SUNDAY SERVICE [10/4/26] - The King vs. Kings

Devotional

Day 1: When the King Refuses to Perform

Herod Antipas craved a spectacle, not a Savior. He interrogated Jesus, hoping for a miracle to entertain his court, but Christ’s silence exposed Herod’s shallow fascination. Jesus cannot be reduced to a divine showman—He offers Himself as Lord, not a circus act. When demands for signs replace surrender to His authority, we become spectators rather than disciples. Herod’s disappointment led to mockery, revealing hearts that prefer flash over faithfulness. True seekers want Christ, not just His tricks. [53:13]

“Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad… he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.”
(Luke 23:8–9, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you treated Jesus like a vending machine, demanding blessings while ignoring His lordship? What would it look like to seek His presence more than His performance?

Day 2: The Weight of Christ’s Silence

Jesus spoke boldly to Pilate but refused to answer Herod. His silence was not weakness but a mirror, exposing motives. Herod wanted a sideshow; Christ offered a throne. When we approach God with selfish agendas—seeking comfort, approval, or thrills—He may withhold answers to redirect our hearts. His quietness invites us to ask better questions: not “What can You do?” but “Who are You?” [53:38]

“And Pilate again asked him, ‘Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.’ But Jesus made no further answer.”
(Mark 15:4–5, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas do you resent God’s “silence”? Could His quiet be an invitation to lay down demands and truly listen?

Day 3: Fascination Without Faith Is Dead

Herod knew Jesus’ reputation—he’d heard of healings, resurrections, and crowds. Yet his curiosity never became conviction. Many admire Christ’s ethics, marvel at His miracles, or enjoy “churchy” feelings but never bow to His authority. Faith moves beyond intrigue to allegiance: not just knowing about the King but kneeling before Him. [58:07]

“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?’”
(John 6:66–68, ESV)

Reflection: Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus? What practical step could you take today to move from admiration to obedience?

Day 4: Pilate’s Question Echoes in Eternity

“What shall I do with Jesus?” Every soul answers this, whether through defiance, delay, or devotion. Pilate waffled; Herod mocked; the priests raged. Neutrality is impossible—to ignore the King is to reject Him. Our careers, relationships, and private choices all whisper (or shout) our answer. [01:02:21]

“Pilate again said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’”
(Mark 15:12–13, ESV)

Reflection: What habits, relationships, or hidden sins declare “crucify Him” in your life? Where does your daily living shout “He is Lord”?

Day 5: The King Who Needs No Costume

Herod dressed Jesus in “splendid clothing” to mock His claim to kingship. Yet the true splendor of Christ’s authority shines brightest in His sacrifice, not pageantry. The cross—not a crown or robe—proved His reign. We cannot reduce Him to a mascot for our causes, a therapist for our fears, or a prop for our piety. He reigns, robed in resurrection glory. [56:49]

“I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:30, ESV)

Reflection: Have you tried to dress Jesus in ideologies or preferences that suit your agenda? How might you honor His unrivaled lordship this week?

Sermon Summary

Luke 23 opens the Roman phase of Christ’s illegal trials. The Sanhedrin cannot execute Jesus under Roman occupation, so they swap the real charge of blasphemy for the political charge of sedition. Their accusations are loaded with buzzwords: subverting the nation, opposing taxes, claiming to be a king. The Jewish leaders know Pilate will not care about their religious squabbles, but a supposed rival to Caesar gets a Roman governor’s attention.

Pilate asks the question that matters: “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answers, “You have said so.” Christ does not deny His kingship, but His kingdom is not the kind Caesar needs to fear. Christ did not come with swords, spears, and armies to take Rome by force. Christ came to conquer sin and gather the people whom the Father had given Him. Pilate sees enough to declare, “I find no guilt in this man,” yet Pilate lacks the courage to do what justice requires.

Pilate discovers that Jesus is a Galilean and punts the case to Herod Antipas. Herod is glad to see Jesus, but his gladness is rotten at the root. Herod wants a magic show, not a Savior. Herod has heard the stories, heard of the miracles, and now wants Jesus to perform on command. Christ gives him nothing. The One who spoke to crowds, confronted Pharisees, taught sinners, and reasoned with Pilate remains silent before a man looking for spectacle.

Herod’s curiosity turns into contempt. The soldiers mock Christ, dress Him in splendid clothing, and send Him back to Pilate. The scene exposes a danger that remains all too common: fascination with Jesus is not the same thing as following Jesus. Curiosity can ask what Jesus can do right now; saving faith confesses that Jesus is Lord and bends the knee. Christ cannot be reduced to entertainment, inspiration, personal benefit, or a convenient add-on to an already self-directed life.

Pilate’s later question hangs over every human being: “What shall I do with the man called the king of the Jews?” Christ’s own words leave no room to make Him merely a teacher, miracle worker, or religious mascot. Jesus is the God-man, the eternal Son, the One worthy of worship, able to forgive sins, answer prayer, and determine eternal destinies. Rejection of this King is deadly, but repentance and faith bring forgiveness, regeneration, and reconciliation with God.

