John 18:28-19:16

Key Verse: "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37)

The Jews brought him forward, trying to do away with any evidence of this Christ, this “Messiah.” In their hearts was nothing but malice, but still they went through the motions of their pointless religiousness and brought Jesus to Pilate, not daring to set foot inside the Gentile place lest they be deemed ceremoniously unclean and banned from participating in the Passover. Trying to shift the blame, Pilate and the Jewish leaders passed responsibility for Christ’s fate back and forth, and Pilate consented to interview Jesus. He asked him many questions regarding the false charges brought against him, who he was, where he hailed from… The Jews, in their own conniving way, twisted Christ’s true identity and used it against him, declaring that Jesus claimed to be a king—the king of the Jews.

Later, this title would follow Christ all the way to the cross, a sign hanging above his head declaring satirically calling him “King of the Jews” (John 19:19). The title is true- Jesus is king of the Jews; in fact, he is king over all. However, when Pilate asked Jesus about this, Jesus turned to him and asked, “Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?” (John 18:34). Pilate, avoiding the question and his own convictions, responded: “Am I a Jew? It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” (v. 35)