Scripture of the week: 14th – 20th August
John 18: vs 33 – 37
On Sunday 16th August, Chris Hall is speaking from this passage in John; the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. Chris has offered a question for us to consider whilst reading the passage;
Why does Jesus ask questions?
This is an invitation to consider the passage, with this question in mind in advance of Sunday and during the week. Please leave any comments or insights below:
33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.
34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “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.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”
Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. 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.”
Imagine: you have been called in to the representative of an invading people. He has the power to kill you or acquit you. He probably speaks in a foreign language to you. He asks you a politically and religiously charged question.
Jesus’ response is awesome! No defensiveness, no trying to appease. He is assertive and goes deeper. He is interested in the questioner, not the question.
I had not realised until today, that Jesus probably spoke Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Hebrew and possibly other languages. And probably fluently.