Church - Pillar and Ground of the Truth — Wong Chin Meng

Jesus Christ Before Pontius Pilate: The Truth and the Caesars

In John, or the Gospel by John, just before we pray, and I'm here in John 18, the Gospel by John, and the 18th chapter of John will come to a particular text which is familiar for most of us, but we need to read it in the context of which the text is going to present to us, because it is one of the most typical encounters in the life of Jesus Christ, and in this case, this is just prior to his death on the cross, and he is being confronted not only by the religious order and the systems of his day and his time, but he was also confronted by the Caesars of Rome, and I use the word Caesars of Rome because I have, because that's exactly what they are, Pontius Pilate is only one of the governor and political leader that the Roman Empire has under them, so all of these individuals and governors and whoever they are, they are basically the epitome of the Caesar who is in control, who is ruling in the capital Rome at that time, understand that, so all of these governors and representatives of Rome are basically the epitome or the representation of the Caesar that was in Rome, so it has become a connotation, the word Caesar or the name Caesar, and that's where you have the name Kaiser in Germany, so they adopted the word Kaiser during the first reich, the second reich, and the third reich, anyone here know what's the reich, reich means the German word for the reign, the government, R-E-I-C-H, so Adolf Hitler pioneered the third reich, that's why they are known as the third reich, prior to that there is a first and a second, and each reich had a Kaiser, you may have heard of Kaiser Wilhelm the first or Kaiser Wilhelm the second, all these were very powerful leaders at that time, so Caesar will be the word, so this is an account of an epical encounter between Christ and Caesars, and in this case Pontius Pilate was in a sense that Caesar, that he represented whoever was at that time was the Caesar in Rome, so Lord we thank you, and here we are, we seek you, we ask you to bear to us, give to us, counsel us, and release into us Lord a spirit of truth, we are so needing for you to come to us in these days, even as we join our hearts together as your people, Lord we are trusting you moment by moment that you might once again give us your wisdom and your counsel, you who has indeed the spirit of truth, and you who is indeed the truth, Lord we are seeking you because we know so little of that which is indeed truth, thank you again, so give us Lord a whole new dimension, come and let your Holy Spirit bear to us, teach us, and communicate something from your heart to us here, we who have been subjected to not only a nature of lies, but to live Lord in an age where lie is everything, we are needing Lord such a great salvation, such a great deliverance, help us we pray, so bear your heart and your counsel to us, and we thank you for what you have began with us here, and we are trusting you even for this day, Lord for the ongoing of this world that has such intentions and such prospect for whatever that you have appointed this world for, so thank you again, so we ask of you to just make this personal to us, thank you that you are not here to give us information, you are to communicate the very nature of truth to us, because our nature is one that has been given to lies for such a long time, so we are intending Lord to come to you, and to agree with you, even when those times where having to agree with you makes it difficult for us, we still have to agree with you, to know that Lord we are so unfamiliar with truth, we are so alien, such a stranger to what truth is to us, and we live in a lie for so long in darkness until Lord, until you came, until you came and revealed Jesus to us, and so even though light has come, we are still needing you to expand and to enlarge, and to give us the capacity Lord to understand truth, Lord in all of its dimension, in all of its wonder, thank you, thou God of truth, come to us again, we praise you, so we ask you simply Lord to come to us in your grace, and be rich, and be favorable to us, even as you pour your heart amongst us here, for this we are grateful to you, in Jesus name, Amen.

The Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth

Alright now, so the Gospel by John in 18, I want to pick this up and reading in verse 28 of this chapter, and just as I am about to break in there to read this, now when Jesus left, or just before, sorry when I say Jesus left, but as Jesus was preparing in one of his final encounters or final conversation with his immediate disciples, he makes it very purposeful as I said in John 16 to introduce the Comforter, the Paracletos, and we dealt with that, or we read in that context, that Jesus told them that it was imperative, it was compulsory for him to leave, to go, because without which the Comforter cannot come, and this was the first time and the only time, and it was a very crucial time, because this is just at the very corner, or at the turn, whereby he will then be given to men, and then betrayed, and be taken to the cross, and there to die and to accomplish the will of the Father, so I think the timing within his heart was such that he knew that this has to be spoken at this very crucial time.

