The Truth (John 18:33-40)

 

The Truth (John 18:33-40)

 

Christ Enthroned
Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano (c. 1459 – c. 1517)
Venice, Italy

Why did the king go to the dentist? To get his crown checked.

 

What is a king’s favorite kind of weather. Reign

 

Happy Christ the King Sunday! On this day we reflect on the reign of Jesus as King. But exactly how is Jesus King and what does that mean for our lives?

 

Our reading from John 18 is during Jesus’ hearing before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

 

Pilate asked Jesus 3 questions.

 

1)   Are you the King of the Jews?

2)   What have you done?

3)   What is truth?

 

Jesus answers with vague indirect responses. That’s on purpose, because John paints a picture of Jesus as the mysterious one descended from heaven.

 

Pilate views Jesus as an upstart looking to usurp Herod Antipas as ruler over the Jews. It doesn’t occur to him that Jesus might be king in a much more profound way.

 

We don’t live in a monarchy. It’s difficult to understand what it’s like to live for a king. Citizens under a monarchy embrace the idea that God has placed the king upon the throne.

 

 

 

 

 

The apostle Paul wrote,

 

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God… (Rom 13:1-2a)

 

Citizens of the king grow food for his coffers, give taxes to his treasury, and serve in his military. From the benevolence of the king, the nation hopes to prosper. It is prudent to pray for the king’s health and prosperity, for it meant the same for all.

 

Consider Psalm 20, a prayer for the king of Israel.

 

   May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble;

May he send you help from his temple;

   May he take notice of all your offerings;

May he grant your heart’s desire;

   may he bring all your plans to pass.

Then we will shout for joy over your victory;

   we will rejoice in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

   Now I am sure that the Lord will deliver his chosen king

 

Pilate asks Jesus if he is King of the Jews.

 

Jesus has all kinds of titles. In John, Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. He is the only begotten of God. John the Baptist calls Jesus the Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. When Jesus met Nathanael, He reveals that He saw him praying privately under a fig tree. Awe-struck, Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, the King of Israel!”

 

 

The only other time that Jesus is called king is on Palm Sunday when crowds hail him as the King of Israel! So how exactly is Jesus king?

 

The psalms call the king, God’s anointed, and a son of God. Psalm 2 says,

 

The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart…

 

He who sits in the heavens laughs;

 

“I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.

 

Jesus is king, the Son of God, as God’s anointed. But he is not simply any man given sonship through divine appointment. He is God’s only begotten, the actual offspring of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born by the virgin Mary.

 

Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man. This is a messianic title that comes from the prophet Daniel.

 

“I was watching in the night visions,
And with the clouds of the sky
one like a son of man was approaching.
He went up to the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.
All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him.
His authority is eternal and will not pass away.
His kingdom will not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13-14)

 

 

Jesus, the Son of Man, is given an eternal kingdom. It is a kingdom above this world that impacts this world, but not everyone belongs to it. Only those who belong to the truth heed the voice of the Son of Man, as their king.

 

Jesus often referred to His personal connection to God the Father, speaking of the Son in third person.

 

John 5:19-23 says, “the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. ²² Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, ²³ so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

 

From this passage, we learn that King Jesus has authority from God to give life, raise the dead, and judge with justice.

 

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. They have passed over from death to life.” (Jn 5:24) That means our lives are no longer ruled by fear of death, but are empowered by trust in the dominion of King Jesus!

 

Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate says, “So you are a king!” Jesus responds by saying he was born for one purpose, to witness to the truth.

 

The Greek word translated as witness is martyreo, which is where we get the word martyr.

 

Jesus came to proclaim the truth, to live as a witness to truth, and to ultimately die for the truth, so that the whole world might know the truth: God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

 

Truth is another major topic in John’s gospel. In the opening of the gospel, John wrote,

 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Moses gave the law, but Jesus brought us grace and truth.

 

In the Upper Room, Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)

 

Pilate’s last question to Jesus was, “What is truth?” He didn’t even wait for an answer but walked out. It feels like cynicism. But for us who have heard Jesus say, “I am… the truth,” the question feels ironic! Truth is standing right in front of him. Truth is embodied in the person of Jesus.

 

I served a teen spiritual retreat weekend in which we collected questions from the participants written on index cards. One of the questions felt cynical. “If Jesus is the answer, what’s the question?” I shuffled through the rest of the cards and found one that seemed an appropriate response, “What is the meaning of my life?” Jesus is the answer to life’s search for meaning and purpose.

 

Those who belong to the truth, listen to King Jesus and heed His voice. But you have to choose who will sit upon the throne of your heart.

 

 

 

Pilate offered to let Jesus go free as a customary act of benevolence during Passover. But the crowd chose Barabbas, a thief. Again, there is irony in the story. Barabbas means son of father.  Whereas the truth is Jesus is the Son of the Father!

 

Pilate again tries to free Jesus. “Shall I crucify your king?” And the crowd yelled, “We have no king but Caesar.” It's shocking for Jews to choose Caesar as king. God was always meant to be Israel’s king. When Israel wanted a king chosen to rule over them, God told the prophet Samuel,

 

“it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” (1Sa 8:7b)

 

Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the first and last, the beginning and the end. He holds the keys to Hades and Death, and He offers victory over the grave to all who will trust in Him.

 

Take a moment and visualize the throne in your heart. Who is seated there? Is it a politician, a musician, an actor, a family member? Who is truly leading your life? Is it fear, anger or sadness? Is it self-defeating criticism or narcissistic crowing? Does your heart belong to the truth that God loves you and sent Jesus to die for you? Or have you placed yourself on the throne?

 

When I am upset by life’s disappointments, I can throw a fit like a toddler! And in that moment, I have to remind myself who belongs on the throne in my heart. It’s not me. I need to get off that high horse, step aside and acknowledge Jesus as King. And there is great freedom in that life-saving choice. It is a true blessing to happily serve the true king. May the name of King Jesus be forever blessed.