Ep 333 – John 18

As Americans, we don't know a whole lot about kings. Most of what we know we, we got from books or the movies. The United States has never had a king. Prior to the American Revolution, when we were still part of the British Empire, we were ruled by a king, but it has been over 250 years since the American colonies were subject to the reign of a sovereign ruler with unparalleled power and authority. So, when we read about Jesus being King, it is a bit more difficult for us to relate to just exactly what that title designates. But for those in Jesus' day, talk of kings and kingdoms was a part of everyday life. Kings were a normal part of the culture. And their kingdoms were a reflection of their power and the extent of their sovereign reach. The Jews in 1st-Century Judea, were looking for a king, and had been for some time. They had been told by their fathers and grandfathers that a Messiah or ruler was going to come. He would be a descendant of King David and would rule on David's throne, reestablishing the Davidic dynasty and returning Israel to a place of power and prominence in the world. But Jesus, the descendant of David, came to be a different kind of King with a different kind of Kingdom. And while there is a day coming when Jesus will rule and reign from Jerusalem, His current kingdom is of a spiritual nature, and its citizens are those who have submitted to His lordship over their lives, and patiently await His return.