The King of Kings on Trial: Pilate’s Essential Crossroads

The King of Kings on Trial: Pilate's Crucial Crossroads

In 1 Corinthians 13:12, referencing what awaits us in eternity, the apostle Paul wrote that “now we see in a mirror dimly, however then nose to nose.” What wouldn’t it be like to talk face-to-face with Jesus? The Roman governor Pontius Pilate had simply such an encounter as Christ stood on trial earlier than him—an encounter that, as Alistair Begg explains in his sermon “‘What Shall I Do with Jesus?,’” revealed the Son of Man’s majesty even because it introduced Pilate to an important crossroads:

Governor Pilate finds himself face-to-face with the King of Kings. He’s asking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). He doesn’t say, “Nicely, I’m the King of the Jews,” as a result of in spite of everything, he was the King of the Jews, however he was excess of the King of the Jews. Pilate is introduced face-to-face with the Lord of the universe. Pilate might haven’t any idea of a kingdom that may “stretch from shore to shore.” He might haven’t any idea of a kingdom that may transcend the bounds of geography and historical past and ethnicity and sweep world wide. How might he ever? He’s so fixated on this.

Maybe we should always pause and remind ourselves of Psalm 2:

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples think about a useless factor?
The kings of the earth set themselves
and the rulers take counsel collectively to set themselves
in opposition to the Lord. (Psalm 2:1–2, paraphrased)

You’ll be able to return two thousand years and discover Pilate doing what you will discover at present all through the world in those that are in positions of authority. You don’t discover that women and men are by and huge calling upon the nations of the world to bow down earlier than he who’s the King of Kings, to bow down earlier than the one who was anticipated once we studied 2 Samuel: “And his kingdom can be an eternal kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:16, paraphrased). It’s superb, isn’t it?

“Nicely,” says Pilate, “so you’re a king.” Jesus says, “Yeah, proper first time. You’re right. You’ve mentioned it out of your personal mouth.” I believe that’s what he’s saying. He mentioned, “Nicely, you say so.” He’s not denying it. He’s simply enjoying him in some methods. Certainly Pilate on this encounter should have been conscious of the truth that he was dealing, and he absolutely knew he was dealing, with somebody like nobody else he had ever met—that in precise truth, though he was the governor of a province, though he was important in his personal little world, when he got here face-to-face with Jesus, this was an encounter corresponding to he had by no means had. The majesty of Jesus absolutely should have been pervasive. It couldn’t be swallowed up. It couldn’t be hid behind bruises and a bloody eye and spittle on his face. There’s no manner out for Pilate, as we’re about to see.