Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - The Interview

In today’s Gospel Jesus is interrogated by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, the man directly responsible to the emperor for keeping Roman rule in Judea. For the occupying power, Jewish festivals were regarded as potential emergencies: at the time of Passover, therefore, Pilate came with his garrison to Jerusalem, where he kept his security forces on alert in case of a riot or national uprising. Jesus has been handed over to Pilate by the Jewish authorities. It is Passover time. Pilate offers to hand Jesus back, arguing that Jewish law can dispose of the case. The authorities refuse, so Pilate questions Jesus about the charge made against him: ‘’Are you the King of the Jews?

  Jesus replies to Pilate with his own question: ‘’Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?’’ You wonder who is interviewing whom. If the governor is interrogating his prisoner, the prisoner has his own agenda for interviewing the governor. Jesus calls Pilate to face the truth of the question he has asked, but Pilate is beyond troubling about the consequences of his own questions. Instead, he defends himself by saying that he is not a Jew and that Jesus’ own people have handed him over. However, Pilate is curious about what Jesus has done to engender such fierce hostility.

  Jesus refuses to satisfy Pilate’s curiosity but points out that his kingship is not in the realm of political struggle; his claim to be king, therefore, can hardly affect national security. Jesus’ kingship is in the realm of witnessing to the truth; something that the Roman procurator is having great trouble doing. Pilate has already found Jesus innocent; if he acts on that truth then he will free Jesus. Pilate may be sincere in his concern for Jesus’ safety, but he is not serious about the truth he has discovered. Jesus is innocent. That truth is not a force that is going to influence Pilate’s real behavior. He fails the interview, therefore, because he cannot meet the basic condition of witnessing to the truth.

  As the passion gets under way, Jesus has to witness to his own truth. He remains stubborn in his trust of the Father, in spite of the catcalls of his accusers and the silence of his absent friends. He may wonder where all the witnesses to truth have gone and why they are so few in number when the authorities come out in force. He may wonder why you end up being pushed around so much for the sake of the kingdom. He may have his own questions about the worth of it all. He may doubt if the pain will ever go away.

  To crown it all, Pilate ensures that Jesus has his title above his cross: ‘’Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.’’ Is that comic relief? Is that protest? Is that the nearest Pilate will ever get to witnessing to the truth? Who knows?

  What we do know is that Jesus’ unfailing witness to the truth marks his true kingship. As his subjects, we will be judged on how we have witnessed to his truth, his love, his way. For a place in his kingdom, we will be questioned on our own attitudes and behavior. We don’t have to wait for the last judgement to find out the questions we will be asked. When it comes to places in his kingdom, the interviews are already taking place. Here and now. When our time comes for judgement, we shouldn’t be surprised by the familiar faces.