And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying, Art Thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. Matthew 27:11
I watched one time as the premier of the province stood before a judge of the Provincial Court to answer to a charge that had been brought against him. The judge was clearly uncomfortable as he addressed the case involving the most important man in the province. He addressed the premier respectfully, and awkwardly turned to the premier’s lawyer, a man he was much more comfortable with. It was clear that, despite the charge against him, the premier was the most prominent man in the courtroom. But the hardened and callous governor of Judea was not so impressed when confronted by the King of the Jews.
I believe we can hear the mockery and sarcasm in Pilate’s voice as asks the Lord Jesus the question. He had little enough time for the squabbles among the Jews, and preferred them to fight things out among themselves. But this is an unusual case, and Pilate couldn’t avoid it. So he begins with mockery and quickly discovers that this case is far more complicated than he had imagined. Jesus told him ‘Thou sayest’. In other words, it is whatever you say. Just think about Pilate today, as he ponders in hell the awful consequences of his failure to recognize that the One Who stood before him was not only the King of the Jews but the God of Eternity. The demeanour of the Lord Jesus made its impression on Pilate, and caused him to try to dismiss the case. But like all of us, he had to make that great decision as to what he would do with Jesus which is called Christ. Like most people, he made the wrong choice, and failed to accept the Lord Jesus as King, although he wrote it on the cross placard. What Pilate missed is that he was a mere governor, and he failed to acknowledge the authority of the King. He will acknowledge that authority when he stands before the Great White Throne. But you and I must acknowledge that authority now.
While it is true that we, in our repentance from sin and faith in Christ, have acknowledged His lordship and authority, we often find ourselves wavering in that acknowledgment. Pilate had to make his decision when the Lord Jesus stood before him. You and I have to make our decision every day. The question we must answer as we begin each day is whether that day comes under our own authority or the authority of our Lord. In other words, do we make Him the King of the day, or do we usurp that authority for ourselves? The tragedy of Pilate failing to recognize Jesus’ authority should remind us that there are consequences if we fail to do so.
Jesus told Pilate that whether He was King was whatever Pilate said. We too can say whether the Lord Jesus is our King today. We must live with the consequences of that decision. -Jim MacIntosh