WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A KING?

John 18:28-40

Jesus was "on trial before Pilot".• Jesus allowed himself to be

taken before Pilot to be "tried.“• He had been approved as a Lamb• He had been approved as righteous.• Now He is tested by government

– He tested Pilot’s sincerity in his quest for truth by asking

– “Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?” –v 34

He gave Pilot enough information to make a judgment"My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

Jesus allows each of us to `put Him on trial'

• He will test our sincerity.

• He will give the honest seeker evidence enough to make a judgment.

But eventually the tables turn.

• At the point where Pilot had evidence enough, – he found himself on

trial.

• The same thing happens to each of us.– We must each decide what

to do with Jesus.

DENIAL

One could deny that Jesus is a King

• We might claim to not believe in the Spiritual realm.

• We might pretend that this in an `unknowable'.

• We might plead that there is not enough `convincing information'. – But we can’t wash our hands

Denial is irresponsible

• It is a form of escape from the hard work of deciding.

• It serves as a mask for refusal.

TOLERANCE

One could allow Jesus to be a King of ‘His Kingdom’ while still remaining king of our

own kingdom. • Pilot could have let

Jesus rule the spiritual while ruling Judea.

• We can let Jesus rule the `spiritual' while we rule the `physical' of life.

Such a choice is not one of neutrality

• …it is a rejection of Christ’s rule.

Pilot washing his hands

SUBMISSION

The best alternative is that of submission.

• One can recognize who Jesus is and surrender to him in love and devotion. – the King of Love.– the Prince of Peace.– God come in flesh - Emanuel

• To surrender to Jesus is to loose nothing.– It is to step into harmony and to synchronize with

order. – It is the equipment for freedom, wisdom and

righteousness.

• We don’t have much -- He owns the universe.

Submission to the King of Kings results in:

• Better behavior, – because we are accountable to Him.

• Better work, – because we are stewards under him.

• Better decisions – because we are in harmony with Him, his

laws, principles, and purposes.

• Better Character – because we are transformed by grace.

Herod the Great reacted in denial.

• He had the right information

• But he chose to try to kill the Messiah.

Slaughter of the innocents

The Wise men from the east came in humility and Submission

• They came looking for the one who was to be King of the Jews – Mt 2:2.

• Wise men still recognize him as king as submit to Him.