Christ the King?

Text: John 18:28-40
Title: Christ the King? 11/22/09 Clarksville

Vs. 28-32 It was sometime between 3-6a.m. when there was a knock at the door. You know at that time of the night (or morning) it couldn’t be anything good. I know what would go through my mind first - where are the kids? The next question would be, what bad thing has happened and who is hurt? My guess is there was a simultaneous sense of relief and aggravation when Pilate opened the door to find a group of religious leaders who were obviously oblivious to the time. (My mother-in-law has that quality. She lives in another time zone and has a tendency to call our house on Saturday morning - EARLY- when it’s not deer season and there isn’t any good reason to get up before dawn; when it’s the only day you have to get caught up a little on the lack of sleep that has accumulated through the week).

Pilate opened the door to see an angry group whose teeth and fists were clinched, standing in the shadows cast by their hand-held torches. With scowls on their faces, and hatred in their hearts, these religious leaders were hoping to find a political ally to support their scheme to get rid of Jesus.

The weary eyed governor invited them in, not because he wanted the company but because he didn’t want to stand outside. They refused to come into the palace because that would defile them, making them unable to eat the Passover feast and they couldn’t have that, so they stayed outside. They were intent on keeping hands that would hold the blood of an innocent man tomorrow, clean of Gentile germs tonight. Ironic that they could be so concerned about clean hands while having hate-filled hearts, but ironic things always happen when religious people are more concerned about outward appearance than inner purity.

Pilate consented and stepped out onto the porch to see what couldn’t wait until a reasonable hour. “What charges are you bringing against this man?” But their answer wasn’t really an answer. “Do you think we’d have brought him here if he wasn’t guilty?” Pilate rubbed his eyes and said, “take care of it yourselves. I’m going back to bed.” But they couldn’t take care of it the way they wanted to because they didn’t have the authority to execute anyone. They needed Pilate for that. As they spoke, saying more than they were really saying, Pilate began to feel the bind. Their tone was clear and Pilate knew exactly what they were insinuating. If they didn’t get their way it wouldn’t be too hard to cause an uproar (with all the extra people in the city and all). The last thing in the world Pilate needed was word getting to the Emperor that he couldn’t control the people. They had their political power in a tough spot and he knew it.

Vs. 33-37 But Pilate didn’t give them an answer, at least not a first. Knowing that sleep was not going to be an option now, he went back inside his palace and gave the order for Jesus to be brought in. With the change of location there is also a change of conversation. Outside he’d been engaged in a conversation about Jesus. Inside, Pilate would talk directly to Jesus. Here is where the story really gets interesting. When we make the move from talking about Jesus to talking to Him, it opens up all kinds of possibilities. Conversations about Jesus might be interesting, entertaining or stimulating, but conversations with Jesus can change your whole life.

I’m intrigued by Pilate’s first question. “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “Did you come up with that question all by yourself or did someone else help you with it?” Whoever came up with it, it was a good question. “Who are you Jesus? Are you the King of the Jews?” To tell you the truth, he doesn’t look much like any king Pilate has ever seen. He doesn’t look much like any other king anyone has seen.

He’s been arrested. He has no throne. No visible kingdom. No signet ring or royal robe. No white horse, chariots or military. No envoy, no credentials, no crown, at least not yet. In 19:1-3 the soldiers will have a coronation ceremony where he is crowned with thorns. They’ll drape a purple robe over him while they jab him with their fists and sarcastic praises of “Hail, king of the Jews!” What kind of King could retaliate but doesn’t? Who could rally the troops and begin a revolution but refuses to fight? What kind of king serves rather than demands to be served? A king who doesn’t seem to need everyone else in the world bowing down to him for him to know who he is.

To tell you the truth I can see why Pilate would have had a hard time seeing Jesus as a king, at least seeing him as his king. Later on when Pilate had the sign made that hung above Jesus on the cross it read “King of the Jews.” (19:19-22). Pilate didn’t have a problem making Jesus their king but he wasn’t about to make Jesus his king. That’s one thing about it. Try as we might, there is no way in the world Pilate, or you, or I can make Jesus anyone else’s king. To be honest, sometimes that’s pretty frustrating. I want to be able to force His kingship on other people. I want to be able to make him the greatest priority. I want to make a sign that says “King of the Nazarenes” or “King of Clarksville” or even “King of the World” but I can’t do it. The only place I can assure Jesus has a throne is in the chamber of my own heart.

