Dear Explorer,
Read John 18:33-37
Pilate decides to question Jesus privately since Jesus won't answer the charges of the Pharisees and Priests. So, Jesus goes into the Praetorium when Pilate calls Him, and they have a private conversation (or at least without the Pharisees and Priests).
What question does Pilate ask Jesus first?
What question does Jesus ask back?
That's a really great question. Did you see it? Pilate asked Jesus point blank, "Are you the King of the Jews?" You see, Pilate really believed that he, himself, was the 'king' of the Jews (Caesar was actually king, and Pilate was governor, but the Jewish territory was his domain directly under Caesar). So, he asked a good question. Who's in charge here? Who IS King?
Then Jesus responded by asking him essentially the same question. I think we could better understand it by looking at it this way. You may say, "Jesus is Lord or boss." And I would respond, “Are you saying that because you read it or heard it somewhere, or is that a personal relationship you are talking about?”
Many people who say that Jesus is Lord, are simply repeating what they have heard -- and not what they practice. We're told in Matthew 7:22-23 that there will be many who call him 'Lord' who do not practice it or believe it deep down where it counts. Yes, He IS Lord. But the question is, Is He your boss (Lord)?
So, Jesus probes Pilate a little deeper by asking that question. "Are you saying this because you believe it -- or is it just something you've heard?"
At that point Pilate becomes offended by the question (as do people who don't want to bow their knee to the Jesus) and evasive (as do people who don't want the focus to shift to them). He says, "I am not a Jew, am I?” I don't like the turn of this conversation, so let's change the subject. “What have you done to upset the Jews?"
But notice that Jesus refuses to change the subject. He very gently repeats to Pilate that He (Jesus) is King, but not of the Jews alone. He tells him that His kingdom is bigger than the Jewish kingdom. We don't know how Pilate stated the next question/statement -- "So you are a King?" I want to believe that the truth was beginning to sink in. Here was a King of greater rank. I want to believe that Pilate's heart and mind were being touched by Jesus. Jesus responded as if Pilate were seriously considering his Kingship/Lordship and affirmed to Pilate that He is King and Lord over all. He also assured Pilate that if he pursued truth, he would find it.
We don't know if Pilate ever considered his relationship with Jesus later. But we do know that even though he was having a private, personal interview with Jesus, he chose to ignore the question and go about his normal job.
What will you do with that question? If you have already invited Jesus into your life, the next question is, "Who is Lord or boss of your life?"
I believe that inviting Jesus into your life is a one-time decision. But I believe that surrendering our lives to Him and letting Him be boss of absolutely every aspect is a daily battle -- one that is constantly being fought.
In the meantime, Satan will do everything in his power to prevent our obedience. He wants us to worry and fret and obey SELF.
In John 10:27 we learned that those of us who are followers of Jesus (His sheep) will know and recognize His voice. As we obey what we hear and what we read from the Scripture (Bible), we are declaring that He is our Lord. If He is Lord, then we must obey His orders.
In His service, dale
Next study