Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
The Jewish Sanhedrin charged Jesus with blasphemy for having claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew 26:63-66; Mark 14:61-64; Luke 22:66-71). (Jesus truthfully admitted His divinity before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:62-64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:70), but the Jewish authorities could not believe or accept that claim, considering it an offense punishable by death under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 24:15-16).) However, although the Jews considered Jesus to be liable to the death penalty according to the Law of Moses, they had no authority under the Roman government to carry out the death sentence. For that reason, and also because they wanted to involve the Romans in Jesus' death, they therefore presented the case to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as a matter of treason against the Roman government, falsely charging Jesus with having proclaimed Himself as an earthly king in opposition to the Roman emperor (Tiberius Caesar) and his established government (John 19:12). Although Jesus explained to Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:33-40), Pilate yielded to the demands of the Jewish authorities and of the mob that those authorities had assembled that Jesus be put to death (John 19:1-16), leading to Jesus' crucifixion, which was the established form of capital punishment used by Rome, and also the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 22).
Jesus answered Pilates's question, "Are you the king of the Jews?” Of course, Herod was king of the region. But Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." It is other worldly. If He were competing against Herod, that would be treason, in my opinion. However, Jesus is King over the spiritual realm, not over the physical realm YET. His claim comes from John 18:36. John 18:36 My Kingdom Is Not of This World 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." "One day He shall return and establish a righteous kingdom on earth (Dan. 7:13-28)." Warren Wiersbe
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.