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.”
Early on, I learned that there is little to be gained by defending myself. It is my default position so wise mentors needed to tell me this. I learned hard lessons before it took. We want to be right. There is a saying that we judge the actions of others while we excuse the intentions of ourselves. Self-defense usually is a symptom of self-centeredness and pride. Humility lets them have their way. See Jesus here. He had the perfect defense. He is God. He also had perfect humility. He did not need to be proven right on earth. He has all of eternity for that in his kingdom.
I often say that I see no earthly clue what just happened. I usually mean I have no clue what is going on. Earthly clues and reputations matter little. There is a better knowledge, a better place, and a better way to see this life. C. S. Lewis called it Shadowlands. Jesus calls it the world. His kingdom is not of this world. Therefore, our reputations, our possessions, and our desires should not be of this world. Pilate saw earthly clues. We see the revelation of who Jesus is and what he came to earth to do. That is why we do not fight the way the world fights. We love…
Because he first loved us.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church