Lenten Midweek 3 March 19, 2025
“What Kind of King Is This?” John 18:28-40
Curt Engle Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
A few years ago, a Christian brother was giving me an update on a church member’s heath. He told me that my friend Hal was hooked up to machines at the hospital and had declined to the point of zero brain activity. “He is no longer of this world,” he said. That phrase “He is no longer of this world” stuck with me. And when I studied this text in John 18, it made me ponder that phrase once again. Do we have to wait until we close our eyes for the last time to be classified as “not of this world” and be a part of Jesus’ kingdom?
First, let me tell you what kind of king Jesus is:
Our story starts when the high priest accused Jesus through the night and the Sanhedrin convicted him of blasphemy. But when these Jewish authorities bring him before Pilate the next morning, in our text, the conversation shifts. Their best chance with Pilate can’t be religious charges, such as Jesus claiming to be the Messiah, but to frame Jesus as a political rebel, someone trying to claim the throne. In Rome, there can only be one king and one lord, Caesar, and anyone claiming to be a king is a threat to Caesar and an enemy of Rome.
Anyway, it’s difficult to imagine that Pilate took these accusations of Jesus being a political rebel seriously because he asks, “Are you king of the Jews?” (v 33).
Jesus’ answer explains to Pilate and us how he is a King like no other, with a kingdom like no other. He first explains what his kingdom is not and then what his Kingdom is.
“My Kingdom is not of this world” (v 36a). Jesus is not an earthly king with an earthly kingdom. He does not have servants or soldiers to fight for him. He is not interested in overthrowing Caesar, or Pilate, or any other earthly king. That’s not how his kingdom works.
In fact, he is not interested in his own glory, success, or even his life. “If my Kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered to the Jews” (v 36b). But Jesus had commanded Peter to put away his sword. He had gone willingly to the Sanhedrin. He submits to the Roman governor.
This is difficult. It was difficult for the disciples, who were waiting for Jesus to overthrow the Romans and set up his kingdom there in Jerusalem. And it is difficult for us, who are waiting for Jesus to fix things up for us in this life. We would love for Jesus to be our president, or our governor, or at least the mayor, to get things fixed up in the political realm, to bring some peace and order and a bit of justice for the oppressed, especially for his people. We would love for Jesus to make life easier with a little more direct political involvement. But he is not that kind of king with that kind of kingdom.
Now, we know that Jesus governs all things in this world, and specifically we rejoice that he rules all things for the sake of his Body, the Church. (See Ephesians 1:22-23). But this rule is a hidden rule, and it is often hidden under suffering and the cross. Christians are not promised success, prosperity, health, and earthly peace. Quite the opposite. “In the world you will have tribulation.” That’s what Jesus says. But then he adds, “But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
When Jesus says to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” He trains our hearts not to look to this world for lasting peace and life but to set our hearts on his unworldly Kingdom. His kingdom is different, without physical borders, without physical soldiers and armies and weapons, without earthly glory . What does his Kingdom have?
Jesus answers this question when Pilate asks, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (v 37). This is what Jesus’ Kingdom has: truth. This is what his Kingdom is. Jesus’ kingdom is the kingdom of truth.
Pilate balks, “What is truth?”(v 38). This cynical scornful response is intended to end the discussion. Pilate is clueless. He doesn’t follow Jesus, so he doesn’t follow what Jesus is talking about.
But where this pagan governor is filled with scorn, we are filled with faith. We know this King, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life. His Kingdom is not built on power but on truth. It does not conquer by war but by preaching. His sword is not of iron but of the Word. And we enter his Kingdom not by submission but by faith in his truth.
“The truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Thank God we have His Holy Spirit to understand these words. Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand what his truth was until after they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus told them, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16: 12).
Here are His truths: Jesus does not come to conquer us but to die for us.
He does not call us to take up arms and fight for him. Rather, he suffers for us, and in this suffering, he defeats our enemies and forgives our sins.
His kingdom comes with the truth of the Gospel.
His kingdom comes with the promise of sins forgiven.
His kingdom comes when the Holy Spirit presses into our ears and hearts the undeserved kindness of God.
His kingdom comes with a smile of the heavenly Father, with the friendship of our Lord Jesus, with the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. His kingdom comes when we are baptized, when we eat and drink his body and blood, when we hear the royal proclamation that our sins are pardoned.
What kind of king is this? The kind who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for you. This kingdom, and this King, are not of this world.
He is the kind of king that has prepared a place for you in heaven, where you will dwell with Him forever, because of nothing more than your faith in Him (John 14:1-2).
He is the kind of king who is the King of the living and the dead.
He is the kind of king that set my friend Hal free from this world, not just staring at his death, but he had been set free since His baptism and his knowledge of this truth. And now he is in a better world where Christ is with him.
He is the kind of king that doesn’t look at the sinful things that you’ve done in this world when it comes to your salvation. This King looks at the thing that is His: your very soul, made in His image, redeemed by His life, death and resurrection.
Jesus is the Heavenly King with a Heavenly Kingdom, and you are in it! Amen
This sermon is part of a sermon series by Bryan Wolfmueller.
