Listen to the unabridged sermon here: Believing is Seeing and Believing is Life - The King We Need
Have you ever listened to a song or hymn that ends on an unresolved note? Unlike many traditional hymns that finish on a bright, major chord leaving you with a sense of simple happiness, certain songs refuse to resolve so easily. There is something profoundly honest about that. While the sacrifice of Christ is finished—once and for all—our daily walk in response to that salvation is ongoing, calling us into something deeper.
That unresolved tension is precisely what we encounter in John 18 and 19. As we trace the events of Jesus’ final night—from his betrayal in the garden to his trial and eventual execution—we come face-to-face with a stark reality: the King we need is rarely the King we want.
Jesus reigns not by conquering his enemies, but by dying for them. Throughout the entire narrative of his passion, Jesus never relinquishes his ultimate authority; rather, the cross becomes the very site of his enthronement and glory.
1. The King Who Commands His Arrest
The narrative opens in the dark of night in a garden across the Kidron Valley. Overlooking the valley, one can see the massive walls of Jerusalem. In the pitch-black night, Jesus would have looked out across that valley and watched a line of torches and lanterns descending from the city walls.
Judas arrived with a detachment of Roman soldiers and temple guards. The Greek term used for “detachment” (speira) refers to a cohort—potentially up to 600 Roman soldiers.
Picture the scene:
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An armed battalion of hundreds of men with weapons, lanterns, and torches.
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Eleven terrified, sleep-deprived disciples standing in the shadows.
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One unarmed man stepping forward into the light.
Jesus steps out and asks, “Who is it you want?” When they answer, “Jesus of Nazareth,” he replies with two simple words in Greek: Ego Eimi—“I am He”.
At those words, the entire contingent of armed soldiers draws back and falls to the ground.
When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. — John 18:6
This is not a picture of a victim caught off guard. It is the embodiment of the divine word. The same God who spoke creation into existence in Genesis speaks two words, and an army falls to its knees.
Even in his arrest, Jesus commands the situation. He secures the safety of his disciples, telling the soldiers, “If you are looking for me, then let these men go”. He steps into the gap to protect his followers, ensuring not one is lost.
2. The Trap of Earthly Power
While Jesus stands in supreme divine authority, the surrounding characters demonstrate humanity’s tragic obsession with earthly power.
Peter’s Misguided Weapon
When the soldiers step forward, Peter draws a sword and strikes the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Peter wants a king who fights according to human standards—a king who swings a sword and flexes physical might. But Jesus commands him to put it away: “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
The Fear-Driven Denial
Later, standing in the cold courtyard of the high priest, Peter is questioned by a servant girl. Overcome by fear of Rome and the religious authorities, the same disciple who promised loyalty declares, “I am not”.
Where Jesus boldly declares “I AM,” Peter timidly responds “I AM NOT”. Peter wanted a king who would overpower Rome; when faced with a King who allowed himself to be bound, Peter’s courage failed.
3. “We Have No King But Caesar”
When Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, a fascinating dialogue occurs regarding authority and truth. Pilate attempts to find a way to release Jesus, realizing the charges against him are baseless. But the crowd and religious leaders insist on his execution.
When Pilate brings Jesus out, beaten and wearing a crown of thorns, he presents him to the crowd: “Here is your king”.
The religious leaders respond with a heartbreaking declaration:
“We have no king but Caesar.” — John 19:15
To understand the weight of this statement, we must look back at 1 Samuel 8, where the Israelites demanded a human king so they could be “like all the other nations”. God told Samuel that in demanding an earthly monarch, the people were not rejecting Samuel—they were rejecting God as their King.
In John 19, the people of God look into the physical face of God incarnate and take the ultimate step: they abandon their heritage entirely and declare allegiance to the pagan ruler of Rome. They preferred the coercive power of Caesar over the self-sacrificial love of God.
Whenever we subject our faith to worldly power, political dominance, or coercive tactics to get ahead, we fall into the exact same trap. We sacrifice integrity on the altar of power, choosing the kingdom of Caesar over the Kingdom of the Cross.
4. Enthroned on Calvary
Jesus’ throne was not a gold seat in a palace; it was a wooden cross on Golgotha.
Even his title was proclaimed to the entire world. Pilate wrote a sign and fastened it to the cross in three languages—Aramaic, Latin, and Greek: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Unknowingly, Pilate made the first global declaration of the true King of the universe.
As Jesus hung on the cross, he remained in absolute control of his mission:
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He cared for those he loved: He ensured his mother was taken care of by entrusting her to John.
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He fulfilled Scripture: He declared his thirst so that prophecy would be completed.
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He completed the work: He uttered the word Tetelestai—“It is finished”.
Finally, John notes a critical detail: Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Rome did not murder Jesus. The religious leaders did not end his life. Jesus yielded his own spirit. He retained authority over life and death from beginning to end.
Examining Our Hearts
When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, they brought seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. This was an extraordinary amount—an extraordinary gift reserved specifically for the burial of a king. Through eyes of faith, they saw who he truly was.
The question left for us is simple yet deeply challenging: Where in your life are you rejecting the King you need because he isn’t acting like the King you want?
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When God doesn’t fix your circumstances on your timeline…
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When he calls you to lay down your rights…
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When he commands you to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…
Do you dethrone him in your heart?
We must stop demanding a savior who merely serves our personal agendas. Instead, we are called to bow to the King who reigned from a cross, who conquered sin and death through love, and whose finished work offers us grace without end.