Today's Passage - John 18:33-37

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 18:33-37    Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place."  "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.  Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."    Pilate asked Jesus, "are you the king of the Jews?"  Even Pilate mistakenly thought that Jesus Christ was here to rescue the Jews from the rule of the Roman Empire.  That was actually the same misconception of the Jews at the time.  They thought that Messiah of the Old Testament era was to become king of the earthly regime, therefore they thought Jesus was going to help to save them from the authority of the Roman Empire.  Therefore, when Jesus began His ministry, He was popular among the Jews.  When they, however, slowly realized that Jesus wasn't going to save them from the Roman regime, they eventually nailed Him to the cross.   Brothers and sisters, we often have the same misconception.  We think that Jesus Christ has come to save us from the authority of the world.  Indeed, Jesus Christ is here to save us, to set our soul free, but Jesus Christ is not just here to be the king of the world.  We often mistakenly think: "How come God doesn't punish those sinners?  Why doesn't God just remove the sinful regimes?"  Actually, regimes can be removes, but it doesn't mean our souls will be set free.  This world is broken and filled with sin not just because of the conditions on the outside.  We can change the regime, or in the family we can change the spouse, but no matter what we change we are just bound and hurt in different ways.   Jesus came to the world to solve a fundamental problem of men - sin.  Therefore, when Pilate asked Jesus, "are you the king of the Jews," Jesus clearly responded, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."  Jesus Christ is here to save human beings from the authority of sin, to deliver us from the bondage of sin.  Yes, Jesus the king came to be the master of our soul!  Brothers and sisters, are you willing to welcome Jesus to be the master of our soul? Are you willing to follow Him in your daily life and let Him manifest His dominion through you?                                 Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we thank you because you are here to deliver us and set us free.  May you reign in our lives, and let us honor you, follow you and obey you, so that your will may be done.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!