Recently, I was reading the Gospel of Mark for a devotional blog I write, and I was struck by how Pilate, among others, named Jesus in those last hours.
Mark 15:1-5
And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.
And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
And he answered
him, “You have said so.”
And the chief priests
accused him of many things.
And Pilate again asked
him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring
against you.”
But Jesus made no
further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
Jesus was taken to Pilate and said nothing except to answer as to his identity that Pilate had called him the King of the Jews. As I have written previously, Jesus didn't defend himself against the false charges or the incomplete naming. So much is said today about the oppressor’s habit of naming the oppressed, but here Pilate names Jesus “King of the Jews” and Jesus didn’t object. Was Jesus the king of the Jews? Yes, but that was not everything he was—he was so much more! Yet he felt no need to correct Pilate’s condescension.
Governments
tend to be threatened by the authority of Jesus which is historically present
in the lives of his followers. Ultimate authority does not rest with Caesar and
for most rulers and realms this inflames their inferiorities and persecution
spills over onto the church. However, like Christ, those who have come to
realize that Jesus’ death and resurrection have removed the penalty of sin and
opened up access to eternal life, what fear is there in death? If we don’t fear
death it shows the superiority of the kingdom that we serve. Remember, Jesus
came to set us all free from the fear of death, as it says in Hebrews 2:14-18,
“Since therefore the
children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same
things, that through death he might destroy the one who has
the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those
who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For
surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of
Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every
respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high
priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the
people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to
help those who are being tempted.”
He set us free from the fear of death! And because state control is ultimately related to the fear of death—we are no longer oppressed by the fear of death, because we have received eternal life in Jesus Christ. We don’t ever stoop to trying to establish the kingdom by force by attacking the servants of the oppressors like Peter did, but we explicitly trust in the heart of God and the Spirit of God to bring about the plan of God. If we overcome, in Christ, Jesus promises to give us a new name.
"He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will
give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a
new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who
receives it.’"
(Rev. 2:17).
So even when people consider us less than we really are we can like Jesus accept the part that is true, and trust God for the rest.
Jesus knew his life was in the Father's hands. He knew his life was being given as ransom for even those who attacked him. He knew who he was as the Father had named him, “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21; lit. Yahweh is Salvation) and declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11)
But
here in this moment of trial…
- I
wonder as to the expressions on his face, the sense of eternity in his
eyes.
- I
wonder how the priest and leaders felt when he looked them in the face.
- I
wonder if his countenance, though bruised and disfigured, glowed with the
radiance of a pure spirit. Certainly, Pilate wondered and marveled at
Christ.
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