I Came to Bear Witness to the Truth

Lesson #308

We ended the previous lesson with Pilate asking Jesus the question, “What have you done?” “Jesus answered, “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. But my kingdom is not from the world.”” (John 18:36 ESV). Jesus does not deny that he has a kingdom, but that kingdom is not of this world as is the Roman kingdom in which Pilot is a part of. His kingdom is not political, but as we will see in verse 37, his kingdom is a moral kingdom and relates to truth. That kingdom does extent into this world, but not in a way that makes him guilty before Pilot.

Jesus made it clear that if he were a king of an earthly kingdom, then his followers would have been fighting to protect him from being delivered over to the Jews. When Jesus “[perceived] . . . that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, [he] withdrew again to the mountain by himself” (John 6:15 ESV). Later “. . . they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”” (John 12:13 ESV). Peter tried to start a conflict by using his sword, cutting off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Whenever the people tried to force his hand, Jesus always maintained control and stayed focused on the cross.

“Then Pilate said to him, “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.”” (John 18:37 ESV). Since Jesus made it clear that he had a kingdom, Pilot then responds with, “So you are a king?” Jesus responds with an indirect yes. Jesus was born to be a king, but also to bear witness of the truth. That truth we are to also bear witness of and as we do people come to belief in Jesus and his kingdom grows. Jesus was born to be king and we are assigned the task of sharing the truth to provide him with a kingdom. Those who populate his kingdom are those of the truth who hear his voice and respond. Those of the truth are the ones the Father has chosen, whose names are recorded in the book of life.

“Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”” (John 18:38 ESV). I am sure that was said in jest because he did not wait for an answer as we will see in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, it was clear to Jesus that he knew why he came into our world. He was born to be a king and to bear witness of the truth. Father, we fall so far short in sharing the truth with others. We think more of ourselves and what we want to do and are not focused on the task of building a kingdom for our king. Jesus gave us the assignment in Matthew 28:19 – 20, known as the great commission. Paul also made it clear when he wrote: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (ESV). Father, I do not believe this is a very important priority in the western church. We are not very willing to sacrifice very much for this or risk possible harm to us if we stepped outside our boundary of safety and security. Father, have mercy on us, I pray.