He didn't say it at the beginning, he didn't say it in between those three, three and a half years of his public ministry, he waited until the end, because he knew that this was so crucial that it cannot be kind of taken lightly, and of course the timing is also vital, and what a time it was for Jesus to finally release from himself the whole coming of the Holy Spirit, and what an announcement it was, and we dealt with that, and he made it very clear to them concerning the function and the nature of the Spirit, that we read about, that both was essential to the understanding and the reception of the Holy Spirit, because they will receive this Spirit into their lives, and upon that reception, they are to discover and to understand for the rest of their lives, as a church on the face of the earth, that it's their privilege to know this true sight, or true reality of the Spirit, one, the function of the Spirit, and the second, the nature of the Spirit, one is without the other, so, and that of course is so tempting even for myself, you know, to once again take this even further, but our time is not concerning this, once again I say, function and nature, and I think as I said in my brief moments, that one of the tragedies that the Charismatic and the Pentecostal Church in recent decades, has failed to come into focus of not just the function of the Spirit, which we have plenty in recent times, but in so emphasizing the function of the Spirit, we have actually missed the nature of the Spirit, and as I said that one is without the other, you cannot exalt one and demote the other, you can't choose one and abandon the other, you can't do either one, and yet not face the consequence, or consequences, and we have seen those consequences in all of the recent years, as I said that I am not one looking from the outside in, I am one from the inside looking out, and I have seen the tragedy that have followed so many today, because of a violation and a neglect that has happened in this area of having to choose to enjoy the function of the Spirit, but we have so either reject, or either sometimes I would say neglect would be a better word to use, and we have neglected the very nature of the Spirit, and you cannot do that, and Jesus makes it very emphatic at the very close of some of the last words he ever spoke to the disciples, that he makes it very very stark to these men what the nature of the Spirit is when the Spirit is come, and that's why he says when he is come, the Spirit is a person, the Spirit is more than an experience, the Spirit is more than a goose bump, the Spirit is more than a tongue, is more than a gift, is more than an experience, is more than a sensation, is more than a warm feelings, and so on and so forth, when he is, Jesus makes it once and final in that pronouncement, when he is, the Spirit is a person, when he is come, and who is he?

The Spirit of Truth, when he is come, that's the nature, not just the function, the function is that he is the comforter, he is the paracletos, he is here to comfort, to guide, to speak, to console, to encourage, to call alongside, to help, that's the function, but his nature is what?

He is the Spirit of Truth, who will lead you into all truth, and so years later, men like Paul, Peter, James, John, and all of these apostles, who were to be the recipient of that Holy Spirit, understood it very clearly, all throughout the New Testament, particularly the epistles and the apostles, they confirmed what Jesus, in those final days of his life on earth, introduced to these men, concerning who the Holy Spirit is, that he is the Spirit of Truth, and that's where we even found it in Paul, when he wrote to Timothy, that he says that the pillar and the ground of the church is none other than Truth, the church of the living God, of the church of God, is indeed the pillar and the ground of the truth, so what is it that makes the very pillar and the ground of the church of Jesus Christ?

It is Truth, so Paul understood this, of course, in this remarkable way, this is one of the aspects of his understanding, we probably will have time, hopefully that God will give us the opportunity to indulge ourselves, from some of these apostles' understanding of what this truth has done for them, so it's remarkable when you begin to read men like Paul and James and Peter and John, and particularly Paul and John too, you find how they understood this truth to be, what this Spirit of Truth that they have now received, that has come into their lives, has indeed done in them and done through them.

Jesus Christ as the Truth

Now, when Jesus said to these men that when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, you have to remember that Jesus was talking about His own Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of Jesus, so when Jesus introduced to these men that He, the Spirit of Truth, when He is come, is going to lead you into all truth, He is essentially projecting to these men what He is in Himself, because what the Spirit is, is only because He Himself is that Spirit.

You got the point there? What the Spirit is, is only because He Himself is of that Spirit, so if the Spirit is truth, it only goes to confirm that Jesus Himself is also the truth, and of course we all know that, Jesus was the one who said, that when He is come, He is the way, the truth, and the life, not truths with an S, but He is the truth, or the truth.

So what the Spirit is, in Himself, is only because He Himself is that Spirit. Got the point there? Now, it's remarkable now, we have the time here, in this context, in John's Gospel 18, we're going to read, because it has to do with the whole issue of truth, that is being highlighted in this very epical encounter between Jesus, and of course Pontius Pilate, and between Christ and the Caesar.

