ACC ~ John 18 v36

JESUS REJECTS DIGNITY AND POWER

TERTULLIAN: If he exercised no right of power even over his own followers, to whom he discharged menial tasks—if, in short, though conscious of his own kingdom, he shrank back from being made a king—he in the fullest way possible gave his own an example for turning coldly from all the pride and outward trappings, as well of dignity as of power. ON IDOLATRY 18. [1]

[1] CCL 2:1119-20; ANF 3:73*.

CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM

EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: And when they were asked about Christ and his kingdom, of what nature it was, and where and when it would appear, they answered that it was neither of the world, nor earthly, but heavenly and angelic, and would appear at the end of the world when he would come in glory to judge the living and the dead and to give to every one according to his works. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 3.20.3-4. [1]

[1] FC 19:167.

WHERE REAL STRENGTH LIES

CHRYSOSTOM: Here Jesus shows the weakness of kingship among us. He demonstrates that its strength lies in servants. But that which is above is sufficient of itself. It needs nothing. … And so, he also says that his kingdom is not from this world—not depriving the world of his providence and governance but rather showing, as I said, that his power was not human or perishable. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.4. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:311**.

IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF IT

AUGUSTINE: Listen, everyone, Jews and Gentiles, circumcised and uncircumcised. Listen, all kings of the earth. I am no hindrance to your rule in this world, for “my kingdom is not of this world.” Banish the groundless fear that filled Herod the Great on hearing that Christ was born. More cruel in his fear than in his anger, he put many children to death, [1] so that Christ would also die. But “my kingdom is not of this world,” says Christ. What further reassurance do you seek? Come to the kingdom that is not of this world. Do not be enraged by fear, but come by faith. In a prophecy Christ also said, “He,” that is, God the Father, “has made me king on Zion his holy mountain.” [2] But that Zion and that mountain are not of this world.

What in fact is Christ’s kingdom? It is simply those who believe in him, those to whom he said, “You are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.” He willed, nevertheless, that they should be in the world, which is why he prayed to the Father, “I ask you not to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.” [3] So here also he did not say, “My kingdom is not” in this world but “is not of this world.” And when he went on to prove this by declaring, “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought to save me from being handed over to the Jews,” he concluded by saying not “my kingdom is not here” but “my kingdom is not from here.”

Indeed, his kingdom is here until the end of time, and until the harvest it will contain weeds. The harvest is the end of the world, when the reapers, who are the angels, will come and gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin. [4] And this could not happen if his kingdom were not here. But even so, it is not from here, for it is in exile in the world. Christ says to his kingdom, “You are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” [5] They were indeed of the world when they belonged to the prince of this world, before they became his kingdom. Though created by the true God, everyone born of the corrupt and accursed stock of Adam is of the world. [But] everyone who is reborn in Christ becomes the kingdom that is no longer of the world. For God has snatched us from the powers of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. [6] This is that kingdom of which he said, “My kingdom is not of this world; my kingly power does not come from here.” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 115.2. [7]

[1] See Mt 2:3, 16.

[2] Ps 2:6.

[3] Jn 17:15-16.

[4] See Mt 13:38-41.

[5] Jn 15:19.

[6] See Col 1:13.

[7] JFB 136-37*; CCL 36:644-45.