I’m proud to say He is my king. He is my king even though He’s not always the kind of King I wish He’d be. Sometimes I wish he’d be the kind of King who uses his power to make the wrong right every time. I wish he was the kind of King who chose to conquer disease and be victorious over every ailment and every evil every time. I wish He’d be the kind of king who made sure suffering and injustice didn’t exist, who saw to it that there was never a time when His people struggled with finances. I wish He’d be the kind of King who put an end to all war and united every family that has been separated because of it. But He doesn’t always act like that, and as I read this story I know I shouldn’t be surprised. If suffering, sickness, selflessness and sacrifice were not foreign to our King, then they’re probably not going to be foreign to those of us who are part of His kingdom. Are you a king, Jesus? Yes He is, but it’s obvious that He’s the King of of a totally different kind of kingdom. And as to whether or not He’s your king, that’s a question each of us, just like Pilate, will have to answer for ourselves.

Pilate’s next question was: “What have you done?” (V. 35) Pilate wanted to know what crime Jesus had committed, but I can’t help but see that question differently. What has Jesus done? We know what He’s done. He lived, died, and He rose again, defeating the power of death. He came from heaven to earth to show the way to the Father and to give us a perfect example of how we were meant to live. We know what He’s done. He healed and helped, comforted and commanded, led and fed, and revealed the heart of God to us all. We know what he’s done. He has given us grace and mercy and paved the way for us to be made whole, to find peace and purpose. That’s what He’s done. He’s defeated death and destroyed the power of sin. We know what He’s done. It’s what our faith is founded upon -- but Pilate didn’t know any of that. So he asks.

I can’t help but think Pilate felt the contrast in conversations. Outside the palace he is pressured, manipulated, forced and coerced to go along with a mob bent on death. They are appealing to his politics knowing that he’ll feel pressured to protect his position. Inside he’s invited to embrace the only One who can give him life. Jesus is isn’t coercing He’s inviting, appealing to his heart. And there stands Pilate in the middle. Between the crowd and the King. Between good and evil. Between life and death. Between light and darkness. Between allegiance to a life-giving God and allegiance to a death-dealing crowd. Between his political ambitions and his spiritual needs. Pilate has been outside and inside, talked about Jesus and to Jesus, and he’s stuck in a place of indecision as he’s trying to figure out his greatest question of all – “What am I going to do with Jesus?” He has one foot on the porch with the mob and the other in the palace with the King. He has to decide. Dismiss him or destroy him? Kill him or crown him? What am I going to do with Jesus?

I think a lot of people can relate to Pilate’s precarious position. If we accept Jesus’ kingship, life will be different. He brings a different kind of kingdom altogether and sometimes it’s hard to embrace because we’re just as accustomed to living in the empire as Pilate was. So we’re torn. Torn between the way of the world and the way of the Cross, between self-service and self-sacrifice. Torn between saying that Jesus is A King, and living like Jesus is OUR King. Some of us live with one foot on Pilate’s porch and the other in Pilate’s palace, torn between kings, between kingdoms. Ultimately Pilate’s question becomes one we must answer. Dismiss him or destroy him? Kill him or crown him? What are we going to do with Jesus?

Vs. 38-40 As our text comes to a close, Pilate is back outside where he will cave in to the coercion of the crowd and deny the invitation of the King. As he walks out to the porch, it is with one last question still echoing through the palace even as it echoes through the empty cavern in his chest. The last question he asks is, “What is truth?”

What is the truth? I don’t know the truth about where you stand - if it’s outside with the mob, inside the Kingdom of God, or like Pilate with one foot on the porch and one foot in the palace. But I do know the truth about Jesus. The truth about Jesus is that he doesn’t force or fight his way to the throne of our hearts. The truth about Jesus is that if we allow Him to be enthroned in us, it will make an every-day difference that as most of us already know, isn’t always easy. The truth about Jesus is that He is a King. He doesn’t just want to be a king, He wants to be your king. Is He?

Invitation: “Amazing Love / You Are My King”

Benediction: I Timothy 1:17 Now to the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God be honor and glory forever and ever amen.