John 19:1-24

Politics, Drama, and Truth

One of the reasons I love the book of John is because I am a Theatre Major. John’s Gospel is loaded with powerful dialogue and stirring monologues. There are moments of intense drama in this Gospel and nowhere is the drama more intense than in the passage before us. Religion and politics are a potent mix.

After Pilate has Jesus flogged he brought Him out with the ironic words, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.” Realizing that nothing short of execution will “solve” their political problem the Jewish leaders try to turn up the heat, but Pilate seems unmoved until he hears that Jesus claims to be the Son of God.

Shaken, Pilate returns to question Jesus. “Who are you?” “Where do you come from?” Jesus doesn’t answer. You can hear frustration bordering on desperation in Pilate’s voice as he declares, “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Then Jesus, who shortly before told Pilate that everyone on the side of truth listens to Him, gives Pilate the truth. “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.”

Pilate is now totally freaked out. He can feel the political noose starting to tighten around his own neck. A few hours ago he was the Governor and totally in charge. Now because of this strange man who just may be the Son of God he is still the Governor but is starting to feel fairly powerless. He takes Jesus out and presents Him one again. Perhaps a touch of sarcasm will save him from a potentially tragic mistake? “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. And then the awful ugly moment arrives when the chief priests declare, “We have no king but Caesar.”

These are the sons of Aaron. These are the spiritual leaders of the nation. This is the nation about which God had declared that He alone was their king. Beyond that, God had given them the House of David and promises of an eternal throne for David’s House. This is who is boldly declaring, “We have no king but Caesar.” Much truth was being spoken on that day. Politics can drive people to extreme positions that almost invariably find them opposed to God.

Pilate gets the last shot. Oh, the Jewish leaders get their crucifixion not realizing that by so doing they were seeing the fulfillment of the salvation of the world. But Pilate gets his sign. “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Even though he was pressured to change the sign he would not. Whatever else Pilate had learned in the past six hours he had at least learned the answer to his question, “What is truth?”