17 April 2014

Not That Kind of King; Not this One

They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn’t enter the palace because they didn’t want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and spoke. “What charge do you bring against this man?”

They said, “If he hadn’t been doing something evil, do you think we’d be here bothering you?”

Pilate said, “You take him. Judge him by your law.”

The Jews said, “We’re not allowed to kill anyone.” (This would confirm Jesus’ word indicating the way he would die.)

Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”

Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”

“My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”

Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”

Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”

Pilate replied, “What is truth?”

Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, “I find nothing wrong in this man. It’s your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the ‘King of the Jews’?”

They shouted back, “Not this one, but Barabbas!”

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I never noticed till today that, on their way to commit the highest crime in history, that the Jews are worried about making themselves unclean for Passover by entering a Gentile palace.

donsands said...

Watched 'The Passion' tonight with my grandson, Josh, who is 14. The scene with Jesus speaking of His being a King was quite powerful.
The work of art has its biblical parts, and its Mel Gibson form of art; and yet, all in all it was good to watch. Brutal to watch, and yet maybe we need brutal in our day to discuss, at least.

Good word Cent.