Readings for today: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16
Anyone who suggests Jesus isn’t political hasn’t read the Gospels. An illegitimate trial by religious authorities under the cover of darkness. An illegal sentence of death for a religious crime. Delivering Jesus to Pilate for judgment. Pilate’s appeal to the crowd to set Him free on Passover. Pilate’s attempt to shift jurisdiction to Herod. Pilate’s many attempts to avoid sentencing Jesus on trumped up charges. Pilate’s caving under the political pressure once Caesar’s name was invoked. It all reeks of politics of the worst kind.
How does Jesus respond? Does He defend Himself? Does He call on His followers to rise up? Does He rage against the injustice of it all? No. In fact, when directly asked by Pilate if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus essentially replies, “Those are your words not mine.” When directly confronted on the many false charges brought against Him, Jesus chooses to say nothing. When Herod questions Him and demands He perform miracles to entertain him, Jesus again stands silent. The only answer Jesus gives is recorded in the Gospel of John. He says, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jewish authorities. But my kingdom is not from this world.” (John 18:36 CSB) This is a clear political statement. Jesus is claiming to represent a kingdom much greater and much more powerful than any kingdom in this world. Greater than Herod’s kingdom. Greater than Pilate’s kingdom. Greater than even Caesar’s kingdom. None of them have any authority over Him except that which has been given to them by the One Jesus came to represent.
Jesus’ example is instructive for us. Jesus never withdraws from the world. He never goes off into the desert to hide or to create an alternative society like the Essenes or the later monastic Christians. Jesus never seeks to dominate the kingdoms of this world. He never seeks to overthrow Herod or Pilate or Caesar. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find any criticism of any worldly authorities coming from Him. It’s not that there wasn’t injustice or corruption in Jesus’ day…quite the opposite actually…it’s just that Jesus never placed any stock in the reformation of the kingdoms of this world. He knew He was here to represent a different kingdom altogether. The same is true for us. To live in the world but not be of the world. To live and love and serve under the authorities of the kingdoms of this world while representing a different kingdom altogether. A greater kingdom. An eternal kingdom. A heavenly kingdom.
Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalms 22