Jesus and Pilate in John 18

And I'll tell you why I'm using this in the course of our time here together. Reading in verse 28, picking up this whole account here, of chapter 18, and they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorian, and it was early, the Praetorian means the governor's residence, that's where Pontius Pilate was residing, and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorian, so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover, considering all those that followed Him right from Gethsemane, having not arrested Him.

And therefore, Pilate went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man? They answered and said to him, If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him to you.

And so Pilate said to them, Then take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him, We are not permitted to put anyone to death to fulfill the word of Jesus, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he was about to die.

And therefore, Pilate entered again into the Praetorian, and summoned Jesus and said to him, Are you the king of the Jews? And Jesus answered, Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about me?

So, Jesus was quite precise in his question to this man, because this is what Pontius Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? And Jesus said, Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about it?

Because the chances are, not the chances, precisely, this was the issue. Because he was deserved, as far as the Jews were concerned, who arrested him and brought him before Pontius Pilate, as far as they were concerned, he was worthy to die, and he must die, and the punishment meted out for him was for this one crime.

And the crime was what? He was the king of the Jews. Strangely enough, he has never said it in all of his earthly life. Not once did Jesus ever, in his public ministry, ever make that confession. And was he?

And is he either now, or was he even prophetically the king of the Jews? Of course he was. Because he is the son of God. He is God's son. He is God himself. And to be God over Israel is to be king over Israel.

He is king over Israel. And Jesus never made that statement. But they understood this, isn't it? Strange as it may be. And due to his public ministry in less than three years, it was obvious who he was.

Though Jesus never in any time, or point in time, ever declared before these men who his true identity was. Except maybe among his own chosen twelve. But before the nation, before these people, somehow it was kind of like spreading like a little, you know, like a mist all over the nation that this is the Messiah.

And for them, they understood that to be the Messiah of Israel is to be the king over Israel. So this was the crime. And they thought that that was worthy of death. As far as they were concerned, it was blasphemy.

And yet because of all of the pressure, be it all of the political and the religious systems of that day, because there were so many that were supporting Jesus or following Jesus, and these guys, these men in the hierarchy, in the ecclesiastical system, in the priesthood, they were so backslidden, they were afraid of the general consensus of the public, that they would not have Jesus come to them or die through their hands, just in case that, you know, they themselves could face the consequence.

So they were smart. They were using the Romans and the Roman law to get this out. But not knowing that by even doing that, it was to fulfill a prophecy. Because the prophecy was that Jesus would die in the hands of the Gentiles.

He would die in the hands of another person. Not through his own people. Their own people will not have the privilege to kill him. Or will not be the one responsible. Though they will be using, they will be the one introducing him to the Romans, in this case, to Pontius Pilate.

So when Jesus asked, or when Jesus replied, he said, to the question, that Pontius Pilate asked him, Are you king of the Jew? Jesus said, Are you saying this on your own initiative? Or did others tell you about me?

And Pilate answered, I'm not a Jew, am I? And your own nation and chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done? It's exactly what he was saying. He was actually basically agreeing to the fact, that he was being told privately behind the curtains.

They told him, they probably would have asked him, he would have asked them, What have you sent him for? You want me to kill him? You want me to pass a death sentence on him? What have he done? What? Because as far as they were concerned, they said he's an evil doer.

What evil has he done? And they would have probably whispered to his ears. You know, as a gang together, he said, because he called himself the king over the Jews, or king of the Jews. So, Jesus knew that this was happening behind the curtains, or behind doors.

Jesus answered, verse 36, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting, so that I would not be handled over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm.

And therefore Pilate said to him, So you are a king. So you are a king. Fair enough, you are not king over this realm. And you say, by your own admission, that you are king over another realm. You are still a king, aren't you?

Logical, isn't it? Romans. Roman minds. Roman cleverness. Alright? This is what happens to Roman philosophy. That's what Rome was famous for. So they knew how exactly to make deductions. So you are a king.

And Jesus answered, You say correctly that I am a king. His first time, isn't it? Virtually. An admission before this great representative of the Caesar of Rome. You say correctly that I am a king. And for this, I have been born.

And for this, I have come into the world to testify to the truth. I have come to testify to the truth. That was the purpose of his kingship. You say, I have come into this world to testify to the truth.

And everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. You notice that? Very deliberate and purposeful statement. I read again here to you. He says, I have been born. And for this, I have come into the world.

You would have thought that he would have gone on and said, Correctly, you say that I am a king. I am correctly. I am born. I am born here to be king over all of you. He didn't dabble. He didn't carry on with the whole issue of his kingship.

