-
April 3, 2026Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" What Pilate knows about kings does not match up with the man before him. He is a poor man, from Galilee an insignificant part of the country, with a small band of peasant followers. What a disappointment Jesus must have been to Pilate.
Jesus incriminates himself, admitting he does have a kingdom - but "it does not belong to this world." His kingdom does not belong to this world of power, dominance, and worldly rulers. But it is a kingdom for this world. He told his followers and us to pray "your kingdom come... on earth as it is in heaven." In other words, that God's kingdom be here and now and that today we accept his rule, his ways and his priorities.
Today we celebrate Christ, our crucified king who came into the world to "testify to the truth." If we hear his voice and act on it, then we belong to that truth - a truth that is not abstract and otherworldly. Accepting that truth leads us to action, here and now - "thy kingdom come." That is, we are to accept and surrender ourselves to Jesus and his rule. His way of life is our rule and our way of life. This means, of course, that we resist the ways of those who rule by means of violence, political tactics and possessions.
No human or political belief can claim our total identity as our king Jesus does.