Do you like to watch movies? Sometimes the best parts of a movie are the iconic quotes that make it into our everyday conversations. Here are a few of my favorite movie quotes, I wonder if you recognize what movie they came from…
“I’m your huckleberry.”
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
“Houston, we have a problem.”
“May the Force be with you.”
“Negative ghost rider, the pattern is full.”
“You can’t handle the truth!”
That last one came to my mind when I read our scripture for this week. In our scripture, Jesus is taken to stand trail before Pilate. It is an interesting conversation. See for yourself…
John 18:28-40 Common English Bible
28 The Jewish leaders led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early in the morning. So that they could eat the Passover, the Jewish leaders wouldn’t enter the palace; entering the palace would have made them ritually impure.
29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What charge do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered, “If he had done nothing wrong, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate responded, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your Law.”
The Jewish leaders replied, “The Law doesn’t allow us to kill anyone.” (32 This was so that Jesus’ word might be fulfilled when he indicated how he was going to die.)
33 Pilate went back into the palace. He summoned Jesus and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others spoken to you about me?”
35 Pilate responded, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your nation and its chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom doesn’t originate from this world. If it did, my guards would fight so that I wouldn’t have been arrested by the Jewish leaders. My kingdom isn’t from here.”
37 “So you are a king?” Pilate said.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Whoever accepts the truth listens to my voice.”
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked.
After Pilate said this, he returned to the Jewish leaders and said, “I find no grounds for any charge against him. 39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?”
40 They shouted, “Not this man! Give us Barabbas!” (Barabbas was an outlaw.)
What do we see in this scripture?
We see two different kingdoms colliding in this scripture.
We see two power structures, the Jewish church and the Roman government working together.
We hatred and hypocrisy driving people’s behavior.
What don’t we see in this scripture?
Jesus acting like a king.
Jesus taking control.
What dissonance do you feel in this passage?
What questions are unanswered?
How can this scripture speak to us today?
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.
~ Pastor Dustin
