2008. 3. 9 Rev. Kim, Young Bong

The Gospel According to John Sermon Series
“The Gospel of Life (91)”
"Recollection of Pilate 2 ”
-- John 19:1-16

1.

Last week, I reflected on my encounter with Jesus of Nazareth that had occurred several years ago. Oh, by the way, I think I should introduce myself to those of you who did not listen to my story last week. I am Pontius Pilate. In my previous account, I told you how I had lived my life, what had led to my meeting with Jesus, and what had happened when I met the Man. In particular, I told you about something extraordinary that I found in His eyes for a very short moment. That man Jesus, seemingly knowing the changes that were happening in my mind, seized my heart, challenging me to come into the kingdom of the truth. What an irony! I was interrogating and trying Him as the governor assigned by the conqueror, but in fact, it turned out as if He was the one who was interrogating me and trying me. I couldn’t stand the situation. So I stomped out shouting, “What is the truth?”

As I was walking toward the Jews waiting outside, my head spun. I racked my brains to find out how in the world I could get out of this thorny situation. There were too many uncomfortable elements in executing Jesus of Nazareth by the demand of the Jews. Some of you who read the records of Josephus, a Jewish historian, might know that I was a man of “strong nerve” who would not hesitate to crucify several thousands of people at one time in order to quell riots. Isn’t it very strange that a man like myself was having trouble whether to execute Jesus of Nazareth or not? However, the light in His eyes that was ingrained in my memory didn’t let me go. The eternity, otherworldliness, and authenticity that I observed in His eyes for that moment made me hesitate.

Nevertheless, it was hard to ignore the demand of the Jews. They had already decided to execute Jesus. I knew full well what kind of people the chief priests and the Jewish religious leaders were. You probably knew as well how troublesome, one-sided, domineering, and stubborn the corrupt religious leaders were, blind to ecclesiastical authority and financial interest. Once they identified a person as an enemy in order to protect their established rights, there was no way of turning the decision over. It seemed obvious that they would not back off until Jesus was executed. I had no reason to make unnecessary noise because of just one man, Jesus, during the Passover, when the popular sentiment could be easily aroused. One way or another, I had to get out of that difficult situation.

2.

Ah, at that moment, my smart brain figured out a brilliant plan. I came out with a plan both to avoid the execution of Jesus of Nazareth and to soothe the Jewish crowd down. Every now and then, I used to release a well-known popular Jewish prisoner at the Passover so as to win their favor. It’s just like offering special pardons on a national holiday in your country. Once that happened, the Jews were less troublesome and cooperative for a while.

“Alright, I should suggest that I release Jesus of Nazareth as a special pardon for the Passover,” I came out of the governor’s residence, hoping this plan would work. And I said, “I find no fault in Jesus of Nazareth. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews (18:39)?”

Was it because I was so naive that I expected they would welcome my suggestion? Following some debates amongst themselves, the chief priest replied, “Not this Man, but Barabbas (18:40)!” They already had someone in mind that they wanted to be released at the Passover. Barabbas was being admired among the Jews as the hope and the hero of his people. He had pushed Roman troops from Jewish soil and planned an armed rebellion with a dream of recovering Israel. Fortunately, I could arrest him at the planning stage. I kept him in prison on a robbery charge. That Barabbas, the Jews wanted released.

At the unexpected blow, I was at a loss for an appropriate answer. I went back into the governor’s residence and was mulling over for a better plan. How can I get out of this situation? After agonizing over the situation, I decided to appeal to the Jews’ sympathy this time. Since Jesus of Nazareth hadn’t done anything evil, I wondered if they would not be moved by seeing Him being insulted. So I ordered my soldiers to torture Jesus severely.

That man Jesus, standing quietly, endured all those insults and tortures. I wonder if you know about the type of whip the Roman soldiers used. It was made of several strands of leather straps tied together. At the end of each strap was a piece of lead attached, and the piece of lead was meant to tear into flesh. Soldiers would flog down a prisoner on the back with a whip soaked in water. With a leather strap only soaked in water, a prisoner is made to feel tremendous pain. But when several pieces of lead beat down a prisoner, they tear into his flesh. Each time the whip is off, the pieces of lead take off pieces of flesh. Jesus of Nazareth was accepting such unbearable torture with an incredible endurance, and I was watching the scene brokenhearted. Finally, my soldiers twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, covered His bloody body with a purple robe, and mocked Him, shouting “Hail, King of the Jews!”

3.

Looking at Him who was standing in silence with His head lowered, I said to myself, “Nazareth Jesus, please don’t feel bitter against me. I don’t feel like doing such a cruel thing on you at all. I just do this to see if I could find a chance to release you. I do this if your people might have sympathy for you and change their mind, after seeing you enduring the most cruel tortures and unbearable insults without having done anything wrong. So, please bear for a little while, and don’t blame me too much.”

