"My Kingdom Is Not Of This World!" John 18:36,37
Series: The Lord's Prayer In The Light of Christ's Passion
February 28, 2024
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Midweek Lenten Vespers 2 28-February-2024 Lenten Theme: “The Lord’s Prayer In The Light of Christ’s Passion!” Sermon Text: John 18:36-37 Sermon Theme: “My Kingdom Is Not Of This World!”I. We Can’t Make God’s Kingdom Come! II. God’s Kingdom Comes As His Gift Now! III. God’s Kingdom Sustains As His Gift Not Yet! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Midweek Lenten Vespers 2 28-February-2024
Lenten Theme: “The Lord’s Prayer In The Light of Christ’s Passion!”
Sermon Text: John 18:36-37
Sermon Theme: “My Kingdom Is Not Of This World!”I. We Can’t Make God’s Kingdom Come! II. God’s Kingdom Comes As His Gift Now! III. God’s Kingdom Sustains As His Gift Not Yet! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. We want to be king! We want the power to call the shots - to have things our way. After a quick trial the High Priest and the mob brought Jesus to Pilate. History records, Luk 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." Rome’s sentence for insurrection was death. Pilate would have to execute Jesus if He had indeed forbade paying taxes and sought to overthrow Caesar’s rule.
Rebellion against authority is the story line of many movies, novels, and video games. It is popular to imagine that all authority is evil and must be rejected and overthrown. It is part of the lie that Satan trapped our first parents with - God’s Word isn’t enough - it’s not clear enough - He doesn’t really care - you have to seize what you want - take the power - interpret God’s Word according to your thinking, feeling, sight, and desires - in short become king - be your own god.
“Are You the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked Jesus. The eternally only begotten Son of the Father is on trial. He is the King of Creation, but humbly He testifies: “My Kingdom Is Not Of This World!” Learn from King Jesus to pray: “Our Father, Thy Kingdom Come on earth as it is in heaven!” I. We Can’t Make God’s Kingdom Come! II. God’s Kingdom Comes As His Gift Now! III. God’s Kingdom Sustains As His Gift Not Yet!
I. Pilate seeks to uphold the rule of law. He takes Jesus away from His accusers to hear Him. History records, Joh 18:33-35 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" (34) Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?" (35) Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" What had Jesus done to be rejected by His nation and delivered to Pilate for execution? He had preached the good news of the Father’s reconciling love for sinners. He breathed forth the Holy Spirit comforting and renewing brokenhearted sinners. He had released those captive to demons, disease, death, blindness, deafness, and sin - freeing them to live a new life in Him. He fed 5,000 with five loaves and two small fish. He fed 4,000 with seven loaves and a few small fish. Which of these good works deserved His death?
Jesus breathes His Word through us to Our heavenly Father by the Holy Spirit. (LSB. Pg.324, 2nd Pet. L.P.W.D.T.M?) God’s kingdom certainly comes by itself! Do you believe this? It isn’t Americanized religion. Satan has duped us into marketing the church. Like selling cookies or popcorn for scouting, hawking candy bars for band - we think God’s kingdom depends on our salesmanship. We see people packing a building and assume it is a church, then we want to mimic its leadership.
God’s kingdom comes by itself, without our marketing, without even our prayers.
Our ego tanks - we thought we were building God’s kingdom - all the time it comes by itself. Why stone King Jesus? The day before they wanted to make Him their Bread King. The next day the 15,000 leave Him - only 12 remain. Why? He said hard things. His flesh was food. His blood was drink. No one could come to Him unless the Father drew him. No one could have life without eating His body and drinking His blood. The work of God was faith - to believe in Jesus whom He had sent! Listen! Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world.” For what good work did the Jews want Jesus dead? Joh 10:33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." God’s kingdom comes from outside of your heart, your prayer, your desire, your good works, your feelings, your experiences. It isn’t of this world! We must cry to our Father in Heaven to let His kingdom come to us - here and now where we are in this world.
II. If King Jesus desired a worldly rule - He could’ve established an earthly kingdom with His holy angel armies on the night of His birth. Why bother with growing up? He could’ve fallen down before Satan and had all the kingdoms of this world. Why bother with poverty, betrayal, suffering, thorns, crucifixion, death? Our fallen flesh - the old adam in us - loves to look for the easy way out only to be mired deeper and deeper in sin.
Jesus testifies to Pilate, Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Christ’s kingdom isn’t from below - an earthly kingdom that soon passes away. His kingdom is from above - from the Father of Light in Whom is no variation or shadow of turning - a heavenly eternal kingdom that will never fade away. (LSB pg. 324. 2nd Pet. H.D.G.K.C?) God Kingdom comes in the King Jesus. He doesn’t raise up an army to fight for Him. He alone fights for His Kingdom. He comes to be their Champion, shouldering their sin - baptized - He alone enters into battle with Satan in the wilderness to win them the victory. The Innocent King takes our guilt upon Himself with all its just accusation of the Law - He becomes the guilty One for us sinners. The King of Life - swallows the bitter cup of our death - lays down His life for us that He might forever rescue us from death and the devil.