He put the very nail to the thing that has consumed him. That has always been at the very heart and the center of all that he was before God and before men. That was the reason why he came. And that was why he was starting to move in this direction.

He answered it differently. He didn't carry on with the issue of the kingship. And yet, it was connected to his kingship. So you correctly say that I am the king. And then he says, for this reason. For this, I have been born.

For this, I have come into the world. For this, I have been born. Have I been born in order to be a king? Yes, of course. And for this reason, I have come into the world to be the king over Israel. King over Jew.

Of course. But then, he started to put the emphasis in a whole different way. To testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth, hears my voice. Establishing it probably for the first time now. Before Pontius Pilate.

Truth is a nature. Truth is a person. I came to testify to the truth. For everyone, or everyone who is of the truth, hears my voice. He didn't say that everyone who learns truth is going to hear my voice.

Or anyone who knows a lot about truth, about teaching, about ethical laws. About the philosophy of what truth is. Or the metaphysical aspect of what truth is. Is going to hear my voice. He didn't say that.

He says that everyone who is of the truth, hears my voice. I believe you know that you can't hear the voice of God unless you have the nature of God. The voice of God is only an affinity with one who has the nature of God.

Only a man with the nature of God in him, hears the voice of God. You can't hear the voice of God. When you don't have a nature that looks like God. When you don't have a character that is like God. You can't hear his voice.

That's what essentially Jesus was laying before Pontius Pilate. Everyone who is of the truth, hears my voice. Truth is a nature. And he that is of this truth. If truth is in that man, then that man will hear my voice.

That's exactly what he is saying. And that comes one of the most infamous statement by Pontius Pilate. That has been used and coated and reverberated for the last 2000 years. Pilate said to him, what is truth?

Isn't it interesting? This is what Pilate said or Pilate asked. What is truth? What is truth? And Jesus, just a while ago, revealed to him, who is truth? He didn't reveal, he didn't tell him what is truth.

You see how blind this man is? Pontius Pilate, it's a picture of the world, it's a picture of humanity. It's not only a picture of Rome, it's a picture of all men. Born on the face of the earth, in all generations.

Truth is a person. Truth is a nature. Truth is not a deduction. Truth is not a philosophy. Truth is not a human reasoning. Truth is not an ethical teaching. Truth is not a law. Truth is not a thing. Truth is a person.

It's truth. You notice that Jesus never answered the question? Because he didn't have to answer it. Because he said it earlier. He introduces much earlier to this man, for this reason I have come. For this purpose I was born.

That I might testify to the what? To the truth. Because what he was saying to this man is, I am. I am the truth. It is what is truth. For you, it is a mental appreciation. For you, it is an intellectual pursuit.

For you, it is just a fascination. For you, it is just a philosophical equation. For you, it is all of your Rome. And all of your grand tour. And all of your, what is that? The sum of all of your philosophers.

And all of your coming together. And think about what truth is all about. Look at what you have become. That's why you couldn't hear my voice. He was not only referring to Pontius Pilate. He was referring even to his own people.

The Jews didn't hear his voice either. Because if they heard his voice, because they would have knew who he was. And then they would not have presented him to Pontius Pilate to be killed. So this is the clash.

Sins of ancient of days. What is truth? Versus who is truth? And this will play out not only at that hour, at that moment. It will be played out even to the last days. And we are going to see the clash of these two forces at work.

One in the hands of God. And the other in the hands, listen, in the hands of the devil. Satan himself through his minions. Through men like Adolf Hitler. What is truth? I believe you know that you can know what is truth.

And you don't know who is truth. And we dealt with that, isn't it? In some of our time together. The church can foreplay to want to this side. And that's what I'm going to read to you in just a short while.

The German Church and the Rise of Nazi Germany

In the account of the last, in the initial years of the rise of Nazi Germany. Through the hands of Adolf Hitler. And how the church behaved herself before a nation. And why the church failed and failed so sadly.

And so tragically in the end. Alright, so I'm just putting this before you for a while. For you to appreciate this. If we can all appreciate this. Pontius Pilate said, or asked him, what is truth? So far so clear here to you?

So it's remarkable Jesus said this. For this I have been born. For this I have come into the world. To testify to the truth. And everyone who is of the truth. Here's my voice. Truth as a person. Truth as an intrinsic nature.

As an essential nature in him. Alien to men. Alien even to Pontius Pilate. Alien to even many men and women today. So I think it was Paul at the conclusion to the Romans. Make this remarkable statement here.

