The King on Trial

Sermon TextJohn 18:33-40 (ESV)33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"36 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."37 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."38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them,39 "I find no guilt in him.40 but you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"Cross-referencesMark 14:61b-64Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"62 And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, "Why do we still need witnesses?64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.Daniel 7:13-1413 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.Matthew 6:9-109 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Mark 1:14-1514 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."Matthew 12:2828 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.Acts 17:3030 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,Revelation 11:1515 The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.John 12:31-3231 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.Colossians 2:1515 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.Sermon NotesThe King is QuestionedPilate questions Jesus about his kingship (John 18:33-35)Jesus' identity affirmed in Daniel 7:13-14 and Mark 14:61b-64The King Defines His KingdomJesus explains that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36-37a)Teaching on kingdom prayer and kingdom arrival (Matthew 6:9-10, Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 12:28)The King Declares His MissionJesus' purpose: to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37b)The King is RejectedPilate questions what truth is (John 18:38a)Pilate releases the crowd and offers to release Jesus (John 18:38b-40)If Jesus is the True King...There is a kingdomWe are citizens of His kingdomThe King determines the missionAll others are pretenders to the throne (John 12:31-32, Colossians 2:15)