John 18:33-37 — Kingdom of Truth — Aneel Aranha

Hello and welcome to the Bite-Sized Gospel. Today, we will reflect on John 18:33-37. Listen.

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

In this passage, we see a profound exchange between Jesus and Pilate. Pilate, trying to understand the charges against Jesus, asks him directly, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 

Jesus responds with a question of his own, probing the source of Pilate's information. Is this Pilate's own idea, or has he been influenced by others? Pilate deflects the question, pointing out that it's Jesus' own people and religious leaders who have handed him over.

Then Pilate asks a crucial question: "What is it you have done?" He's trying to get to the bottom of the matter, to understand what Jesus has done to warrant this treatment.

Jesus' response is profound. He speaks of his kingdom, but not in the way Pilate would have understood. "My kingdom is not of this world," Jesus says. If it were an earthly kingdom, his followers would have fought to prevent his arrest. But Jesus' kingdom is from another place.

Pilate latches onto this. "You are a king, then!" he exclaims. In the Roman Empire, claiming to be a king was a serious matter. It could be seen as a challenge to Caesar's authority.

But Jesus clarifies the nature of his kingship. He has come into the world to testify to the truth. His kingdom is a kingdom of truth, and everyone who is on the side of truth listens to him.

This is a powerful statement. In a world of political maneuvering, of power plays and hidden agendas, Jesus stands for truth. His kingdom is not about earthly power or dominion, but about the truth of who God is and what he has done for humanity.

As we reflect on this passage, we are challenged to consider our own allegiance. Do we belong to the kingdom of truth? Are we listeners of Jesus, aligning our lives with his truth?

May we be people of the truth, citizens of the kingdom that is not of this world. 

God bless you.