The Roman governor Pilate was part an earthly kingdom which he understood. Jesus spoke of a spiritual kingdom which confused Pilate. Their encounter was a clash of two kingdoms.
John 18: 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.
34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” [1]
Two Kingdoms and How They Clash
Our reading mentions the clash of two kingdoms. Those kingdoms are the kingdom of light (Jesus’s Kingdom) and the kingdom of darkness (satan’s kingdom). This isn’t something we think about every day. The Apostle Paul gives us more insight. Colossians 1:13 For he (God) has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. [2]
In our story, it is ironic that Jesus is a prisoner of Pilate. Pilate was not a believer and was held captive by spiritual darkness. It is Pilate who needs to be set free, not Jesus. Jesus, by His work on the cross, made it possible for us to transfer from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light. This happens as the Holy Spirit opens our hearts and we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The Daily Clash of Kingdoms
We only need to turn on the news and see what is going on in the world to begin to realize there is a battle between two Kingdoms as we see the ongoing battle between good and evil.
What Kingdom are you a part of? Are you part of Jesus’s Kingdom, which is the Kingdom of Light or do you sense you are being held captive by the kingdom of darkness? The good news is Jesus came to set the captives free. Luke 4:18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Jesus), for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free. [3]
Each person has a choice which Kingdom they want to be part of as the Lord gives us free will. It is my prayer that the Lord will open your heart, and you will respond to His call to be part of the Kingdom of Light. To hear more about the Kingdom of Light, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-pilate
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.