Presents
Pamphlet #4508
Jesus was King of Israel, not just of Judah.John 18:33
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
Note: If you do not know the difference between an Hebrew, an Israelite, a Judahite, and a Judean, then we suggest you obtain "The Abrahamic Covenant", by E. Raymond Capt, which is a good booklet for starters. We do have them available here at the Chapel. Just ask.
So Pilate has come back into the judgment hall after his "go 'round" with the Jews and called Jesus asking Him, "Are you King of the Jews?"
"Did you come up with that question on your own, Pilate, or have others suggested it to you?" Christ knew Pilate's question was incorrect.[34] Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
"What do I know", says Pilate, "Am I a Jew?" In other words he was not familiar with their religion. "Your own nation and chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done, anyway?"[35] Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Jesus assured Pilate that He was no threat to Rome or to Caesar. If He was then His servants would have fought and He would never have been delivered to that gang of reprobates. He did not come as King to reign at the first advent.[36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
"Those are your words Pilate."[37] Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.
Jesus is now going to tell Pilate why He was born.
Do you hear His voice? His voice is His word, and His word is truth. Remember?To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
And we also read in chapter 14 that Jesus is the truth:John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
So if ever you hear someone ask, "What is truth?", now you know the answer!John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Well lookie there! Someone just asked the question.[38] Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
I'll bet this going in and out of the judgment hall is getting to be pain in the you-know-what to Pilate!And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
There's also something else we should keep in mind as we read Pilate's words. His wife had a dream that troubled her greatly, because in that dream she was told, and obviously convincingly so, that Jesus was a just and innocent man. So she told her hubby Pilate not to have anything to do with the convicting of this innocent man. Here is the account in Matthew:
So with his wife's words ringing in his ears (yes, wive's words do clang in their husband's ears which is why men have trouble hearing everything they say) Pilate returns outside the hall and tells the Jews, "I find in him no fault at all."Matthew 27:19
When he [Pilate] was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
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Spirit, you accomplish both.
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