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Key Takeaways

1. Fascination is not saving faith [49:03] Herod had Jesus standing right in front of him, yet he wanted a show rather than the truth. Curiosity can be a doorway, but it cannot save if it never grows into faith. Faith does not merely find Jesus interesting; faith recognizes Him as Lord and follows Him. A person can know the songs, language, and stories while still refusing to bow before the King. [49:03]
2. Jesus will not perform for spectators [52:55] Christ’s silence before Herod was not weakness or confusion. Christ refused to become a dancing monkey for a ruler whose heart wanted amusement rather than repentance. God’s silence can expose whether a heart seeks Christ Himself or merely His benefits. The demand for a sign often reveals a refusal to submit to the Savior already revealed. [52:55]
3. Christ’s lordship leaves no middle ground [56:28] Jesus does not exist to be fitted into a convenient corner of somebody’s life. His call is for life to come under His lordship, with repentance, surrender, and obedience included. Disappointment comes when people expect Christ to serve their plans rather than receive authority over them. The King of the Jews does not negotiate His throne. [56:28]
4. Pilate’s question demands an answer [01:02:21] “What shall I do with Jesus?” is not a question that can be avoided forever. Every attempt to delay, dismiss, mock, or remain neutral is still an answer. Christ claimed divine authority with unmistakable clarity, and His identity presses every conscience toward either repentance or rejection. Eternal destiny turns on what a person does with this King.

## [62:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:02] - Passion Friday and Six Illegal Trials
[28:34] - The Jewish Trials Before Annas and Caiaphas
[31:31] - Why the Sanhedrin Needed Rome
[33:09] - Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
[35:44] - The Sanhedrin Charges Jesus With Sedition
[39:55] - Are You the King of the Jews?
[42:03] - Christ’s Kingdom Is Not of This World
[44:25] - Pilate Passes the Buck
[47:16] - Herod Wants a Magic Show
[49:03] - Fascinated With Jesus, Yet Lost
[52:55] - Christ’s Striking Silence Before Herod
[57:12] - Curiosity Versus Saving Faith
[61:18] - What Shall I Do With Jesus?
[64:53] - Repentance, Faith, and Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 23:1-12
“Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, 'We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.' And Pilate asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' And he answered him, 'You have said so.' Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, 'I find no guilt in this man.' But they were urgent, saying, 'He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.' When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.” [25:50]

John 18:33-38
“So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, 'Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?' Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?' 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.' Then Pilate said to him, 'So you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.' Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?' After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, 'I find no guilt in him.” [40:54]

Mark 15:12-14
“And Pilate again said to them, 'Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?' And they cried out again, 'Crucify him.' And Pilate said to them, 'Why? What evil has he done?' But they shouted all the more, 'Crucify him.” [01:02:08]

Observation questions

What accusations did the Jewish leaders bring against Jesus before Pilate, and why would those particular charges matter to a Roman governor? [38:10]
How did Pilate respond after questioning Jesus about whether He was the King of the Jews, and what did Pilate do when he learned Jesus was a Galilean? [44:25]
What did Herod hope Jesus would do, and how did Jesus respond to Herod’s many questions? [46:41]
What happened after Jesus remained silent before Herod, and how did Herod and Pilate’s relationship change that day?

Interpretation questions

Why did the Jewish leaders change their accusation from a religious charge to one of sedition before Pilate? What does this reveal about their purpose in bringing Jesus to Rome? [36:44]
Jesus acknowledged His kingship, yet Pilate did not see Him as a military threat to Caesar. How does John 18 help clarify the kind of King Jesus is and the kind of kingdom He brings? [42:21]
Pilate declared Jesus innocent but still sent Him to Herod rather than doing what justice required. What does Pilate’s response show about the danger of knowing what is right while refusing to act on it? [44:33]
Herod had heard much about Jesus and wanted a sign, but he did not seek truth, repentance, or forgiveness. Why is interest in Jesus not the same as saving faith? [57:40]

Application questions

In what ways can a person be around Christian language, music, Bible stories, and church gatherings while still treating Jesus mainly as interesting rather than as Lord? What helps reveal the difference in a person’s life? [59:25]
When have you been tempted to seek Jesus mainly for relief, answers, help, or a desired outcome rather than for Jesus Himself? How can disappointment or unanswered prayer expose what you were truly seeking? [53:21]
Herod wanted Jesus to meet his demands and became contemptuous when Jesus would not perform. How do you tend to respond when God does not follow your timetable or fulfill your expectations? [54:42]
Jesus does not fit into a convenient corner of life; He calls His people to bring their whole lives under His lordship. What is one area of your life where surrender, repentance, or obedience may be needed right now? [56:13]
Pilate’s question—what to do with Jesus—cannot be avoided forever. How would you answer that question today, and what practical evidence in your choices, relationships, and priorities supports that answer? [01:02:08]
Is there someone in your life who seems curious about Jesus but has not yet trusted and followed Him? What would it look like to pray for that person and speak honestly about repentance, faith, and Christ’s lordship? [01:07:42]

Sermon Clips

38s

#CuriosityToFaith

“There's a difference between curiosity and faith. What are the differences? Here we go. Curiosity says, I'd like to know more about Jesus. Right? Faith says, I believe Jesus and I follow him. Curiosity says, you know, Jesus is interesting. Faith says he's Lord. Curiosity watches. Faith follows. Curiosity generally asks, what can Jesus do for me right now? And, of course, faith asks, what does Jesus want me to do? What can I do for him?”

39s

#WhatWillYouDoWithJesus

“I think that that is arguably the most important question any human being can ever answer. What shall we do with Jesus? Pilate could not have asked a more honest question. He certainly could not have asked a more profound question because how a person answers that question determines their eternal destiny. Did you know that? How a person answers what they're going to do with the king of the Jews determines their eternal destiny. So what? Shall we love him or shall we loathe him? What say you?”

54s

#JesusIsNotEntertainment

“Jesus Christ can never be reduced to your entertainment. He can't be. The religious leaders nearby, they're shouting accusations and aspersions at Jesus. Herod questions him. Jesus remains silent, and then we are told the soldiers entered the fray, and they start mocking, they start ridiculing, they start belittling Jesus. So notice the progression. Ready? Curiosity questions, disappointment, mockery. That's how it always happens when Jesus doesn't fit somebody's bill. They come with curiosity. They ask questions. Oh, they don't like the answers. Surrender, repentance, obedience, those dirty words, mockery, ridicule.”

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