Welcome back to The Living, a space created to help you encounter God in your everyday life, be with Him, and find life right where you are. Today is Friday, March twenty-seventh. Earlier this week, we were in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed, He surrendered, He stepped forward, and now we find Jesus standing before Pilate. He's been accused and questioned and misunderstood, and in this moment a question rises to the surface: what kind of king is he? Before we step into today's Lectio Divina practice, let's listen to these words from Philippians 4, 6, and 7. Don't be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your request to God. Go ahead now, take a slow breath in, and exhale gently. Notice today what it is that you're holding on to. Expectations, outcomes, control. Ask quietly, Jesus, where do I need to trust you more deeply? Today's scripture comes from John eighteen thirty-three through thirty-seven. Jesus is standing before Pilate. As always, in our lectio practice, we'll work through four movements. We'll read, reflect, respond, and finally rest in the care and presence of the Lord. John eighteen. On this first reading, I invite you to simply listen to the text. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus, and asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? Is that your own idea? Jesus asked. Or did others talk to you about me? Am I a Jew? Pilate replied. Your own people and chief priest handed you over to me. What is it you've done? Jesus says, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place. Oh, you are a king, then, said Pilate. Jesus answered, You say that I am a king, in fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. On this next reading, I simply invite you to reflect. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight or illuminate something for you. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus, and asked him, Are you the King of the Jews? Is that your own idea? Jesus asked. Or did others talk to you about me? Am I a Jew? Pilate replied. Your own people and chief priest handed you over to me. What is it you've done? Jesus says, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place. You are a king, then, said Pilate. Jesus answered. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. What stands out to you? As I read this passage again, listen for the invitation. Take a moment to respond. You might ask yourself, where have I shaped Jesus into the kind of king that I want? Where is he inviting me to trust him as he truly is? Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus, and asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? Is that your own idea? Jesus asked, or did others talk to you about me? Am I a Jew? Pilate replied. Your own people and chief priests handled you over to me. What is it you have done? Jesus says, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders, but now my kingdom is from another place. You are a king, then, said Pilate. Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into this world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. Take a moment to respond. Jesus asked. Or did others talk to you about me? Am I a Jew? Pilate replied. Your own people and chief priest handed you over to me. What is it you've done? Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place. You are a king, then, said Pilate. Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into this world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. Simply rest in the presence of the king. As I took in today's passage, it's so interesting. Pilate is looking for a political threat, a rival king, someone who might take power by force, but Jesus answers in a completely different way. He is a king, but not the kind they expected. He's a king who reigns through truth, through surrender, through love. And this is where the tension lives for us too. We often want a king who fixes our circumstances, but Jesus comes to transform our hearts. The question is not just who Jesus is. The question is, will we trust him as king even when he's not what we expected? Let's pray through that. Jesus, you are the one true king. Teach us to trust you. Not as we imagine you to be, but as you truly are. Shape our lives around your kingdom. We pray this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today, go in his presence, rest in his love. This is the living. We'll continue tomorrow.