Nowadays, “Above all” is one of the popular praise hymns among the young. In the lyric of the hymn, there is a line, “like a rose, trampled on the ground you took the fall.” Jesus became, indeed, like the roses torn to pieces by the soldiers’ torture. I thought that was enough, so I took Him away. I left Him where the Jews could not see Him, and I came out and said to them, “Look! I am bringing Him out to you but I did not find any basis for a charge against Him.” (John. 19:4). And I gave a sign to my soldiers to bring Jesus out.

Bloody faced Nazareth Jesus came out slowly wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and stood in front of the Jews. His every step left bloody footprints. Although He wore the purple robe, the evidence of the torture was so vivid. When the pitiful sight was revealed under the bright sunlight, the crowd became quiet for a moment with a deathly hush. Those who stood near Him poured out laments. Women sobbed while dropping their heads as if they did not have the heart to look at Him straight. Watching their reactions, I uttered yells of delight silently because it seemed that things were going as I had planned. I shouted loudly pointing to Nazareth Jesus. “Here is the man!” (19:5)

It was obvious that the chief priests and the Jewish leaders were becoming tense, after noticing that sympathetic feeling for Jesus was swelling up among the crowd. They looked around with some hesitation, and then, after gathering their resolve they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” How fickle can be the crowd! The crowd who had sympathy for Jesus a moment is now following the chief priests as if they seemed to be awakened by the shouts of the chief priests. Again, things did not go as I wanted.

There seemed no way to change the minds of the Jews. I became anxious and irritable. I screamed at them, “You take Him and crucify Him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against Him.” I thought I had no choice but to keep my hands off from the situation, even if I was unwitting. Then, they answered, “We have a law, and according to that law, He must die because He claimed to be the Son of God.” (19:7)

4.

The moment I heard Him calling himself as the “Son of God” I felt the answer to the unexplainable feeling about Him and the feeling of eternity, extraordinary nature and sincerity I felt in His eyes. Then wasn’t my impression an illusion? Were the rest, peace, and contentment I found in His eyes the evidences that He belongs to a different world? Then, is the man in front of me whom God has sent, not a mere man from Nazareth?

The chief priests accused Him of spreading unfounded rumors that He is the Son of God, but it doesn’t sound far-fetched at all for me. If my impression about Him wasn’t an illusion or delusion, I thought what He said might be true. Then I happened to be involved in executing the Son of God? If it is true, how can I deal with the consequences of committing such a sin?

I hurriedly took Him into the governor’s palace. My heart was filled with fear but I tried to keep my composure and asked Him, “Where did you come from? Is it true that you are the Son of God?” Seemingly oblivious to my urgency, He didn’t answer to my question. While I was staring at Him waiting for His answer, He seemed to be saying to me “What more should I say to make you believe? You surely know the answer already. You are not asking that question because you don’t know. All you need to do now is to decide whether you want to enter my kingdom or not. Make up your mind before it gets too late.”

Trying to avoid His voice ringing in my heart I pressed Him with more questions. “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you? (19:10)” Ah, I was talking nonsense at that moment. Of course, I had the power to execute or release Him, but that power was of no use for me because of the pressure from the Jews. To be more precise it is because of my ambition to stay in power. I didn’t want to jeopardize my position by upsetting the Jews.

5.

Then He finally started talking. “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin (19:11).” What is He saying? It is comforting that the Jews who handed him over to me committed greater sin that I did. However, what did he mean by “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above?” I didn’t know the exact meaning but I didn’t feel good about it since He seemed to ignore my power as a governor.

I tried to find a way out by asking for counsels from my staff. However, the Jews were so stubborn. They refused to accept any of my proposals. I don’t need to explain all the proposals. They saw through my proposals, realized my intention of releasing Him, and attacked my weakest point. They put pressure on me saying “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar (19:12).”

It means they would escalate this issue to the Roman emperor if I were to release Him. The emperor might not understand all of these; so it is highly probable that I would be reprimanded according to the Jews’ accusation. I was cornered with no way out. I needed to make a final decision whether to allow the execution of the Son of God to keep my power or to protect Him while sacrificing my power.

Which one do you think I chose? I chose to keep my power. I blamed the Jews who cornered me to make such decision. Also, I blamed the Son of God, and the chief priests. I took Him to Stone Pavement and shouted to the Jews, “Here is your king (19:14).” Then the angry Jews shouted back “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him (19:15).”

Hopelessly, I said to them “Shall I crucify your king? (19:15)” Then the chief priests said “We have no king but Caesar (19:15)” I couldn’t believe what I just heard. The Jews regarded a king as the one whom God anointed. It is unimaginable for them to acknowledge a foreigner as a king. But the chief priests said that the Caesar was the only king. I was surprised how determined they were to execute Him by saying such an absurd statement.

6.

I handed Jesus over to them. I ordered my soldiers to execute Him on the cross as Jews requested. Jews shouted for joy, and my soldiers who were not familiar with the situation executed the order very promptly.

The crime of the executed was to be written on the cross. It was to serve as a warning to the people when they passed by it. And it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Roman in order to make everybody understand. I ordered to write ‘King of Jews'. But some Jews came and asked me to change it as 'The man who pretended to be the King of Jews'. But I didn't want to be pushed around by them any more. I was really tired of confronting them and I turned away from them by saying that “What I have written, I have written.”

