“Are You My King?”

Luke 23:3-7 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
 
PILATE is an unwilling participant in this unholy act. He is also a coward. Consider the man has complete control of Jerusalem. At his word, a man can be crucified, and a man can be set free. His word commands legions of highly trained soldiers who will professionally and violently defend Rome’s position in Judea.
    But Pilate acts as if he is equal, even less than Jesus’ accusers. His quick question to Jesus causes him to say, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” One question is enough. He wants to free Jesus and be free of this responsibility. Yet, he listens to the Jews. Instead of holding firm to his decision, he passes Jesus on to Herod.
    Pilate is as weak as the teachers and priests. The Jewish authorities wanted to pass on Jesus to the Roman authority. Now he passed Jesus on to Herod, Galilee’s authority. It seems no one wants to be bold and say, “Condemn this man.” Why?
    The apostle Paul wrote something that can be the reason why. Romans 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 
    These wicked men know they are wicked. Their conscience is disturbing them. The Lord stands in their presence, silent to their sin; yet, he speaks loudly and clearly into their souls. The authorities are right to hesitate to use their earthly authority to judge the heavenly Judge. It is no wonder they want to pass of Jesus to someone else. Their souls are at risk, and they know it.
    We often do the same, don’t we? Asking God, “Are you my King?” we become uncomfortable when he says, “Yes, it is as you say.” We judge that God’s will and purpose doesn’t fit our understanding. Ill at ease in the presence of Holiness, we judge God to be “out of touch”, “irrelevant”, or “the guy upstairs”. The more we judge him to be on our level, the less we fear his judgment.
    If you see yourself anywhere in there, remember who is the King: Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
 
Prayer: May I never judge you, Lord God, King of glory. Amen.