Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, 'What accusation do you bring against this man?' They answered, 'If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.' Pilate said to them, 'Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.' The Jews replied, 'We are not permitted to put anyone to death.' (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, 'Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?' Pilate replied, 'I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?' Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.' Pilate asked him, 'So you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say that 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 asked him, 'What is truth?' After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, 'I find no case against him'
“What is truth?” Pilate’s question is extremely profound, and jumps out at me in this reading. I expected Jesus to answer him, but he doesn’t. I think that the lack of answer, in itself, is an answer. Jesus says that those who belong to the truth listens to him. Pilate seems to be fascinated and in search of meaning for his own life.
The Jewish leaders have Jesus is taken to Pilate, the Roman Governor of the region, hoping that he will convict Jesus of a crime punishable by death. In the reading, Pilate questions Jesus about his claims of identity and his guilt. Jesus doesn’t deny being a king, but tells Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world.
It is interesting that the leaders have chosen this course of action. They have accused Jesus before of blasphemy, which is punishable by stoning. However, they tell Pilate that they are not allowed to put anyone to death. It may be that the feelings about who Jesus is are so split that they are deadlocked about how to handle the situation further. Not wanting to make the decision themselves forces the leaders to take Jesus to Pilate. This would make Pilate the bad guy to the ones that thought Jesus was innocent, and would save face for the leaders that didn’t want him around.
So often we make decisions in this life based on the evidence that is presented, but often that evidence isn’t everything. The whole story is hidden from our understanding. Like Pilate, who is being forced into a decision between the life and death of Jesus, we search for the truth that isn’t readily accessible.
The call today for me would be to exercise caution when making decisions. Pilate is forced into a quandary and makes the decision that Jesus is not guilty of any crime. The only thing standing at this point is the accusations by the Jewish leaders who present him. We know that this is not the end, but for now it seems like Pilate has made the proper decision.
No comments:
Post a Comment