Devotional thoughts for Monday

Monday 17. November 2014 
2. Last Sunday in the Church Year

Now Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, and he asked Him: "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said: "You have said so." But when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. (Matthew 27,11-12) 

Jesus had the opportunity to give a defense of Himself before the chief priests and Pilate. He chose to refrain from a defense. He was silent when the chief priests brought false testimony against Him, and He merely acknowledges Pilates assessment of Him. Jesus is the King of the Jews, just as Pilate asked. 

Only Rome had the authority at the time to grant kingship in Judea. The emperor had put Herod the Great upon the throne and recognized his heirs as leaders over Judea. A rival king in the region would be considered insurrection; this would not be tolerated by the emperor or the governor. 

Yet, anyone familiar with Jesus' public teaching would soon realize that His claim to kingship was more heavenly than earthly. To be sure, He is the King of Israel and all the world, but He did not feed the messianic and kingly anticipations of the Jews. Jesus kingship was to rout the devil, restore what God had lost, heal the sick, teach the people the Word of God and open heaven to all people. 

This is not the sort of king Pilate was familiar with, nor the Jews. In part this is why Jesus gave no defense. As the true and rightful King, Jesus' ministry was to suffer, die and rise again. Pilate had the legal authority to condemn and crucify Him, and Jesus allowed him to do so. This was to fulfill the salvation history He had set in place since Genesis 3. 

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, as the Healer of nations, You released many from their bondage to sin, death and the devil, but when it came time to release You, the crowd chose a murderer instead. Through our co-crucifixion with You in the waters of our Baptism, may we continually be released from our sins as we confess You to be our everlasting King; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.  Amen. (1110, Treasury of Daily Prayer)