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Read: John 18:33-36
Listen:
John 18

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” John 18:33

Jesus is on trial for sedition. It’s a capital offense. His life is on the line. The Roman governor wants to know whether or not the charges that he claims to be a king are true. Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world. But Jesus doesn’t deny being a king. He’s not simply a spiritual guru. He’s not just a religious guide. He isn’t some kind of gifted faith healer. He’s a king with real authority. The God of the universe.

If Jesus is king, that means we should submit to him in every area of our life. Our faith and our politics can’t be separate. To embrace Jesus is to choose him as king. It’s to let him be king over our politics. That means we are willing to obey Jesus even if it means rejecting part of our political party’s platform. It means Jesus is king over how we talk with people who disagree with our politics. If Jesus is king, it means we will be okay if our political party loses the election. If Jesus is king of everything, it means we submit our politics to him as king.

TODAY: Invite Jesus to be king over your politics. Invite him to help you discern where your politics are right and where they are wrong. Ask Jesus to help you have the right posture when you discuss politics with someone you may disagree with. Tell Jesus you trust him and know he is still king no matter how the election turns out.


JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Jeremiah 16-18. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Consider how through Jesus our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) and not in the dust and how he declares he is the living water (John 4:10).