The meeting between Pontius Pilate and Jesus is a case study of the reality of Christ the King at the very heart of the Paschal Mystery. It’s the moment, the pinnacle, when thousands of years of salvation history come to a climax. The Kingdom and the Kingship of Christ, based on His life, death, and resurrection to save humanity, rests on the decision of the Roman Governor of Judea to condemn Him to die.
And yet Pilate made several efforts to preclude Jesus from being sentenced to death. Initially, he wants nothing to do with His execution. At first he says that he finds no fault with Him, yet the crowd persists in calling for His Blood. Secondly, Pilate offers to appease the angry mob by giving them the choice between releasing Jesus or Barabbas. They ask for Barabbas.
He makes a third attempt to spare the life of Christ by announcing His punishment by scourging and then releasing Him. The crowd makes clear their displeasure of any decision short of inflicting capital punishment. In a fourth effort to circumvent Christ’s death, Pilate sends Him to Herod who, in turn, sends Him right back to Pilate. Exasperated and running out of options, Pilate realizes he is forced to make a decision.
If Pilate had had better knowledge of the history of the Israelites, perhaps had more familiarity with the sacred Jewish texts and prophecies, he might have had a clearer understanding of what monumental consequence this face-to-face encounter with Jesus meant in the course of human events:
Adam and Eve banished from the Garden of Eden; 400 years of slavery under the Egyptians; the numerous Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah-King, Who was foretold would be a descendant greater than His ancestor, King David, and Who the Prophet Micah said will be born in Bethlehem and recognized as priest, prophet, and king by the Magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. All leading to and paving the way for the coming of the Son of the Living God.
It was foretold that the longed-for Messiah would be rejected and betrayed and die in sacrifice for the sins of the people He loves. Just days before, He rode in kingly fashion, side-saddled into Jerusalem and hailed as the Messiah-King by throngs of worshippers. All revealed at this moment in time in the Man standing before Pilate, conversing with him. Face-to-face with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Pilate asks Jesus not once, but twice if He is a king.
You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth hears my voice.
After His return from Herod, Jesus is dressed as a king in a garment of royal purple and a crown. The purple garment was forced upon Him in mockery as was the Crown of Thorns.
Despite all this evidence, Pilate decides to have Jesus put to death out of fear and political expediency.
The Roman Procurator orders a sign be placed above Jesus on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. You can see it to this day displayed at the Church of Santa Croce in Rome because St. Helena found it buried with the the other relics of His Passion; the True Cross, the Holy Nails, and the Crown of Thorns.
Witnesses were infuriated at the inscription. They complained, “You should have written instead, ‘This man claimed to be King of the Jews.’” Pilate’s response? “What I have written, I have written.”
Pilate looked into the Eyes of Truth and spoke with Him. He certainly heard the voice of Jesus. As a result, perhaps the Roman Governor belonged to the Truth. Only God knows. The inscription on the sign proclaimed the truth.
Today on this great Solemnity of Christ the King, let’s remind ourselves we’ve shared in the Divine, Eternal Kingship of Jesus since we first came in face-to-face contact with Him as members of His Mystical Body in the Sacrament of Baptism, as we recall the ancient words spoken in the anointing with the oil of Sacred Chrism, which so eloquently sums up the Paschal Mystery:
The God of Power and Father of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into His holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, so may you live always as a member of His Body, sharing everlasting life. Amen.
Photo by Hansjörg Keller on Unsplash
