Piecing it all together

Jesus and Rugby?

Fit for a King

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. John 18:1 

The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on towards the desert.    2 Samuel 15:23

But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.       2 Samuel 15:30

When Jesus said 'I AM'

Commenting on John 18:1-11: 

We do not need to hesitate to see in this incident an instructive type of all our Saviour’s dealings with His people, even at this day. He will not suffer them ‘to be tempted above with that which they are unable to bear.’ He will hold the winds and storms in His hands, and not allow believers, however sifted and buffeted, to be utterly destroyed. He watches tenderly over every one of his children, and, like a wise physician, measures out the right quantity of their trials with unerring skill. ‘They shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of his hand.’ (John x. 28). For ever let us lean our souls on this precious truth. In the darkest hour the eye of the Lord Jesus is upon us, and our final safety is sure. (Expository Thoughts on John, JC Ryle, p237)

Not of this world

On John 18:36: 

His kingdom (yes, he agrees he has a kingdom; Pilate seizes on this) doesn't come from this world. Please note, he doesn't say, as some translations have put it, ' my kingdom is not of this world'; that would imply that his 'kingdom' was altogether other-worldly, a spiritual or heavenly reality that had nothing to do with the present world at all. That is not the point. Jesus, after all, taught his disciples to pray that God's kingdom would come 'on earth as in heaven'. 

No: the point is that Jesus' kingdom does not come from 'this world'. Of course it doesn't. 'The world', as we've seen again and again, is in John the source of evil and rebellion against God. Jesus is denying that his kingdom has a this-worldy origin or quality. That's why he has come into the world himself (v37), and why he has sent, and will send, his followers into the world (17.18; 20.21). His kingdom doesn't come from this world, but it is for this world. That is the crucial distinction.  (John for Everyone, Tom Wright, p114-115)