Daily Devotion for March 26, 2006

To Jerusalem with the ComPassionate Christ
Day 26

 

Are You the King of the Jews?

 

"Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.  The chief priests accused him of many things.  So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."  Mark 15: 2-4

 

We are correct to note an element of sarcasm in Pilate’s question, as if he had been disturbed from some other, pleasant task by his responsibilities as dispenser of Roman justice. The question might be translated, "Oh, so you’re the King of the Jews are you?" Pilate was not inclined to believe, yet he had about him enough of the Roman sense of justice that he was at least going to question the accused. We cannot denounce Pilate for meting out summary justice. He was not a rubber stamp, but then, neither was he brave enough to withstand the howls of protest coming from the Sanhedrin.

 

Pilate was trying Jesus on the charge of treason. The Sanhedrin had evidently informed the Romans that the Carpenter was calling Himself a King, and that He was a threat to established authority. Two things should be noted: first, this is a different charge to the one brought in their extraordinary overnight meeting. There, Jesus was charged as a heretic, one who was a blasphemer. Second, the charge Jesus answered before Pilate was extremely serious. There had been a series of violent upstarts who had encouraged insurrection. Their rebellions were generally short-lived, but they were also bloody. Too many Roman soldiers had felt a blade between their ribs in darkened alleys. Too many innocent lives had been lost because of the activities of false messiahs, claiming to be kings. Was Jesus in the same mold? Did this Galilean actually pose a threat to his kingdom?  What had this Jesus done that caused such hatred among the Jewish leadership?  He did not seem like the other “Messiahs” that had come along.  At least the others had pretended to be lions; this one looked like a lamb, which is, of course, exactly what He was.

 

Prayer:
Jesus, you are King, but King of the Universe.  Your Kingdom is much larger than the earthly kingdoms so many wanted.  Help me always to see the big picture – your Eternal Kingdom!  Amen

 

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