Good Friday of Holy Week
33 Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He called for Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus said, “Is that your own question, or did other people tell you about me?”
35 Pilate said, “I’m not a Jew! It was your own people and their leading priests who brought you before me. What have you done wrong?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish leaders. No, my kingdom is not an earthly one.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king.”
John 18:33-37a (ERV)
This conversation takes place between Pilate, the Roman Governor, and Jesus, a Jewish King, at Jesus’s trial. It turns into the clash of the Empires – Rome vs. the Kingdom of God. Alternative kings/Caesars and alternative kingdoms/empires -especially one that “doesn’t belong to this world” would make Pilate and the whole Roman hierarchy very nervous.
Jesus says his followers would fight if his kingdom were earthy, but since it isn’t, they won’t. What do you think makes Jesus’s kingdom “not earthly?” Do you think this make Jesus more dangerous or less dangerous in Pilate’s view. Why do you think many of Jesus’s followers today participate in fighting/war?
Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.
Tongue on Fire 