“Are you a King then?” demanded the Governor of the prisoner standing before him.

The prisoner undoubtedly confused him when he answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world.”

The interrogation of Jesus by Pontius Pilate on that first Good Friday 2000 years ago highlighted the sharp contrast between the kingdoms of the world and the Kingdom of God which Jesus came to establish.

Earthly kingdoms are all about power and control, but God’s Kingdom is about giving up control and living your life in submission to Him.

People who do this are “Kingdom people” and they’re beautifully described by Jesus in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5:3-12.

Kingdom people know they are spiritually bankrupt. They know they don’t measure up spiritually before God, so they turn to Him and ask Him for mercy.

Kingdom people grieve over their sin. They are in deep grief over the blackness of their own sin against God, as well as the sins of the world.

Kingdom people are dependent on God. Instead of living life in their own strength, they choose to live in dependence on God.

Kingdom people long for a righteousness they don’t have. They know they’re not righteous in themselves, so they ask God to fill them with His righteousness.

Kingdom people have received mercy from God and give His mercy to others. Kingdom people forgive. There is a genuine desire in their heart to forgive those who have wronged them because God has also forgiven them.

Kingdom people are becoming “pure in heart.” They don’t believe they’re perfect, but they look to God to make them more like Him.

Kingdom people actively work to bring God’s peace to others. Because they have experienced God’s peace in their lives, they want others to know this same peace.

Kingdom people love and pray for their enemies. This is the distinctive characteristic of Jesus’ Kingdom and why it “is not of this world.”  Anyone can love those who love them, but the hallmark of followers of Jesus is they love those who despise them.

Shortly after His interrogation by Pilate, Jesus was unjustly sentenced to death by crucifixion, the full weight of the might of Roman law being brought down upon His innocent head.

He is led away to a hill, mocked, jeered and spat upon and then hoisted above the ground where he continues to endure hatred and venom being poured out upon Him.

How does He respond?

Precisely as He taught His Kingdom people to respond – “Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.”

And this forgiveness is available to everyone who willingly humbles themselves before God, turns from their sin, and steps into His Kingdom, a Kingdom that is truly not of this world!