‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked” John 18:37,38.
During this month leading up to Easter, we are looking at Encounters with Jesus by some of his enemies – speaking with Him face to face they went away unredeemed – what can we learn from Pilate?
“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked” John 18:37,38.
During this month leading up to Easter, we are looking at Encounters with Jesus by some of his enemies – speaking with Him face to face they went away unredeemed – what can we learn from Pilate? The photo above is taken at Caesarea Maritima, the massive port in Israel built by Herod the Great. It was the seat of Roman power in Jesus’ day and the headquarters for the Roman overseer of the country. In 1961 this stone was discovered – a dedication stone to Tiberius from “Pontius Pilate prefector of Judea” – this is where he lived.
Pilate was from Italy – a former soldier who rose through the political ranks and was eventually assigned to oversee Israel – a lousy assignment because these people were hardheaded and extremely religious. As a Roman pagan, he began with tried-and-true methodology from other vassal states. Josephus described him as cruel, ruthless and brutal. He did hit a wall when it came to religion and in this he backed down. Pilate had complete political rule in the country and his alliance with Caiaphas the high priest who had complete religious rule gave him a tight hold on this unruly place.
And then comes Jesus, whose authority severely challenged the religious elite. He had chosen a zealot disciple – was he preparing a rebellion to overthrow Rome? It culminated in Jesus’ arrest and arraignment before Pilate who was in Jerusalem for one of his thrice yearly visits.
Notice how Pilate asked Jesus repeatedly if he was a king. I love how Jesus, though beaten and depleted, was the only truly regal one through the whole trial experience. Pilate was on his heels as he talked with Jesus and could see quickly that this was a revenge setup on an innocent man.
Two things then stand out. Pilate’s wife Claudia Procula sent a message to him about a profound dream she had of Jesus as an innocent man, telling him to avoid Jesus. And in John 19:7,8 when the detractors insisted that Jesus die because he claimed to be the Son of God, Pilate became even more afraid. Eventually you know the story. Pilate washed his hands of the whole thing and delivered Jesus to crucifixion as the cost of doing business, although he did erect a sign over the cross declaring Jesus to be ‘King of the Jews.’
What’s our takeaway from this man? Pilate encountered Jesus – a man totally outside of his pagan/political box. He was moved, afraid, even protective of Jesus, but his vested interests made it too difficult to embrace what he was learning about Jesus. This can be true of us as well. We are dealing in God sized things – prayer, eternity, calling, miraculous – intrusions on our everyday life. What if the Lord speaks something untoward? Can we embrace that, or do we push it aside and go on our way?
This is Easter week – a time to see Jesus go to the cross and then to stand at the empty tomb and rejoice. Let the Holy Spirit say what he wants to say to you this weekend. Jesus said; “I am the way, the truth and the life – no one comes to the Father but by me.”
“He is risen – He is risen indeed!”
Pastor Leon Throness
