April 14, 2006
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 + Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9 + John 18:1-19:42
Pilot is the man of the day in John’s Passion. He has the power. He has the facts. He has a moment in life to make a decision, and he does. His decision is not simply about guilt or innocence. He makes that one, as you notice. He finds Jesus innocent; then, goes on with his life. We have no idea what his life was like after that decision. He fades away. Secular history does give us some clues that he fell out of favor, was removed from his distant and unimportant post in the Empire, and then he’s gone.
The decision he faced was not really about innocence or guilt. It was a decision between two Kingdoms, and the innocent man who stood before him offered him the choice. He made the choice, and that was it.
Each of the four Gospels touches in its own way this issue of Kingdom. Only John makes the point that this Kingdom Jesus preached is non-political. John has Jesus distinguish between the Roman and the Jewish notions of kingship: one is profoundly political, the other deeply religious. Only those who belong to the “truth” can understand in what sense Jesus has a kingdom and is a king. Pilot was not “of the truth.” In that sense, he become symbolic or this world. His choice is not simply his personal choice any longer.
It is a choice we shall make at some point in our lives.
With that thought, this day is not only about remembering the death of Jesus Christ, it is a day that puts before us a choice and calls into question the choices we make day in and day out.
Perhaps we could call this day “TRUTH FRIDAY” instead of “GOOD FRIDAY”; observing that it is the day that distinguishes those who are of the truth from those who are not of the truth.
Standing before this cross, we must choose which Kingdom is ours. “You cannot serve two masters.” He told us. If in faith we belong to the “Truth” we can then see in this defeat, this suffering, this death, the way to life, to peace, and to victory. But we cannot have it both ways. For those who belong to the truth, service out of love, forgiveness, and obedience to God’s Will is the only possible choice.
When we make it, the innocent will no longer be abandoned and left to suffer, power will give way to compassion, greed and the desire to consume, to look good, and be “successful” in the eyes of this earthly kingdom we give to lives of commitment, gratitude, and love.
Then the veil will once again be torn in two, but this time, not the veil of some earthly temple, but the veil that hides the presence of the Kingdom of God, and finally, Pilot’s choice will be undone, and the choice of Jesus will at last complete his work on earth.
We adore you, O Christ, and we Bless You. For by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world!