Feast of Christ the King

So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 

The religious leaders deliberately and strategically used this title as a charge against Jesus. Jesus never said that he was a king. The religious leaders will later make Pilate decide Jesus’ fate as they pose his kingship in opposition to Cesar’s authority.

Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”

Jesus knew that Pilate did not know him and that this was the accusation of the religious leaders, seeking to stir Pilate against Jesus. 

 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

Pilate rightly identifies the source of his question. Pilate and the religious leaders had a tense relationship. He was appointed governor of Judea with the authority of Rome to keep this Roman providence in check and to see that the taxes levied by Rome were collected. On the other hand, the religious leaders didn’t like Rome’s domination, but tolerated it for survival.

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” 

Jesus acknowledges the truth. He is a King, the King of the universe, the King of the heavenly kingdom of God. He is the King of kings. 

So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate missed the reality of Jesus’ answer. He is still looking at it in terms of earthly kingdoms. Jesus responds by saying that Pilate missed the truth of what was proclaimed. The reason the revelation of Jesus’ true authority as King was not received or understood by Pilate was that the governor was not open to the truth.  His world view was limited to rule of Rome, not the rule of God.

Is Jesus the King and Lord of our lives to whom we submit our lives? Do we embrace the truth that comes from Jesus?