I want to use a concept that I used a few years ago on Good Friday. You see, the scene in the gospel comes before Jesus’ crucifixion, and we hear about Pilate interrogating Jesus every Good Friday. So think of the setting, Jesus has been arrested. He’s been in prison all night. He probably was all alone, hungry, thirsty, barely any sleep. He’s fully aware that he could be tortured, wiped, scourged, beaten, and nailed to a cross.
But before that, there is a trial. Now Pilate is a big wig. He’s appointed by Caesar as governor of Judeo (that’s a big region) but remember Judeo is not prestigious; it’s mostly a military assignment . . . to keep peace. Historians have him as one of the longest serving governors in that area (about 10 years).
Standing in front of Pilate is a troublemaker from a hick town up north, whom the religious leaders hate. Pilate is probably bored with all of this. You know the story, but I invite you to think of it differently.
That scripture was chosen today because Pilate is accusing Jesus of being a king. That is, an earthly king, one with armies and money. But Jesus is a different kind of king. Now use your imagination and think of Jesus being on trial because of you. Imagine that Jesus is being put to death because he is accused of knowing you. Not anyone else, not a group of people . . . just you.
Imagine Pilate questioning Jesus. Pilate asks Jesus, “Do you know this person?” (That’s you) And Jesus responds, “Know them? Not only do I know them, but I love them (you).” Now think about this, Jesus is on trial because he is accused of knowing you, and all he would have to do is to say that he doesn’t know you.
Pilate continues, “We have proof here of all the bad things (you) have done in your entire life.” Then Pilate goes on to announce everything you ever did wrong, everything you ever thought or said. Pilate then asks if Jesus wants to be associated with you, and all he has to do is say something like, “I don’t know him/her (you).”
Jesus responds, “I know. I was there.”
And Pilate asks Jesus, “Don’t you understand? We are about to strip you naked, whip until you bleed, beat you until every muscle in your body cries out in pain, then pound nails into you flesh and hang you on lumber until your body can’t inhale enough air and you slowly suffocate until your last breath. And all you have to do is to say that you don’t know this person.”
And Jesus looks Pilate in the eyes and says, “Not only do I know them; not only do I love them (you), but I am IN-LOVE with them (you), and I am willing to die before I ever would stop loving them (you).
And that’s what today is about . . . Jesus is a different kind of King, not one who blames or shames, but one who is willing to give up his life for you.
You came, the image of our God,
To heal and to forgive,
To shed your blood for sinners’ sake
That we might rise and live.
To break the law of death you came,
The law of love to bring:
A diff’rent rule of righteousness,
A dif’rent kind of king.