God the Father’s Kingdom in His Son by the Holy Spirit is pure gift. God the Father gives us His Holy Spirit through the promise of Christ preached. The Holy Spirit through the Father’s Word gifts us with faith in Jesus as our Savior King. We believe the Father’s Holy Word made flesh for us - gifting us with forgiveness, life, salvation - birthing us into His Kingdom in Holy Baptism. The Kingdom of God comes to you now - that is why you are here! He choose you as His own in Jesus from eternity. He called you by name and birthed you from above in Holy Baptism. You have eternal life, God’s kingdom is your now (here in time)....but not yet.
III. The Kingdom of God has come to you now in Jesus by the Holy Spirit through His Word. The Kingdom of God is coming to you in Jesus coming in the Father’s glory by the promise of the Spirit soon! This is the true paradoxical reality of God’s Kingdom! Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."(LSB pg. 324. 2nd Pet. H.D.G.K.C?)
We are in God’s Kingdom. We hear Jesus’ preaching His Word in His Church - the Kingdom of Grace. God the Holy Spirit opens our ears to hear and believe. We live godly lives by faith in Jesus. We hear and speak the Truth - speak Jesus to the world around us. Forgiven, redeemed, restored as the Father’s beloved children born from above - we live as God’s children in humble loving care for each other - even our enemies. Our life’s of love don’t make us God’s children, but because we are born into His kingdom - we love - run in the path of God’s Holy Ten Commandments. Here we have no continuing city - our home is still ahead of us. Loving our neighbor we speak Jesus’ Word to her and trust the Father will give the Holy Spirit when and where He pleases to add her to His Church.
Imagine going on a camping trip. The first day is pleasant and sunny. Then it begins to rain, and rain, and rain - soon all is afloat. Food is soggy, tempers flare, you long to get home again. What if just before your camping trip you had adopted a young boy into your family. All he saw so far is that you lived in a tent and now things were getting soggy. Wouldn’t you tell him, this isn’t our home, it is only temporary. Soon, soon, we’ll pack up and go home - our dry rooms, comfy beds, full fridge will be waiting for us. Knowing that reality the little boy might say, “If that is how we will live at home...let’s start practicing it now...forgiving one another...encouraging one another...looking forward to our mansion that is ours in our Father!
We are citizens of Heaven. Your home is reserved in heaven, it is imperishable - it never fades away. It is yours “now” but “not yet” so we pray Father, Thy Kingdom Come! Even so, Come Lord Jesus! Come and bring us all home! Amen.
Lenten Theme: “The Lord’s Prayer In The Light of Christ’s Passion!”
Sermon Text: John 18:36-37
Sermon Theme: “My Kingdom Is Not Of This World!”I. We Can’t Make God’s Kingdom Come! II. God’s Kingdom Comes As His Gift Now! III. God’s Kingdom Sustains As His Gift Not Yet! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. We want to be king! We want the power to call the shots - to have things our way. After a quick trial the High Priest and the mob brought Jesus to Pilate. History records, Luk 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." Rome’s sentence for insurrection was death. Pilate would have to execute Jesus if He had indeed forbade paying taxes and sought to overthrow Caesar’s rule.
Rebellion against authority is the story line of many movies, novels, and video games. It is popular to imagine that all authority is evil and must be rejected and overthrown. It is part of the lie that Satan trapped our first parents with - God’s Word isn’t enough - it’s not clear enough - He doesn’t really care - you have to seize what you want - take the power - interpret God’s Word according to your thinking, feeling, sight, and desires - in short become king - be your own god.
“Are You the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked Jesus. The eternally only begotten Son of the Father is on trial. He is the King of Creation, but humbly He testifies: “My Kingdom Is Not Of This World!” Learn from King Jesus to pray: “Our Father, Thy Kingdom Come on earth as it is in heaven!” I. We Can’t Make God’s Kingdom Come! II. God’s Kingdom Comes As His Gift Now! III. God’s Kingdom Sustains As His Gift Not Yet!
I. Pilate seeks to uphold the rule of law. He takes Jesus away from His accusers to hear Him. History records, Joh 18:33-35 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" (34) Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?" (35) Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" What had Jesus done to be rejected by His nation and delivered to Pilate for execution? He had preached the good news of the Father’s reconciling love for sinners. He breathed forth the Holy Spirit comforting and renewing brokenhearted sinners. He had released those captive to demons, disease, death, blindness, deafness, and sin - freeing them to live a new life in Him. He fed 5,000 with five loaves and two small fish. He fed 4,000 with seven loaves and a few small fish. Which of these good works deserved His death?
