Saturday
Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
Pilate went back inside to palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Do you think I am a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
(John 18:28-37, NIV)
Immediately following Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the armed crowd of Jewish officials and temple guards bring Jesus before Annas and then Caiaphas, the two leading Jewish religious figures. When false charges are made against him, Jesus remains silent. Only at the point where Caiaphas directly asks him, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God?” does Jesus answer. “Yes, it is as you say” – a response that so angers the high priest that he tears his clothes as he charges Jesus with blasphemy (Matthew 26:59-66).
Jesus not only endures the false accusations of his arresting party, but is slapped by one of the officials when he denies doing anything in secret (John 18:19-23). He is then spit upon, blindfolded and beaten as the armed guards mock him (Luke 22:63-65).
Today’s verses pick up the story following Jesus’ harsh treatment by the Jews. The next morning they drag the beaten prisoner before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who probably heard about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem several days earlier. In his conversation with Pilate, Jesus clearly assumes the title of “king,” but explains to Pilate that his kingdom is “not of this world.” The promised Messiah is ushering in a different kind of kingdom, not one built by warfare or political intrigue as Pilate’s had. The good news of peace which he preaches is not linked to any political or military empire nor is it established by force. It is a gospel of grace and love.
Jesus’ unfair trial by both Jewish and Roman authorities leads to his crucifixion, a brutal form of execution routinely used by Rome, especially against political revolutionaries. Even in the midst of the painful agony of his crucifixion, Jesus practices what he preached. In an act of incomprehensible love, he prays, “Father, forgive them [the soldiers] for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:24). When Jesus teaches his disciples to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecuted you (Matthew 5:43-44) and then does so himself, he demonstrates the radical character of the gospel of peace, a message of love in the midst of a world of hatred and violence.
Prayer
Father, we praise you for the gift of your Son, who taught us even in death to love our enemies. Help us to live out this difficult command. We praise you for your Kingdom that is unlike any other. Thank you for sending us the promised Messiah and his gospel of peace. Amen.