David Bahn – Reflections

John 19:10-11

¹⁰So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” ¹¹Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Apparently Luther did not say, “I would rather be ruled by a wise Turk than by a foolish Christian.” (For one of several posts on this question see this post.) But even if he did not, it’s still a good thought in these days of political foment in the Republican Party over Mitt Romney’s Mormon religious convictions. No matter who first said it, the sentiment is wise as a reminder of the two kingdoms (“Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s” ~ Matthew 22), and reflective of Jesus’ words here in John 19. Pilate’s power comes from God alone. He rules all things. Even the devil is always God’s devil (another Luther gem!).

We might wish for a godly Christian ruler whose policies agree with our sensibilities. We might wish for politicians who support right to life, the sanctity of marriage, and other political hot potatoes reflective of our values. But ultimately, there is a greater play in the offing. God’s desire and design is for the eternal wellbeing of all people through faith in Jesus.

So as Jesus stands before Pilate (an inept and ineffectual ruler if ever there was one), his confidence is not in the political system, the sensibilities of the religious leaders, or the faithfulness of the crowds. All of these will let him down. His confidence is in God alone who has delivered him over to Pilate, and even ultimately to death.

There is plenty of sin in this encounter. But Jesus’ righteousness will shine brightly against the darkness of this hour. And while we we may wish for wise Christian political leaders, and even fight valiantly for their election, let’s never forget that God’s kingdom is the only eternal kingdom.

John 19:1-16

¹Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. ² And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. ³They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. ⁴Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” ⁵So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” ⁶When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” ⁷The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” ⁸When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” ¹¹Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

¹²From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” ¹³So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. ¹⁴Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” ¹⁵They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” ¹⁶ So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.