Did Pilate See Jesus as King?

Transcription

1 St. Paul s Monaco Reader Mary de Vachon Christ the King, November 22, Samuel 23:1 7; Psalm 93: Revelation 1:4b 8: John 18:33 37 Did Pilate See Jesus as King? (Oh Lord, be with us. Be in our hearts and in my speaking that we may more surely know and serve you.) (I wrote this sermon two weeks ago and reread it yesterday to see if I should make amendments following the terrorist events. I have not changed it.) The celebration of Christ the King was begun by Pius XI in 1925 which makes it a fairly recent Christian festival day. Pius wanted the Kingship of Christ to be recognized throughout the world. His hope was that allegiance to this King be dominant in individuals lives. Thus, a Sunday was set aside to celebrate Christ s Kingly attributes. What characteristics come to mind when we think of a King? A King, or a queen, would have a commanding presence, an innate power, and perhaps a regal air. A good king would empower others to achieve or to lead. A King would have confidence, be self assured and give an aura of certainty, power and authority. Negative aspects of a King s personality would be allowing position and power to overrule justice thus to become tyrannical, callous, imperious, egotistical, and to use people as pawns to personal ends.

2 We can recognize these positive traits in Jesus: he must have had a commanding presence and authority. He did empower others to lead and never used people in negative ways. Today s readings look at various aspects of the King: Samuel in prophecy; psalm 93 through poetry as indomitable: Revelation as apocryphal; and John as bearer of truth. Let us look at each characteristic as it applies to Christ. In 2 Samuel 1 7, David looks to the future; he speaks as a prophet to present a King who rules by justice. The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue He who rules over men must be Just. Was David just when he took Bathsheba and sent her husband to the front lines to be killed? David concedes (verse 5) that my house is not so with God. So, David was not speaking of his Kingdom: he knows he has sinned, his youthful innocence clouded by pride and power. Nevertheless, David continues, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant that David s line will continue, everlasting, ordered, secure. This time will come. But for David, the sons of rebellion require battle, men armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.(verse 7) The verses following today s reading name the mighty who fought for David and enumerate the exploits of each. Adino the Eznite had killed 800 men at one time, (verse 8) and so it goes for 31 verses of the 39 in chapter 23.

3 Why this enumeration, this spelling out in praise of his soldiers, if David says a ruler shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain. (verse 4) This just king would be pure, fresh, tender, innocent of the sins that plagued David at the end of his reign. David foresaw a future King, whose reign would look back to that covenant made to him. (Revelation 22:6) Jesus says, I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star. Psalm 93 sings of a mighty Lord, clothed in majesty. This King would be girded with strength. His Kingdom was established of old and will be everlasting. Nothing will move it. The greatest floods have risen against the earth s order but none prevailed, for the Lord on High, enthroned in His Kingdom, is mightier. No adversities, evil or enemies can contend with such greatness. His truth is sure, is forever, and Holiness surrounds Him. The King of Psalm 93 exudes power and majesty and will not be dealt with lightly. Revelation 1: 4b 8 reiterates this Kingdom established of old: Him who is and who was and who is to come This King is: ruler, Supreme over the kings of the earth. redeemer, washing us from our sins (vs.5) by the sacrifice of self. purifier by shedding His blood for us.

