John 18:33-40
My Kingdom Is Not of This World
Read the passage
33Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34“Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”
35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
36Jesus answered, “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 not of this realm.”
37“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
38“What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
39But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
40“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Pilate asks Jesus whether He is the King of the Jews. Jesus asks where the question comes from. Pilate points to the people and chief priests who handed Him over, then asks what He has done.
Jesus answers, “My kingdom is not of this world.” He explains that if it were, His servants would fight to prevent His arrest. His kingdom does not depend on the armed defense Pilate would expect from a rival ruler.
Jesus says He came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to His voice. Pilate asks, “What is truth?” and then goes outside. He announces that he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus.
Yet the innocent prisoner is not released. Pilate offers to release Him under the Passover custom, but the crowd demands Barabbas, an insurrectionist. The King whose followers are not fighting is rejected in favor of a man associated with rebellion.
Jesus stands before Pilate as a prisoner, but He still calls people to listen to Him. The question for those who hear His words reaches beyond whether they find Him interesting. Will they receive His testimony?
Questions
1 What does Jesus say about His kingdom?
AnswerHis kingdom is not of this world. If it were, His servants would fight to prevent His arrest.
2 Why does Jesus say He came into the world?
AnswerHe came to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to His voice.
3 Whom does the crowd ask Pilate to release after he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus?
AnswerThey ask for Barabbas instead of Jesus. John identifies Barabbas as an insurrectionist.
4 What is the difference between asking questions about Jesus and listening to His answer?
AnswerAsking can help us understand, but listening includes being willing to receive what He says. We can bring Him a real question and pay attention even when His words challenge what we want.
What This Means for Us
Jesus' words give us room to ask whether we are willing to be taught. We can discuss truth at length and still avoid a truth that would change our behavior. Pilate hears Jesus, declares Him innocent, and then puts His release to the crowd.
Choose a saying of Jesus from this reading and consider its claim on you. If His kingdom does not depend on force, that matters for the way we speak for Him. If those who belong to the truth hear His voice, we need to give His words more than a passing hearing.
A sincere question can begin that listening. Keep it open long enough to hear an answer from Scripture, instead of settling for whatever answer is easiest.
Prayer
Jesus, our King, help us hear Your voice. Give us patience with questions and willingness to receive Your answer. May our words and choices reflect the truth You came to make known. Amen.