John 18:33 Then Pilate (the Roman governor of Judea) entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus (who had been taken prisoner), and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
V.36 declares an important truth about Jesus. He was NOT one to rule in the fashion of an earthly king – though his followers had hoped he would. Shortly after this exchange with Pilate, Jesus was crucified. No doubt his fellow Jews were devastated in their disappointment and heartbreak. Of course, we know what the people in this story did not. Jesus came, not to rule over an earthly kingdom, but to express the love of God the Father via Jesus the Son…and to die and rise again – taking the punishment of our sins on the cross and giving to us his righteousness by faith.
I believe this sort of disconnect between who people WANT Jesus to be and who he actually is continues. We pray in Jesus’ name for the sick to be healed. Sometimes they are healed, which is wonderful. But many times they are not healed and we are disappointed. We pray for Jesus to remedy the wrongs in this world, but too often injustice continues despite our prayers. We pray for peace in Jesus’ name, yet violence continues. We pray for others to know the love and saving power of Jesus, and yet Jesus is ignored.
We want Jesus to execute healing and justice and peace and salvation for all people in this world right now… two thoughts in this regard:
- Just because Jesus doesn’t appear to do what we ask, when we ask, doesn’t mean we should give up. The bible is clear we believers must be prepared to ask again and again.
- The day is coming when Jesus returns to reign over the whole world, bringing healing, wholeness, peace, justice, plenty to our world for eternity. In that day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!
Come Lord Jesus. Come. Amen.
Fuel for the journey 
Dear Pastor Ernie, so true to keep asking God for His healing, peace, comfort, His strength and power. I think healing often times may not be on this side of heaven but in heaven.
V36 gets me, but for a different reason. We are of this world, and we don’t fight for Jesus. Instead, so many have become pacifists in waiting for fear of being cancelled by the mob. How many times do we need to hear the rooster crow to realize what time it is?