4/10/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
The issue of authority is very significant in John's Gospel. John sets out to demonstrate that Jesus is the one who has all authority, as the one who was with God in the beginning and is able to rule over all things.
The authority issue is very prominent in the trial of Jesus, from John 19:7-11. Here, the Jews say Jesus must die because he portrays himself as "the Son of God." This revelation strikes fear into the heart of Pilate.
Within Roman paganism, the gods were thought to involve themselves in the affairs of humans, even fathering offspring with them. To Pilate's reckoning, it was entirely possible that someone could be the child of a god. And this is a frightful idea. What if Pilate were to condemn someone who is part divine to death? This would bring the wrath of the offended god down on Pilate. He would want to avoid any possibility of that.
Pilate, wanting to find the truth, asks Jesus were he is from. This is another chance to discern his identity. But Jesus will not answer Rather, Jesus asserts that Pilate has no authority but what he has received from above. This scares Pilate even more.
In the end, Jesus asserts his authority over sin and death. It is not the kind of victory Pilate would have expected. But it shows that even Pilate's authority is limited.
God in Christ has the authority to forgive his people and rescue them from toil and danger in a sinful world. He has overcome death. What greater authority can we seek?
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
The issue of authority is very significant in John's Gospel. John sets out to demonstrate that Jesus is the one who has all authority, as the one who was with God in the beginning and is able to rule over all things.
The authority issue is very prominent in the trial of Jesus, from John 19:7-11. Here, the Jews say Jesus must die because he portrays himself as "the Son of God." This revelation strikes fear into the heart of Pilate.
Within Roman paganism, the gods were thought to involve themselves in the affairs of humans, even fathering offspring with them. To Pilate's reckoning, it was entirely possible that someone could be the child of a god. And this is a frightful idea. What if Pilate were to condemn someone who is part divine to death? This would bring the wrath of the offended god down on Pilate. He would want to avoid any possibility of that.
Pilate, wanting to find the truth, asks Jesus were he is from. This is another chance to discern his identity. But Jesus will not answer Rather, Jesus asserts that Pilate has no authority but what he has received from above. This scares Pilate even more.
In the end, Jesus asserts his authority over sin and death. It is not the kind of victory Pilate would have expected. But it shows that even Pilate's authority is limited.
God in Christ has the authority to forgive his people and rescue them from toil and danger in a sinful world. He has overcome death. What greater authority can we seek?
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