And again as I said. This is one of the fruit of what happened to that spirit. That these apostles received. And once again these are evidence. Or evidences. Of what happened. After a duration of time.

What this truth. The reality of who God is. Begins to surface and begin to emerge. With such understanding. I'm putting my eyes on Romans. And the 15th chapter. Paul writing here. Close now to the conclusion of this great epistle.

To the Roman church. He says here in Romans 15 and verse. For I say that Christ. Has become a servant to the circumcision. Circumcision means the Jews alright. Because they are called the circumcisions.

And Gentiles the uncircumcisions. He said that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision. On behalf of the truth of God. You have that? Got the pointer? He is a servant to the circumcision. Can you imagine?

Paul telling all the Jews. They were Jewish believers in Rome. He said that's why he came. That's why he was the servant of God to you. Circumcision. You Jews. Listen he said. That's what he came to do.

He said he is the servant to you. Who are the circumcised. On behalf of the truth of God. That's exactly what he came to you for. To confirm the promises given to the father. Whatever that Jesus is to you.

You Jews. He said. This is what he is first to you. Truth. The laws. All of your prophets. And all of that has been written. Concerning this coming Savior. This coming Messiah. What's the first thing that he will do to you.

When he comes to redeem you and save you. Is to bring truth into you. Got the pointer? To bring truth. That's why Jesus said. I came to testify of this truth. The promises given to the father. And for the Gentiles.

And you are not missing out too. Because the Romans were also Gentiles. Not only they were Jews. But they were also Gentiles. And you Gentiles do what? To glorify God for his mercy. As it is written. Quoting.

Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles. And I will sing to your name. And so on and so forth. So Gentiles are not excluded too. You are included too. He said. For the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy.

You can only glorify God in all of his mercies. Because the truth that God will put in you. Will glorify him. Because there is nothing in your nature that will glorify God. Nothing. Everything about your nature and my nature.

Is a defiant against God. Is an enmity against God. You will never stand a chance of glorifying God. Only the truth of God work into you. Will glorify God. That's why Paul was so passionate. In this whole reality.

When he wrote to the church at Corinth. When he says that by the manifestation of the truth. He used the term. By the manifestation of the truth. He wasn't talking about learning a lot of truth. And the manifestation of truth.

Means he is very clever in explaining doctrines and teachings. No. He was referring to what was coming out. What life was being portrayed before men. As men sees it. As the world sees it. Does it glorify God?

Truth as a nature. Isn't that remarkable in this great encounter? Pontius Pilate. Let's read this. Coming back to John 18 for a while. When he had said this. He went out again to the Jews. And said to them.

I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. And do you wish then that I release for you this king of the Jews? I think for him it was just a mockery. For him it was like.

Get this over with. So that I can go back. To my food or to my siesta or whatever. You want me to release to you this king of the Jews? But they all cried out again saying. Not this man. But Barabbas.

He being a robber. Isn't it strange saints? What is truth? Was judging. Who is truth? Who should be judging who? Who should be judging who here? Who should be questioning who? Who should be bowing to who?

Who should actually be the supreme one in this two? Isn't it strange? Isn't it an irony? That he who is the truth. Is being now questioned by men and women. Who just want to know what truth is. Who is judging?

Do you see the irony here? You see how God in his wisdom. Will allow that to happen? Because this is the extent that God. Will allow men. To understand the untruthfulness. The lies upon which we have given ourselves to.

That's why Jesus understood. He knew what was in men. As he said in John's Gospel. The sixth chapter. And he did not commit himself to any of these men. Because he knew what was in men. What is the first thing that he knows what's in men?

He knows that men basically lies. And I said the saints. It's not just having to tell lies. Lies is not just something verbal. Lies is not something that you just bring up from your mouth. Lie is a nature.

It's in our nature. We were conceived. We were born in it. We're there. Right there. In a seat. In a man and a woman. And it takes the redemption of God. The coming of Jesus. Death unto resurrection. And the giving of his life.

Give to a man this truth. So I just want you to see this contrast. Between what is truth. And I tell you this saints. You have no idea how men would avoid this. If we can. If given a choice. If given our own rights and our own power.

We avoid this. Don't think that this whole epic counter between Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ. It's only just Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ. I want you to know that this entire context has reference to all humanity.

Because it's exactly what we are. As long as you would not let God turn your nature into truth. Saints. You one day wants to judge this one. You will judge. You will exalt whatever in your own state. You will toy around.

