through that door and ask to take the pulpit?  I guarantee this, if He was to come in here right now, He would certainly know you but would you know Him?

In the last days of Jesus’ ministry, He was anything but popular.  Only those closest to Him wanted to be there to see Him on that cross and even they were afraid to let those in charge know that they followed Jesus.

Life went on for those in government and for those who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders.  They wanted to get rid of the trouble maker and nothing was going to mess up their day.  At least that’s what they all thought.

Even those who watched Jesus die that loved Him and heard what He said about the resurrection misunderstood and thought He was certainly gone when they placed Him in the tomb.  Oh well, we thought He was the Messiah, now what!

No, Jesus was not home when He was here, but He most certainly is home now.  The message today is sort of a continuation from last week.  If Jesus was not home when He was here, and so many were so mistaken about His purpose for being here then, how can we begin to understand today?

He actually explained it to one that had a role which he didn’t want to play in Jesus’ crucifixion.  Pilot had Jesus in front of Him.  He could have asked all sorts of questions and he might have gotten answers that nobody else could hear but instead he caved in to the demands of that angry mob.  What would you do if Jesus walked in that door right now?

Scripture:  The focus scripture is John 18:36.  When you have found it please rise to honor the reading of God’s written word.

Prayer: Please be seated

Message: Follow as you hear the scripture starting at John 18:28-38.  28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. 33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.[2]

First, notice that those who led Jesus from Caiaphas would not enter the judgement hall.  Jesus went in there but they would not.  The Jews felt that they had to do everything just right to take the Passover meal or else they would be defiled or unfit.  They were so bound by regulations and customs they missed all the truths that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

Also find where anybody told Pilate that Jesus was the king of the Jews.  I can’t find it.  Maybe he heard the crowd accusing Jesus but isn’t it strange that the first thing Pilate asked Jesus was, are You the King of the Jews?

Isn’t it strange that the Jews refused the idea that Jesus was the promised king yet Pilate wondered if Jesus was?  Isn’t it a shame that often those who have a thing don’t want it and those who don’t have a thing wonder about it, how it would be to have it?  Why can’t we learn to be content with that which God has given us?  Why do we insist on following ideas that others left us who were also wrong?  Vanity of vanity and vexation of spirit Solomon said.

Jesus’ kingdom at that point was distant from where He was right then at that place at that time.  His kingdom was heaven which would become dark as Jesus carried our sin that day on that cross.  The disciples were afraid and they abandoned Jesus in His time of greatest need.  Had Jesus decided, there would be so many angels to deliver Him and eradicate those who were against Him that there would be no people left.  Jesus didn’t do that because His purpose at that point was to allow us into His kingdom which seemed so far away.

Being separated from His Father and His kingdom even for just a few hours was the dread that Jesus sweated over in the garden at Gethsemane.  Now the time was here and only this Roman governor was there to even suggest that Jesus was who He said He was.  This roman governor put it on the sign so that everybody would see as they watched Jesus die on that cross.  Only that governor wondered.

Jesus said that His kingdom is not from here.  His kingdom was there before there was a here.  When God walked in the garden with the first humans, His kingdom was there because God was there but we humans each one as we reach the age to make our own decisions decide to disconnect our will from His will.

That disconnect is a onetime breach that we ourselves cannot put back together.  That disconnect cannot be put back together but the divide was crossed with the cross of Jesus.  Pilate, that Roman governor, had questions about who Jesus really was.  Jesus told him that His kingdom was not now nor was it then in this place.  The cross was before Jesus so the time was not yet but it would be soon.

Did Pilate ever accept the truth?  He asked Jesus what is truth and the truth was there to answer him.  He had the sign placed on Jesus’ cross.  Did he ever accept the grace that Jesus prayed for when He asked His Father to forgive them for they knew not what they do?  Pilate’s wife warned him!  He nearly begged the angry crowd not to do that thing!  Did he know?  Did he recognize the truth when it was there in front of him?  Do we?  Do you?

Prayer:

Invitation:   The answers to the questions of heaven are not answered by observing rituals or anything else that you or I can do apart from Jesus.  There is no way to not be apart from Him unless you believe in Him.

Pilate believed that Jesus might be the king of the Jews.  He knew that the crowd decision was against anything that made sense to him but he went along with them anyway.  He had the chance to have a personal one on one relationship with Jesus but he didn’t know what to do with that so we can only wonder if later Pilate had the opportunity to follow Jesus as Risen Lord.

Tradition says that perhaps Pilate did.  We can only wonder.  We do not need to wonder about our own salvation though.  Do you know Him today, please don’t turn Him away.  Are there those who are distant, detached, and disconnected?

I am amazed each week as we go into this time of invitation.  Maybe nobody here has a family member that hasn’t proven their walk with Jesus.  That’s a really good reason for the altar to be open.  Maybe you are praying for those in your families there where you stand.  That’s OK.  However you respond, please pray for God’s will to be done in all those who you wonder about today.  God wills that none should perish.  He willed that so much that He sent His Son to be the only right sacrifice that would bridge that great divide so that we can pray for others.

Please don’t let this time pass today without asking God to use whatever resource He decides to bring all who will to Himself.  Whosoever believes is out there.  Is one of them your son, your daughter, your grandchild?  Respond as we sing…

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (1995). (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version., Jn 18:36). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] ibid, Jn 18:28–38