[The following devotional is a part of our 2015 Easter Season Devotional Book “Passion Road.” We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between February 18 – April 5, 2014.]
My Kingdom is Not of This World by Jonathan Holmes
Read: John 18:33-40
Jesus was arrested in the garden, interrogated by the High Priest, and then presented to Pilate for questioning. Since the Jewish council did not have the legal jurisdiction during this time to exercise the death penalty over Jesus, the case has to be brought to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate had a private interview with Jesus and simply wants to know if He is attempting to lead an uprising against Rome. Jesus answers Pilate saying, “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…” Jesus wasn’t looking for victory over the Roman people. He came to defeat sin by crushing the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15) and defeating death.
Jesus didn’t come to setup a physical kingdom here on earth, rather He established the eternal spiritual Kingdom of God. Jesus affirmed pilate’s question, “So you are a king?” with a resounding yes! Jesus is King, but His kingly reign is not in a geographical location. Jesus is reigning King in people’s lives. You don’t become a citizen of the Kingdom of God by living somewhere or earning you set. King Jesus prepares a place for all who believe and trust in His name. Pilate was concerned that Jesus was building a physical kingdom, but Jesus responds saying, Yes I am a king, but my Kingdom is not of this world. Jesus didn’t come to defeat the Roman empire that was physically oppressing Israel. He came to defeat the power of sin and death that reigned over all people.
The Kingdom of God was established through the life, death, and resurrection of King Jesus. As we continue to move closer the Good Friday and Easter be reminded of the eternal Kingdom that you are welcomed in through the blood of King Jesus.
Questions:
•If you were to picture your heart as a throne, who/what is sitting on the throne? To discover this, ask yourself, who is controlling your life? What do you love most?
•Does it give you hope that Jesus provides the way to “crush the head” of sin and its effects in your life?
Prayers for Lent
•Thank the Father for the sending the Son to establish the Kingdom. Thank the Son for humbly sacrificing Himself for the Kingdom. Thank the Spirit for continuing the work of the Kingdom in your own life.
•Ask God to show you areas in your life where you resist His Kingship.