John 18:36 is often misunderstood. When Jesus said before Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” He did not mean that He is only concerned about heavenly and not earthly things. He meant that the source of His kingdom was not the Roman Empire or any other human political system.
Jesus’ Kingdom is His Father’s heavenly Kingdom that invades the earth with claims of truth versus all lies. That truth may not be domesticated by politics (Republican or Democrat!) but it stands above and judges all human systems and actions. It demands allegiance of all people.
Everyone who is of the truth hears Jesus Christ (v. 37), and to stand for Jesus is to stand for the truth amid a world of lies.
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