A Passion for JesusSample

It had been a long week for Jesus. He knew what was ahead. His time had come. Judas led a band of soldiers, their captain, and some officers to a garden under the cover of night. They met Jesus with torches and lanterns and weapons. Jesus didn’t run. He didn’t hide. This was why he had come.

“I am he,” Jesus boldly declared to them (John 18:5 ESV).

Power must have gone out from Jesus because when he spoke those who came to arrest him drew back and fell to the ground. The one who created the world with a word, now declared his identity and embraced his destiny. “Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” Jesus said (John 18:11 ESV).

Jesus let them arrest and bind him. They led him to the house of Annas where he was questioned and struck by one of the officers. Next, Jesus was bound and sent to Caiaphas the high priest. Many false witnesses accused him, looking for a reason to put him to death. Jesus remained silent. At last, the high priest said to him, “I adjust you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63 ESV).

Jesus said to him (in verse 64), “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven”

The high priest went ballistic. In the early hours of the morning, while all of Jerusalem slept, they spit in Jesus’ face and struck him. The Jews wanted Jesus dead, but couldn’t execute the death penalty under their laws, so at dawn they rushed Jesus to the governor’s headquarters.

Pontus Pilate questioned Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33 ESV).

Jesus answered (in verse 34), “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”

Pilate answered (in verse 35), “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered (in verse 36), “My kingdom is not of his 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.”

Jesus claimed to be the King of heaven. This thirty-three-year-old Jewish preacher was saying what no priest, pastor, or rabbi would ever dare to say. Jesus claimed to be the sovereign ruler of heaven. The King of heaven is the Lord of hosts. Angels move at his bidding. All creation obeys his command. He is the one who sits on the throne of heaven and will return to judge the world in righteousness. The King of heaven is King of kings and Lord of lords.

If this is true, what will you do?