Hope In the Heavenly Kingdom
“So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?’ 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.’” (John 18:33–36, ESV)
Election Week
It’s election week in the United States. Tension is building. Many are making their case for each candidate. Many are undecided or unenthusiastic about their voting decision. Many are voicing their concerns about what may happen after the election. When will the results be finalized? Will people riot in the streets? Will there be anarchy and rebellion? It can be unnerving.
Heavenly Kingdom vs Worldly Kingdom
As people wrestle with choosing a candidate, I’ve received a few questions about voting. The question usually goes something like this: Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world. Does that mean he wouldn’t have voted or that we shouldn’t vote? Does that mean we shouldn’t worry about earthly kingdoms?
Look At The Passage
In response to those questions, I want to take a moment to look at the passage. Remember, the Jews have brought Jesus to Pilate because they want him put to death. They don’t have the authority to put Jesus to death, but Pilate does.
So Pilate asks Jesus whether he is “King of the Jews.” This is an accusation the Jews are using to put Jesus to death. When Pilate tries to release Jesus, the Jews cry out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” (John 19:12, ESV). Since people have cried out to Jesus on Palm Sunday, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13, ESV). They argued that Jesus opposed Caesar, was not his friend, and deserved to die. So Pilate asks Jesus if this is true.
Jesus responds in his typical fashion. He denies the accusation on the one hand and affirms it on the other. When Pilate asks Jesus “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus responds by saying, “Are you saying that because you have evidence of this or because the Jews are accusing me of this?” He’s pointing out that it’s a ridiculous claim. Does he look like a king?
However, he doesn’t fully deny it either. He says, “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.” (John 18:36, ESV). At its core, Jesus is telling Pilate that he is a king, but not in the sense that Pilate understands. His kingdom is different than Caesar’s kingdom.
Different How?
With that in mind, take a moment to notice HOW Jesus’ kingdom is different. He says that if his kingdom was a worldly kingdom, his “servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered.” (John 18:36). If Jesus was the worldly King of the Jews, there would be war to protect/rescue their king, just like any other kingdom of the world. But there wasn’t a war because his kingdom is different.
Jesus is laying out an important principle. His kingdom operates differently than worldly kingdoms. He’s not saying that his kingdom has nothing to do with the world—otherwise he wouldn’t have told us to pray “your kingdom come…on earth” (Matthew 6:10). When Jesus says that his kingdom is not of this world, he is telling Pilate—and teaching us—that his kingdom advances differently than worldly kingdoms. It doesn’t advance through force and violence. It doesn’t advance through political power and authority.
How the Kingdom Comes
Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus has shown how his heavenly kingdom comes. In chapter three, as Jesus talks to Nicodemus, he says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3–5, ESV). How does Jesus’ heavenly kingdom come? It doesn’t come through force and violence. It doesn’t come through political power and authority. It comes through the preaching of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. His kingdom comes as people hear the truth of the Gospel and are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s how his kingdom comes. That’s why his followers didn’t fight and rebel when Jesus was crucified. Instead, they were sent out to all nations with the gospel.
Hope In the Heavenly Kingdom
This doesn’t mean we should ignore earthly kingdoms. Remember what I wrote a couple weeks ago, our hearts change the way we act. The gospel changes lives, changes actions, and changes societies—earthly kingdoms. (I’ll write about this more next week). This also doesn’t mean we shouldn’t vote or be involved in worldly politics. That’s not the point.
Here’s the point. Our ultimate hope does not lie in political power and authority. Our ultimate hope doesn’t come through force and power. Our hope does not rest on Donald Trump or Joe Biden being elected. Our hope does not rest on an earthly kingdom. Our hope rests in Jesus Christ and his heavenly kingdom that advances in this world through the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit.
No matter who is elected in 2020, our hope and calling remain the same. As God’s people in this world, we will continue to trust our TRUE king and fulfill his command to us: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV). And we will continue to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9–10, ESV).