Jesus breathes His Word through us to Our heavenly Father by the Holy Spirit. (LSB. Pg.324, 2nd Pet. L.P.W.D.T.M?) God’s kingdom certainly comes by itself! Do you believe this? It isn’t Americanized religion. Satan has duped us into marketing the church. Like selling cookies or popcorn for scouting, hawking candy bars for band - we think God’s kingdom depends on our salesmanship. We see people packing a building and assume it is a church, then we want to mimic its leadership.
God’s kingdom comes by itself, without our marketing, without even our prayers.
Our ego tanks - we thought we were building God’s kingdom - all the time it comes by itself. Why stone King Jesus? The day before they wanted to make Him their Bread King. The next day the 15,000 leave Him - only 12 remain. Why? He said hard things. His flesh was food. His blood was drink. No one could come to Him unless the Father drew him. No one could have life without eating His body and drinking His blood. The work of God was faith - to believe in Jesus whom He had sent! Listen! Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world.” For what good work did the Jews want Jesus dead? Joh 10:33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." God’s kingdom comes from outside of your heart, your prayer, your desire, your good works, your feelings, your experiences. It isn’t of this world! We must cry to our Father in Heaven to let His kingdom come to us - here and now where we are in this world.
II. If King Jesus desired a worldly rule - He could’ve established an earthly kingdom with His holy angel armies on the night of His birth. Why bother with growing up? He could’ve fallen down before Satan and had all the kingdoms of this world. Why bother with poverty, betrayal, suffering, thorns, crucifixion, death? Our fallen flesh - the old adam in us - loves to look for the easy way out only to be mired deeper and deeper in sin.
Jesus testifies to Pilate, Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Christ’s kingdom isn’t from below - an earthly kingdom that soon passes away. His kingdom is from above - from the Father of Light in Whom is no variation or shadow of turning - a heavenly eternal kingdom that will never fade away. (LSB pg. 324. 2nd Pet. H.D.G.K.C?) God Kingdom comes in the King Jesus. He doesn’t raise up an army to fight for Him. He alone fights for His Kingdom. He comes to be their Champion, shouldering their sin - baptized - He alone enters into battle with Satan in the wilderness to win them the victory. The Innocent King takes our guilt upon Himself with all its just accusation of the Law - He becomes the guilty One for us sinners. The King of Life - swallows the bitter cup of our death - lays down His life for us that He might forever rescue us from death and the devil.
God the Father’s Kingdom in His Son by the Holy Spirit is pure gift. God the Father gives us His Holy Spirit through the promise of Christ preached. The Holy Spirit through the Father’s Word gifts us with faith in Jesus as our Savior King. We believe the Father’s Holy Word made flesh for us - gifting us with forgiveness, life, salvation - birthing us into His Kingdom in Holy Baptism. The Kingdom of God comes to you now - that is why you are here! He choose you as His own in Jesus from eternity. He called you by name and birthed you from above in Holy Baptism. You have eternal life, God’s kingdom is your now (here in time)....but not yet.
III. The Kingdom of God has come to you now in Jesus by the Holy Spirit through His Word. The Kingdom of God is coming to you in Jesus coming in the Father’s glory by the promise of the Spirit soon! This is the true paradoxical reality of God’s Kingdom! Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."(LSB pg. 324. 2nd Pet. H.D.G.K.C?)
We are in God’s Kingdom. We hear Jesus’ preaching His Word in His Church - the Kingdom of Grace. God the Holy Spirit opens our ears to hear and believe. We live godly lives by faith in Jesus. We hear and speak the Truth - speak Jesus to the world around us. Forgiven, redeemed, restored as the Father’s beloved children born from above - we live as God’s children in humble loving care for each other - even our enemies. Our life’s of love don’t make us God’s children, but because we are born into His kingdom - we love - run in the path of God’s Holy Ten Commandments. Here we have no continuing city - our home is still ahead of us. Loving our neighbor we speak Jesus’ Word to her and trust the Father will give the Holy Spirit when and where He pleases to add her to His Church.
Imagine going on a camping trip. The first day is pleasant and sunny. Then it begins to rain, and rain, and rain - soon all is afloat. Food is soggy, tempers flare, you long to get home again. What if just before your camping trip you had adopted a young boy into your family. All he saw so far is that you lived in a tent and now things were getting soggy. Wouldn’t you tell him, this isn’t our home, it is only temporary. Soon, soon, we’ll pack up and go home - our dry rooms, comfy beds, full fridge will be waiting for us. Knowing that reality the little boy might say, “If that is how we will live at home...let’s start practicing it now...forgiving one another...encouraging one another...looking forward to our mansion that is ours in our Father!
We are citizens of Heaven. Your home is reserved in heaven, it is imperishable - it never fades away. It is yours “now” but “not yet” so we pray Father, Thy Kingdom Come! Even so, Come Lord Jesus! Come and bring us all home! Amen.
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