11 John xv. 18 — 20. ° Isai. liii. 6.
p Matt. v. 39 — 41. i Rom. viii. 17. Rev. iii. 21.
Christ's good confession.
John xviii. 37. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then ? Jesus answered, Thou say est that I am a king. To this end teas I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
IN the whole of our Saviour's life there was a strong apparent contradiction between the character
he professed, and that which he visibly sustained. At his introduction into the world he was announced as a most exalted personage, even as " the King of the Jewsa ;" yet was he found born in a stable, and laid in a manger. When he entered triumphantly into Jerusalem, and was welcomed with loud hosannas as the Son of David, he did not assume the pomp of earthly monarchs, but rode thither, in a meek and lowly manner, seated on a young assb. But this oppo- sition between his mean appearance and his high pretensions never was more visible than when he stood before the bar of Pilate. He was like any other poor man ; except indeed that he was bound as a cri- minal, and held by his whole nation as more exe- crable than even a robber or a murderer : yet at this time did he assert his claim to kingly authority, or, as St. Paul expresses it, " witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate0."
In his answer to Pilate, there are two things to be considered ; I. His confession —
The Jews had already condemned him, for making himself the Son of Godd. But he could not be exe- cuted, unless Pilate also should condemn him. But Pilate did not regard any questions relating to the Jewish law; and therefore the Jews brought a different charge against him before Pilate ; affirming that he had set up himself as a King against Caesar. On this charge Pilate questioned him, and received the answer which we have just read.
In this answer we notice,
1. The boldness of it —
[Our Lord had already told Pilate, that he disclaimed any idea of establishing an earthly kingdom ; and that there was no ground for fear or jealousy, as if he was invading the rights of Caesar, or attempting to rescue his country from the Roman yoke. He appealed to the prohibition which he had just before given to his Disciples respecting their using the sword in his
8 Luke ii. 11, 12. »> Zech. ix. 9. with Matt. xxi. 2—9.
c 1 Tim. vi. 13. d Matt. xxvi. 63—65.
1719.] Christ's good confession. 159
defence ; and declared, that the kingdom to which he aspired was not of a worldly nature ; not established on worldly prin- ciples, nor supported by worldly force, nor governed by worldly policy, nor in any respect interfering with the interests of other monarchs. Yet even in thus rectifying the misapprehensions of Pilate, he thrice used the words, " My kingdom." He might have satisfied himself with simply denying his interference with human governments: but he would on no account conceal what it was of importance to the world to know : and there- fore, though he foresaw all the consequences of his confession, he answered plainly to the next interrogation, " Thou sayest truly ; I am a King."]
2. The truth of it—
[The prophets had abundantly testified of the regal dig- nity of the Messiah e and in the New Testament it had
been confirmed by the testimony both of men and angels f. The very works also which he had wrought, bore witness to himg. The difference which subsisted between his government and earthly kingdoms, so far from invalidating his claim, served only to establish it on the firmest basis : for, whereas other kings had dominion only over the bodies of men, he reigned over their souls : others had their territories bounded by seas or mountains ; but his extended over all the earth.]