John 18:36 Commentary and Bible Study

He explains to Pilate in effect: Yes, I am a king, but I am not any challenge to you, Pilate or to Caesar in Rome because I am not an earthly king. ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ It is a spiritual kingdom, it is a kingdom in hearts. Yes, they have charged me as someone who repudiates Caesar. My kingdom is not of this world, and here’s the proof: ‘if my kingdom were of this world, then would [I not have organised] my servants [to] fight’, is the implication. Would I then not have an army; would I not have protectors to stop me being delivered a prisoner to the Jews? It’s obvious he’s not an earthly king.