King?

 John 18: 33-37 v 36 “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

Then Pilate wet back into his quarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the King of the Jews?” He asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your question? Pilate retorted “Am I a Jew? Jesus replied” My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”  Jesus responded” Actually I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.

At the start of the Christmas season, as Christians prepare to gather family together to celebrate the birth of Christ this passage seems odd to reflect on as it is part of the last few days of Jesus’s life on earth. Jesus himself talks of his birth. It was important enough for Jesus to be born like all humans, to grow from a baby to a child to an adult, to be fully human, fully God. And He came not to be an earthly king, tasked with running a small part of the world, but so that all might know the truth, for His kingdom is not of this world, but bigger than any country and we are all invited to be part of it. Wrap your presents, cook your food, enjoy hospitality, this Christmas sharing the love that came to tell us the truth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your son to earth, for the good of all, for the love of all, so that all may praise you. Hallelujah. Amen.