You will play around. You won't mind. Saints. Enjoying truth. Like the church in Germany. Who understood truth. Truth as in teaching. Now I can safely do this for you. Truths. And all that which has the appendage.

Everything that is linked to it. And no church at that time. Way back in the last century. In the beginning of the 1900s. No church. No church in the world or even in Europe. Is the exemplification of the mastership of Christian scholarship and truth.

Like the German church. You can't go to any library. You can't go to any bookstore today. And dig out sets of commentaries on word studies. On the exegesis and the theology of Old Testament. And all of its varieties or even New Testament.

And you will not see German names strewn all over. The Germans. They were the ones. You can't go to any theological library and not hear of a name called Gerhard Kittel. K-I-T-T-E-L. I have them.

I have the entire 16 volumes of Kittel's theological work of the Old Testament. One of the most extensive ever come out from Germany. And by this man. He is one of the men. But he was the key man. Who did that 16 volumes.

Huge. Almost two and a half inches of theological endeavor. Scholatic. Every known single word in the Old Testament. And Kittel had the ability and the methodical ability in his mind. To bring every single Old Testament into a theological content.

And have to even dissect it. Open it. And look for all of its roots and etymology. And all kinds of things. You have never imagined the brilliancy of a mind. Of such man. Kittel. And how is it possible a man of such immense understanding of truth.

A man who seemingly has such command and mastery of the Holy Bible. Of the scriptures. How is it possible that he could not see what was coming. When Adolf Hitler introduced what he called positive Christianity to the church.

And he became one of the subscriber and the supporter of Adolf Hitler's policy. For the church. These were men who understand truth. What happened? They knew philosophy. They knew all of its theology.

They knew all of its history. So this is not just a confrontation between Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ. This is an epic battle that has continued ever since. And is still continuing. It was foretold way back there in the 1900s.

And we saw what happened. Out of the failure. It was more horrifying than you ever know. How is it possible? Why is it that they didn't stand up? Why is it that the church in Germany subscribed to it?

They gave in. He could control the church to the point. These men. They were not just any other ordinary guys. These were the best the German church has to offer. And finally when Germany. Sorry when Adolf Hitler saw all of these pastors and all of these men like Kittel.

And all of the German pastors came under his control. He finally said that. He said. You know the church and the state has no difference. He said. Let the church come under the state. Come under me. I'll rule over it.

I'll look after you pastors. We salary you. We pay you. And can you imagine. And all of them came under his policy and his influence. And was actually paid by him. And he paid them to the point. And this is what he said.

He said. These pastors are like dogs that come for these miserable salaries. He told Adolf Hitler to mock them. Privately behind these pastors. He said. They just turned to my policy. They just come and bow before me and follow what I said.

You know. And this is Adolf Hitler. Who himself was a baptized Catholic. And he used a sneer and mocked them. He called them miserable salaries. He said. They are like dogs coming to the right government to get their salaries.

This is Germany. Saints. Who knew truth. And Jesus said. To Pontius Pilate. So you are the king, isn't it? You correctly said that. But it was the way in which Jesus introduced the kingship. Because saints.

Who should be king here? Is Jesus king? If Jesus is king. Then who should be judging who? Who should be questioning who here? Who should be ruling over who? Who is to be subdued to who? Yes or no? But here is the king.

He said. Jesus said. You correctly said that I am the king. And then Jesus immediately established his kingship on a whole different foundation. You see. I said to you saints. Paul so wonderfully understood the foundation.

He said. That the pillar and the ground of the church is truth. That's why saints. Jesus meant it to be the pillar and the ground. Because if the pillar and the ground is gone. If it is violated. If it is broken.

There is nothing on it. You can have your games. You can have your churchianity. You can have your theology. You can have your bible school. And your theological ivory palace and tower. And it will crumble when the time comes.

Truth as the Foundation of Christ’s Kingship

Jesus said. His kingship. You know where his kingship is? He said. This is what my kingship first is. That's why I said to you. Truth first. Remember that? It's truth first. That's why the first thing that Jesus did when he introduced the coming of the comforter.

He said. When he the spirit of truth is come. Truth first. Before others. Before power. Before love. Before grace. Before mercy. Truth first. That's why it's truth first. It is truth. It is first the pillar and the ground of the church.

Not love. Truth first. Before his kingship can be established. And let me say this to you. There will be no kingship. Listen. Maybe this explain why today. So many Christians are struggling and fighting with God for a long time.