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1richardbsmith
John 18:33-37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”
Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”
Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
2richardbsmith
This exchange is difficult. Obviously different in tone and in content from the synoptic parallels. What image of Jesus is John portraying? What might does Jesus mean by saying, "my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews."?
Jesus declares his purpose - to testify to the truth.
What is his testimony about the truth? What is the truth about which he testifies?
Jesus declares his purpose - to testify to the truth.
What is his testimony about the truth? What is the truth about which he testifies?
3richardbsmith
This week's reading is from John, announcing the end of the Mark readings for Year B. The readings are appropriate for Christ the King Sunday, on the last Sunday of our church year.
The following Sunday will be a new year in the Anglican Church, the start of Advent, Year C.
How is Jesus the King? Is that an appropriate and effective image for us today?
The following Sunday will be a new year in the Anglican Church, the start of Advent, Year C.
How is Jesus the King? Is that an appropriate and effective image for us today?
4dinamo
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. KJV
The authority is always given to the King.
The authority is always given to the King.
6dinamo
What is his testimony about the truth? What is the truth about which he testifies?: I believe the truth is God, Jesus came to testify of God our Holy Father.
What image of Jesus is John portraying? The image of Jesus being from Heaven, of Heaven, of God, not a typical human as we are.
What image of Jesus is John portraying? The image of Jesus being from Heaven, of Heaven, of God, not a typical human as we are.
7dinamo
What might does Jesus mean by saying, "my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews."?
This one is more difficult. I have heard several theories, but the one that feels right to me is that Jesus was talking to the Romans. The pharisee's were considered the leaders of the Jews because they were a religious people. When talking to the Jews, Jesus called them pharisees but would he call them pharisee's when talking to the Roman's (people not familiar with the inner workings of Jewish culture) or would he simply say Jew's.
As to the fighting reference, if this were Jesus kingdom they would have had a war on their hands. The children of God (His followers) would have been fighting. I believe this is merely a statement that they were being allowed to do what they did. A statement that God was ultimately in control and they were all in a situation that was meant to happen.
This one is more difficult. I have heard several theories, but the one that feels right to me is that Jesus was talking to the Romans. The pharisee's were considered the leaders of the Jews because they were a religious people. When talking to the Jews, Jesus called them pharisees but would he call them pharisee's when talking to the Roman's (people not familiar with the inner workings of Jewish culture) or would he simply say Jew's.
As to the fighting reference, if this were Jesus kingdom they would have had a war on their hands. The children of God (His followers) would have been fighting. I believe this is merely a statement that they were being allowed to do what they did. A statement that God was ultimately in control and they were all in a situation that was meant to happen.
8richardbsmith
This verse about "my followers fighting" suggests to me that John looks to a spiritual world that has more significance. The true kingdom is "not of this world."
This line of thinking in John is always difficult for me - the distinction between this world and the other, earthly things and spiritual things.
The conclusion for me, leads to the teaching that the things of this world are not important, or Jesus' followers would fight for them.
It is not a theological lesson that I much like. Perhaps I am drawing the wrong inference from the verse and the passage. But what I read that the text is saying is that the cross was because this world is not ruled by Jesus.
This line of thinking in John is always difficult for me - the distinction between this world and the other, earthly things and spiritual things.
The conclusion for me, leads to the teaching that the things of this world are not important, or Jesus' followers would fight for them.
It is not a theological lesson that I much like. Perhaps I am drawing the wrong inference from the verse and the passage. But what I read that the text is saying is that the cross was because this world is not ruled by Jesus.
9dinamo
It is important to note, that Jesus conquered death at His ascension, not before, the cross was a means to gain His authority. However, I am inclined to agree, although Jesus has all authority over this earth now, He does not use it. The earth remains a playground for the prince of the air. He chooses instead to work through us.
10richardbsmith
That is a good approach perhaps, to see how John presents the impact of the cross. Does that change dominion on Earth, to the point that Jesus might have said, "my kingdom is not of this world" before the cross, and would take dominion after the cross.
Maybe we can look at the post Resurrection chapters in John to see if it is presented in that way.
Then we might look at confimation or evidence of Jesus' dominion in this world.
Maybe we can look at the post Resurrection chapters in John to see if it is presented in that way.
Then we might look at confimation or evidence of Jesus' dominion in this world.
