John 18:33-40
33 So Pilate entered his 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, “I find no guilt in him. 39 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?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Reflection
When Jesus declared, “My kingdom is not of this world” (v. 36), he wasn’t implying that his kingdom has no implications for our lives in the world we now live in. Nothing could be further from the truth. Christ’s kingdom is already breaking into this world as the Holy Spirit transforms hearts through the preaching of the gospel of grace. Christ’s reign is established whenever sinners believe in Jesus and turn from sin in surrender to his rule over their lives (cf. Rom. 6:17; 16:25–27). The greatest evidence of the kingdom’s presence is a transformed life that bears the fruit of God’s Spirit (Gal. 5:22–24). This is the best indication that our old loyalties have come to an end, and a new Master now sits on the throne of our hearts (Rom. 6:22).
Jesus’ point here is that his kingdom does not consist of the sinful mentalities and temporary institutions of this world. If it did, then his disciples would simply adopt the world’s human-centered mind-set and seize the structures of society in order to establish Christ’s reign on the earth (John 18:36). Instead, Christ’s kingdom breaks into the present age when he miraculously transforms our lives by using the gospel to overthrow the power and practice of sin so that we increasingly love God and our neighbors. He has come to make all things new —a restoration that has already begun within us (2 Cor. 5:17).
James 5:7-12
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Reflection
For now, believers must be patient through suffering and trial, knowing that “the coming of the Lord” is near (v. 8). The Judge will soon deal with the proud and ungodly, but we actually long for that day since God has been “compassionate and merciful” (v. 11) to us. The gracious promise of our rescue keeps us from grumbling, judgmentalism, and surrender to our ungodly desires.
Psalm 97:1
97: The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
Do not expect the kingdom of God to appear in the form of social restoration, but rather in the form of human transformation. Pray for those who are not disciples of Jesus, and ask God to bring them under the reign of Christ through the gospel.