Pilate carefully questioned Jesus. He wanted to understand the truth behind the accusations. Not being a Jew and acquainted with the Jewish people or their religion and practises did not help. So, he asked Jesus, “What is it you have done?”
Indeed, what had Jesus done?
Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God among God’s people, but they were bent on following and bowing to the kingdoms of this world—the political, economic, and even spiritual kingdoms. They looked past and forsook the kingdom and kingship God had always held out to them.
God, in Jesus, wanted to love them, rule over them and provide for them, but they refused to see, understand or accept this. They were blind to Jesus’
miraculous works of proving God’s power and love. They were deaf to Jesus’ teaching on the love of the Father and the ways of God’s Kingdom.
Are we any different today?
We are called not only to see and recognise God’s Kingdom among us but to work to gradually and systematically bring that kingdom into being more and more—a kingdom of righteousness, joy and peace. Christians
today can so easily overlook this and continue to bow to and work for the kingdoms of this world. No wonder there is so much strife, suffering and war among us.
What brings stress, unhappiness and disharmony in your life?
Are you truly working to bring about the rule of the Kingdom of Jesus in your life, home, workplace, and country?
Spend some time in prayer
and ask Jesus to show you how following him can bring more joy and peace into God’s Kingdom and your life.
Reflections by Reggie Venter
