This is a pretty cool story. The Gospel
lesson appointed for Christ the King Sunday in Year B (John 18:33-37) is part
of one of the most gripping scenes in scripture—the trial of Jesus before
Pontius Pilate. Pilate fascinates us as a literary and historic character. Here
is our enemy, the dude whose job it is to oppress us, and yet he’s more
sympathetic and respectful of truth than those who are supposed to be our
brothers and sisters. Our sympathies go out to him as he finds it impossible to
do the noble thing in a world filled with anger and hate.
At least this is the way we might think of
him. To be honest, most Bible scholars would agree that the characterization of
Pilate in the Gospels takes more than a little poetic license. John is writing
around the end of the first century of the Common Era, and he’s probably more
interested in sucking up to a Roman-dominated world and not too keen on pleasing
a Pharisaical Jewish community which is already taking a pretty dim view of the
followers of Jesus. Ancient historians such as Philo and Josephus state overtly
what the Gospels only suggest—Pontius Pilate was a political thug whose job was
to shake the conquered people down for taxes and keep them from revolting. He was renowned for his corruption, brutality,
and total disdain for those whom he was charged to govern.
Knowing what we do about ol’ Pontius makes
his cynical comment in John 18:38 (disgracefully omitted from this week’s
assigned reading if you ask me!) all the more poignant. When Jesus tells him he
has come to bear witness to the truth, all Pilate can answer is, “What is
truth?”
This guy doesn’t have a clue. He is
enmeshed in the kingdom of this world with its politics, selfishness, fear, and
reliance on violence and intimidation. Jesus’ kingdom does not involve the need
to dominate and destroy enemies. Jesus’ kingdom reigns without victimizing or
demonizing or dehumanizing. Jesus’ kingdom does not require armies with weapons
and the celebration of victory over vanquished peoples.
And Jesus’ kingdom rests on the true might
of service, humility, sacrifice, and love. All the empires of this world with
all of their victories are only temporary. Every use of force will only hold
the field for a blink of God’s eye. The kingdom of Jesus, based on the Law of
God to love God and love humanity, is the only one which will stand forever. In
their fear of loss, victimization, and insignificance, the Pilates of this
world can’t understand this.
In last Sunday’s Gospel Jesus warned us
about false prophets in a time of change and chaos. I pray to God that we,
American Christians, won’t buy into the panic of ISIS terrorism and the
knee-jerk reaction of some who urge retaliation by denying compassion to the
poor and the stranger. Such may be the world’s reaction, but we do not belong to
that kingdom.
As I write this post, a congregation of
Pakistani American Muslims is preparing to begin a worshiping community in a
former United Church of Christ chapel around the corner from my parish here in
Far Northeast Philly. May we all remember that our true kingdom is not of this
world. May we follow the example of our True King and show honor, welcome,
kindness, and hospitality as befits the subjects of his kingdom.
God bless you, my fellow subjects. Long
live the King in our hearts and minds!
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