Devotion: John 18:33-34
Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”
Devotion
Have you seen the movie Mean Girls? While trying to make friends at a new school she’s attending, protagonist Cady Heron talks at lunch with queen bee Regina George, who tricks her into seeming vain.
Regina: But you’re like really pretty.
Cady: Thanks.
Regina: So you agree…
Cady: What?
Regina: You think you’re really pretty?
Pretty sneaky, sis.
It’s not a new trick though, Pontius Pilate tried to get Jesus to proclaim himself king over the Jews all the way back in 33 A.D. If Jesus had admitted this, it would have made things much easier for Pilate, who was a slick politician, trying to gain more security and power for himself.
Here’s a little backstory. See, Pilate’s in a weird spot. The guy who got him his position in office tried to kill the emperor Tiberius, which makes Pilate look kinda suspicious by association. Oops. Not a great look for a guy trying to climb the political ladder.
Also, he’s had numerous run-ins by now with the local Jews, because he doesn’t care very much about their customs, and repeatedly offends them, all the while having power to appoint their high priest and otherwise influence them.
The Jews on the other hand, are trying to keep their hands clean of Jesus’s blood, and want Pilate to do their dirty work for them. He has just finished telling them to go mind their own business and deal with Jesus by themselves, but they don’t want to be responsible. So they’ve been rioting at his house for days at this point, and he’s probably a combo of scared and tired of it all, and just wants them to go away.
Since he doesn’t really like the Jewish leaders, who are clamoring for him to kill Jesus, he doesn’t want to execute Jesus because that would mean he’s just their pawn. However, he’s always looking for power, and he knows that the Jewish leadership really do have a lot of it, so what should he do?
Well, if he can get Jesus to call himself king, it’s a clear-cut case for treason, and he can do what the Jews want without actually acquiescing to them. Plus, it gives him the upper hand over them because he can say he executed their king, which places them even further beneath even him, a measly governor.
As we can see above though, Jesus is a better politician than the professional politician, and forces Pilate to carry on, realize Jesus is innocent, and follow through with executing him. It’s all part of God’s plan that Jesus be a blameless sacrifice, not just an incidental political killing.
This conversation that Pilate and Jesus have, which Pilate starts with his question, is really the last chance before Jesus’s death and crucifixion. It’s the final moment where there is an opportunity for someone to intervene, or mar Jesus’s reputation, or otherwise screw up the concept and fulfillment of the sacrifice.
Jesus eventually tells Pilate that he’s not the kind of king he needs to worry about, and not a worldly king. I imagine Pilate looking at him with his head cocked and eyebrow raised, and then going outside to yell at the Jews some more, and to tell them that there’s nothing wrong with Jesus.
But of course, they don’t stop. Pilate gives up, washes his hands of the matter, and Jesus is sent down the path towards execution.
I do enjoy reading how Jesus navigates this situation with grace, especially knowing he’s about to be abandoned and painfully executed. He never gives up or wavers from God’s plan. I think there’s a lesson here about how even if you know you’re about to go through incredible pain soon, you can still carry on and face it bravely, on-mission, and to ensure a long-term purpose.
Prayer:
God, help me learn to walk gracefully through tough times I may experience in the future. Help me focus on the purpose you’ve given me.
Author: Jordan Ambra
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