Moment of Truth

Christ the King

My Kingdom is not from this world - John 18:36

Pilate is in a quandary. He knows there is something powerful about Jesus. Perhaps he has heard stories of what Jesus has done: turned water into wine (John 2); given a blind man sight (John 9); brought a dead man to life (John 11). Surely, Pilate knows Jesus has done something to put the religious authorities in turmoil.

Those authorities have brought Jesus to him, demanding Jesus' death. Pilate, however, cannot get to the bottom of their demands. And Jesus seems to have done nothing wrong, from what Pilate can see. So why all the anger?

Pilate goes to Jesus with his quandary. "Are you king of the Jews?" (John 18:33). Jesus wants to know if the question is Pilate's own. Pilate immediately gets defensive, saying that he cannot make any decisions about Jesus, given that he doesn't share Jesus' ethnic or religious heritage. From there the conversation takes a highly ironic turn. Jesus agrees that if Pilate says he is king, he is king. But Jesus is looking for a confession - not a verdict.

Jesus is looking to see if Pilate will recognize him as king in a way the world does not understand or see. Pilate's quandary becomes a moment of truth. On this Christ the King Sunday we end the church year, soon to begin another. We end the year with Pilate's question before us: Are you King? We have traveled through the story of Jesus, taking in his words and actions.

We have seen his birth and baptism, his death and resurrection. Now, this one who was put to death for being a king unlike any other beckons us. This humble, self-giving king - Christ crucified, Christ risen - invites hearts opened in faith. There can be no defense for this king; only trust. Only a moment of truth. Is Christ the ruler of our lives?

Moment of Truth

Christ the King

My Kingdom is not from this world - John 18:36

Pilate is in a quandary. He knows there is something powerful about Jesus. Perhaps he has heard stories of what Jesus has done: turned water into wine (John 2); given a blind man sight (John 9); brought a dead man to life (John 11). Surely, Pilate knows Jesus has done something to put the religious authorities in turmoil.

Those authorities have brought Jesus to him, demanding Jesus' death. Pilate, however, cannot get to the bottom of their demands. And Jesus seems to have done nothing wrong, from what Pilate can see. So why all the anger?

Pilate goes to Jesus with his quandary. "Are you king of the Jews?" (John 18:33). Jesus wants to know if the question is Pilate's own. Pilate immediately gets defensive, saying that he cannot make any decisions about Jesus, given that he doesn't share Jesus' ethnic or religious heritage. From there the conversation takes a highly ironic turn. Jesus agrees that if Pilate says he is king, he is king. But Jesus is looking for a confession - not a verdict.

Jesus is looking to see if Pilate will recognize him as king in a way the world does not understand or see. Pilate's quandary becomes a moment of truth. On this Christ the King Sunday we end the church year, soon to begin another. We end the year with Pilate's question before us: Are you King? We have traveled through the story of Jesus, taking in his words and actions.

We have seen his birth and baptism, his death and resurrection. Now, this one who was put to death for being a king unlike any other beckons us. This humble, self-giving king - Christ crucified, Christ risen - invites hearts opened in faith. There can be no defense for this king; only trust. Only a moment of truth. Is Christ the ruler of our lives?

Moment of Truth

Christ the King

My Kingdom is not from this world - John 18:36

Pilate is in a quandary. He knows there is something powerful about Jesus. Perhaps he has heard stories of what Jesus has done: turned water into wine (John 2); given a blind man sight (John 9); brought a dead man to life (John 11). Surely, Pilate knows Jesus has done something to put the religious authorities in turmoil.

Those authorities have brought Jesus to him, demanding Jesus' death. Pilate, however, cannot get to the bottom of their demands. And Jesus seems to have done nothing wrong, from what Pilate can see. So why all the anger?

Pilate goes to Jesus with his quandary. "Are you king of the Jews?" (John 18:33). Jesus wants to know if the question is Pilate's own. Pilate immediately gets defensive, saying that he cannot make any decisions about Jesus, given that he doesn't share Jesus' ethnic or religious heritage. From there the conversation takes a highly ironic turn. Jesus agrees that if Pilate says he is king, he is king. But Jesus is looking for a confession - not a verdict.

Jesus is looking to see if Pilate will recognize him as king in a way the world does not understand or see. Pilate's quandary becomes a moment of truth. On this Christ the King Sunday we end the church year, soon to begin another. We end the year with Pilate's question before us: Are you King? We have traveled through the story of Jesus, taking in his words and actions.

We have seen his birth and baptism, his death and resurrection. Now, this one who was put to death for being a king unlike any other beckons us. This humble, self-giving king - Christ crucified, Christ risen - invites hearts opened in faith. There can be no defense for this king; only trust. Only a moment of truth. Is Christ the ruler of our lives?