Matthew 4:17
[17] From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (ESV)
John 18:33–38
[33] So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [34] Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” [35] 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.” [37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” [38] Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. (ESV)
For Rome, there was only one source of truth/power/authority:
John 19:1–5
[1] Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. [2] And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. [3] They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. [4] Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” [5] So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” (ESV)
Jesus, although fully God, has His
John 19:6–8
[6] When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” [7] The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” [8] When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. (ESV
For the Jew, there was only one source of truth/power/authority:
Jesus, although fully human, is being condemned for daring to claim to be
John 19:9–11
[9] He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. [10] So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” [11] Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” (ESV)
At the end of the day, God’s Kingdom is both
Harvest Church has only one Creator/Lead Shepherd/Savior/Defender/Teacher:
What is your next step toward following King Jesus this today?
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Thank you, and may God richly bless you as you follow Jesus today!
A helpful Lent devotional you can access on the Bible YOUVERSION mobile app: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/18351-experiencing-jesus-together-through-lent