the e-Testament
John 18:33-37
Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?"
Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?"
Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?"
"My kingdom,' said Jesus, 'Doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king."
Then Pilate said, "So, are you a king or not?"
Jesus answered, "You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognises my voice.
Reflection
God,
Thank you for sending your Son down to the world so that He may witness to the truth and die for our sins. Help us to recognise the truth in His words, and to be able to pass that truth onto others around us.
Amen
Prayer
Jesus does not answer Pilate’s questions but instead questions him, the accused becomes the questioner and when Jesus answers he discusses not himself but his kingdom. He reminds us that he is not of this world but of God’s and is here for more than Pilate can ever imagine.
Truth is the topic of this discussion, with Jesus coming into this world to witness to the truth and to teach the truth to all those who would listen. He reminds us here that as Christians we are searching for the truth and in Jesus we find it, we ‘recognise his voice’ and know that all he says is true. With the truth we learn from Jesus we can go forward and tell all that we have learned to others so that they may also know the truth.
Emily Kenyon