After a while received report that Jesus has died. I expected deep in my heart, that if He was really the Son of God, He could have possibly escaped from death even by jumping down from the cross. I really didn't want to get involved in executing the Son of God. But they said He had died already on the cross in the end. In my heart, I concluded that “if He was really the Son of God, He must not have died that miserably.” I really hope that all of my feelings, thoughts and questions would be just illusions and misunderstandings. I was just hoping that Jesus was merely one of the many who were executed by my order.

From my deep heart, His words are echoing continuously. Those words are ringing continuously. For example, “My kingdom is not of this world.'' Or “'I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Or ''You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” When I listened to these carefully, His extraordinariness, His eternity apparent from His eyes was coming back to again. At that time I had a question that He might be the real Son of God even though He was killed powerlessly on the cross.

But I didn't have sufficient time to wrestle with such questions. I've made an effort to forget everything about the event and tried to concentrate on my work. Time passed by and I began to rid of thoughts about Him, and I kept on with the struggle again to keep my position and power.

7.

After having fallen from my position of authority, I am only now thinking about that person. I am now revisiting my decision. Since He died powerless on the cross, that Jesus of Nazareth could not be the Son of God! That was my conclusion. According to the Roman way of thinking, that was the most reasonable conclusion. The “Son of God” in Roman mythologies possesses superhuman powers.

A conclusion that once seemed so logical does not seem so now. When I think of it, although we were able to execute Him by hanging his body on the cross, I don’t think we were able to break the aura of eternity that I saw in His eyes. I was also beginning to think that He was not somebody of this world; that even if we were to kill Him, a hundred times over, we would not have been able to touch the essence of His being. I don’t think I can even explain it in words. It has been a few years since Jesus’ death, but the thought that He may not have died crosses my mind.

Rumors that He resurrected could even be right. I don’t exactly know what resurrection is; I don’t know how such a thing is possible. But whatever it is, I still have the feeling that He might be alive. If He truly was the Son of God, I have a feeling that He is alive through the means not of this world. Although I sent Him to His death, the thought occurs to me that I could not have harmed Him in any way.

I think of His last words to me. “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (v.11) Then, I told Him that the authority of the governor had the power to save Him or to condemn Him. Jesus quickly put an end to my self-righteous words. I think this is what He meant to say. “Do you think you have the authority to kill me? Don’t misunderstand me. You can’t do anything to me with the power you have.” He meant that even if I were to end His life with a knife or spear, I could not make Him disappear from the world.

At that time, that was something I didn’t understand. Back then, although I knew about life, I did not truly know about Life. Back then, I knew about what was ‘below,’ but I didn’t know about what was ‘above.’ I thought the things of this life were all there was to know. When Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” I wondered, “How could there be life beyond this one?” Then, I knew only about physical life, and knew nothing about eternal life. Then, I only knew about the “Rome of Caesar,” but knew nothing about the “kingdom of God.”

8.

Not only that, if Jesus of Nazareth was truly the Son of God, I have no excuses to give in the presence of God. Thankfully, there were people who read the records of the Gospels, were filled with compassion, and sought to defend me. I was thankful, but it was unnecessary. As the party concerned, I admit my mistakes. I had clearly heard His invitation. Through Jesus of Nazareth, I have seen the truth. But in order to keep what was mine, I rejected that invitation. Because I loved the kingdom of Caesar more, I rejected that invitation. And to further my political position, I sent Him to His death. If there were such a thing as hell, I can be sent to its lowest depths and have no right to say anything.

That is the reason for my appeal to you. Please listen to the voice of truth you hear in your hearts. Like me, you probably have heard his invitation many times. In the process of thinking about Jesus of Nazareth, have you not wondered if He is not truly the Son of God; if there is truly a kingdom not of this world; if there is truly eternal life after death; if there is eternal life that even the power and authority of governors cannot break? You have asked all these questions. Please do not give up those questions. Please do not try to come up with answers that are convenient for you. Instead of understanding the truth too late and regretting it, when there is time and when there is a chance, I ask that you think about Jesus of Nazareth, the man I sent to death on the cross.

As I say these words to you, the following questions come up. The cross on which Jesus died ? wasn’t it a stairway to heaven? Wasn’t that cross a new center of the universe? Wasn’t that cross a sign that pointed to the kingdom of truth? Wasn’t that cross directing us to look “above” and not “below”? By sacrificing His own body, wasn’t Jesus of Nazareth opening the path to that world? That must be why He walked the path to the cross without complaint. That path to the cross was marked by death, but wasn’t that path also the one that led to true eternal life? Isn’t that how the path to eternal life was opened?

And if that is the case, that is the path that is opened to all of you. I hope you will begin to walk on that path before it’s too late. After being washed in His precious blood, I hope you will take the first steps toward the path to eternal life. I hope you will enter eternal life through the wide open path, opened through the center of the cross. If I had another chance, I would do so, even if I had to give everything I had.
Let us pray.