4 making us one with Him in His rule, empowering us to be kings and prophets to His God and Father This King is coming, Behold, He is the Alpha and the Omega His kingdom is now and shall be and will be for evermore. No earthly Kingdom can aspire to any of the above. In Revelation we see a glimpse of the Truth of which Jesus speaks in John 18: Following a horrendous night with the Jewish leaders who sent him to Pilate, then to Herod and back to the Romans, Jesus stands in the Praetorium before Pilate. Word has gotten around. Pilate knows about the Jew who prophesies, who rattles the High Priests by pointing out their hypocrisy. Would Pilate find this situation ironic, even drole, that these self contented, sanctimonious, proud, Jewish leaders would have their Power dismantled by a simple carpenter s son from Nazareth? Was he curious about this man whose wisdom caught out the wise Pharisees and Sanhedrin? From the stories Pilate had heard, the man before him was gentle, his life work was to help others, to heal even on a sabbath to perform miracles and to share a message of peace and of love. Pilate wrote to the Emperor Tiberius about Jesus works when chronicling the Crucifixion event. This event was important enough for him to keep Tiberius advised. His letter was kept in Roman archives, Commentarii Principis under the Acts of Pontius Pilate, to which reference was made by Epiphanius in Heresies 50.1, and by Justin Martyr in First Apology, AD 150 and by Tertullian in Apology AD 200. Pilate knew he had not dealt with an ordinary man. Jesus was not a petty criminal.

5 Would Pilate have feared Jesus the man? I doubt so. He asks, Are you King of the Jews? (vs 33) Was Pilate curious as to why this title had been affixed to Jesus. He knew the Jews awaited a Messiah. True to his character, Jesus responds with a question. Do you think I am a King or have you just heard this. (vs. 34) Most likely, Pilate was taken aback by Jesus presence in giving such a response.this man had courage, chutzpah to reply with a question to the Percurator. I think Pilate was intrigued. He felt Jesus charisma, His innate assurance. This man, for an entire night, had been interrogated, beaten, drug from one palace to another and given nothing to eat or drink. Yet, he maintained his self assurance and a regal bearing. He spoke with authority yet, without aggression. Surely, Pilate could see that Jesus was not an ordinary man. Pilate must have recognized his leadership abilities, besides, he knows of the crowds that are following Jesus. Pilate also avoids a direct answer and reminds Jesus that he, Pilate, is in control: Who am I to say what you Jews believe. You have been delivered to me.. (I have the power). What have you done? vs 35. Jesus does not negate the King title but assures Pilate that His power will not vie with the worldly power of Pilate, hence of Rome. No, his followers will not fight against the Jewish cabal in order that Jesus not be delivered to Pilate. Pilate must have contemplated Jesus, seeing a man with kingly characteristics but who remained humble and at peace. Wishing confirmation, he again asks, Are you a King, then? (vs 37).

6 Jesus concedes that Pilate speaks rightly : and replies he is a King, born into this world to bear witness to the Truth and everyone who is in that truth, hears my voice and recognizes my Kingdom and sees me as King. This response was perhaps too existential for Pilate. He had come up through the ranks of the army. Little is known of his past. He may have been an illegitimate son of a noble Roman or he may have been born in Germany. Ambition and a sense of survival most likely were his bywords. His reality was serving Tiberius and seeing that no one threatened his hard fought situation as procureur. Truth. What is Truth? Whose truth is greatest? this was of little import to Pilate. I find no fault in Him, at all. (vs 38). No fault at all. None. Pilate s fear was not of Jesus but of the political fromenting of the Jews in power. This, Pilate could not permit. As Caiaphas advised the Jews the night of Jesus arrest, It was expedient that one man should die for the people. (John 18:14). Pilate allowed the sacrifice. His political power was more important than Truth. Annas and Caiaphas preferred sacrifice to assure their priestly powers. Between the play for power and status quo of Roman rule and religious dogma, Jesus fate was sealed. A King stood before them with a message that would revolutionize the world. But they killed the King. The could not, however, kill His message. When we allow personal power plays to take the forefront of doing what is just, we are far from the desires of Pius XI that all nations recognize and obey the Kingship of Christ s Message.

7 When Kings, presidents, and rulers of nations, when CEOs and prestigious persons put their advancement before what is just and good and humane, they deny His Kingdom and His Kingship. They are not of the Truth and they do not hear His voice. As prophesied, as sung of old, now and forevermore, the historical Jesus stands before us. As did Pilate, we can contemplate, we can ask what is Truth, we can admit the justness, the regal bearing, the humility of the man, but if we act contrary to His message, we kill Christ the King. And we could lose his Kingdom. Amen.