Well, when before the “interviewer” Pontius Pilate, what did Jesus Christ do?

9. When Jesus was before Pilate, what outstandingly was pushed to the fore?

⁹ Jesus outstandingly made the Kingdom the issue. Pilate ‘ate out of Christ’s hand,’ as it were, in following and emphasizing the theme of Kingdom government. Of course, Pilate had no choice, owing to the deft way that Jesus handled matters in those closing hours of his earthly life. Let us take our Bibles and turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 18, verse 33.

10. What was Pilate’s first question to Jesus, and why was it so fitting?

¹⁰ In his first question directed to Jesus, Pilate asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” So, in the Roman governor’s mind, the theme had already been set. It was the very theme that needed to be pursued that day, for when Pilate had asked the Jews what accusation they were bringing against Jesus, they had said: “This man we found subverting our nation and forbidding the paying of taxes to Caesar and saying he himself is Christ a king.” Fittingly, then, Pilate asked Jesus: “Are you the king of the Jews?”​—Luke 23:1-3.

11. (a) To answer Pilate’s further question, what might Jesus have done? (b) What has always been the principal issue with God’s people?

¹¹ If you had been in Jesus’ place and had been asked the same question, how would you have replied? Would you have related all the things you had or had not done in an effort to make your judgment lighter, thus possibly avoiding a death sentence? This would be the normal reaction of most, but it was not that of Jesus. He might have been able to lead Pilate off the theme of the Kingdom. But Kingdom government really was the issue.

12. How did Jesus further draw attention to the Kingdom, and what question did this now cause Pilate to utter?

¹² Jesus did not answer Pilate’s question directly, but replied:

“My kingdom is no part of the world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.”

Notice that in Jesus’ short reply he mentioned the Kingdom three times. This brought Pilate and all those listening back to the theme of the Kingdom government, as Pilate then said: “Well, then, are you a king?” (John 18:36, 37) The scene was firmly set on that dramatic stage, and no one would be able to overlook the reason for Christ’s being on trial. Notice the sequence of events. Jesus responded and said:

“You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.”​—John 18:37.

13. How was the Kingdom issue further emphasized in Herod’s meeting with Jesus?

¹³ At this point Pilate said to the religious leaders and the Jewish mob: “I find no crime in this man.” However, the crowd became insistent and told Pilate how Jesus’ Kingdom teaching had spread throughout Judea, starting from Galilee. At that time Herod Antipas was tetrarch in Galilee and was aspiring to the kingship of the Jews. To Pilate, what could be more fitting than that Herod should be confronted by Jesus, since Herod was in Jerusalem at the time? So he sent Jesus to Herod, who questioned Jesus at length, in the hope that he would perform some sign. But Jesus, Jehovah’s anointed King, had no desire to belittle his kingship just to satisfy Herod’s curiosity. He remained silent. Frustrated, would-be king Herod made fun of Jesus’ kingship, having his soldiers clothe Jesus with a regal garment and sending him back to Pilate.​—Luke 23:4-11.

15. How was the issue of kingship highlighted by the discussion when Jesus was before Pilate?

¹⁵ Once again, Jesus stood before Pilate. And once again the Kingdom issue came to the fore, as Pilate asked the Jewish mob: “Do you . . . wish me to release to you the king of the Jews?” But it did not end there. The Roman soldiers picked up the theme that kingship and government were at issue. In mockery, they made a crown of thorns and took a purple outer garment and put these on Jesus. They slapped him on the face, calling him the king of the Jews. (John 18:39–19:3) There is no indication that Jesus tried to remove that crown of thorns. It remained on his head, and that served to highlight the issue at stake. No one was to be left in doubt. When Pilate suggested to the Jews that they take Jesus and impale him themselves, they very artfully but falsely focused on the issue as an infringement on Roman governmental authority, saying: “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Every man making himself a king speaks against Caesar.”​—John 19:12.

16. How did those present at Jesus’ trial bear witness to the issue over which Christ was about to be killed?

¹⁶ It was as though Pilate served God’s purpose on that day, as Cyrus the Persian had in the past. (Compare Isaiah 45:1-7.) Next, Pilate began to climax matters by saying: “See! Your king!” At that, the Jews demanded Jesus’ impalement, whereupon Pilate asked: “Shall I impale your king?” Their response? “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:14, 15) In essence, these people themselves were bearing witness concerning the issue over which Christ was about to be killed, and Jesus did not need to say a word. The matter was being very well emphasized by their own mouths.

17. How did Pilate’s final action with regard to Jesus stress the issue of Kingdom government?

¹⁷ Emphasis on the issue of Kingdom government finally was highlighted by Pilate’s action in having placed on Jesus’ torture stake a title written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. All present that day could read it and would not be left in doubt as to why the impalement took place. This title said: “Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.” When the Jewish chief priests saw it, they were incensed and said to Pilate: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” However, Pilate replied: “What I have written I have written.”​—John 19:19-22.