The Reign of Christ

ANTONIA FORTRESS
from bible-history.com

John 18:33-37 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

Context: This week's reading is a part of a larger passage (18:28-19:16a) of the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate. Pilate was the Roman procurator of Judea from 26-36 CE. From historical records, he seems to have been a hard ruler, especially scornful of his Jewish subjects. Throughout the extended passage, John portrays Pilate in a way that is more congruent with non-Christian historical sources than the other three gospel writers. Pilate and his Jewish counterparts are driven by both power and politics.

The Jewish officials want Jesus to be condemned to death by Rome, which will mean crucifixion rather than stoning. They are making a political statement as they bring Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to stand before Pilate. They bring him to a part of the Roman praetorium called the Antonia Fortress which was named after Herod’s friend Marc Antony. It stood 115 feet high and was partly surrounded by a deep ravine 165 feet wide. While overlooking Jerusalem, the Antonia Fortress was garrisoned with 600 Roman soldiers, who watched over the Temple courts in order to preserve order. The Bible refers to the Antonia Fortress as a barracks. Although it is believed that it was at the Antonia Fortress that Pilate judged Jesus, there is also a possibility that Jesus was judged at the Herodian fortress on the opposite end of the city. Herod's palace was the official residence of the Roman procurators when they came to Jerusalem during the major Jewish festivals.

In the century before the Roman occupation in 63 BC, the king of Israel had also been the high priest and both offices had been hereditary. The Romans had abolished the kingship and had made the office of high priest appointive, always subject to their approval. Nonetheless, in Jesus' day the high priest remained the most powerful figure in the Jewish nation. In this passage, the chief priests seek out Pilate who is the only one with the power to enact capital punishment. Jesus seals his own fate with his interaction with Pilate, during which Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

Going Deeper: It may seem like an unlikely time to read about the trial leading to Jesus crucifixion right now. This is confusing, or at least puzzling! Yet we celebrate and call this holy day "Christ the King" Sunday. The word basileus, which is translated king, is used 9 times in the trial passage. We set aside Christ the King Sunday as a time to celebrate the coming reign of Jesus Christ and the completion of creation. At the same time we know the reign of Christ is here now ... in our hearts if we allow it for this "kingdom" is not a political reality but it is a deeply theological reality. Jesus says the kingdom is "not of this world."

Pondering: As we enter the season of Advent, which is a time of patient "waiting" on the birth of Messiah, the anointed one, we ponder our own surrender to God in Christ. Is God at the center of your life? Do you allow the Spirit of God to melt you, mold you, fill you, use you ... to use the words of a deeply reflective musical refrain? Do you read and study and sing and pray in order to become more Christ-like?

Praying: Meditate on these words from a 20th Century Cuban prayer ... We believe in you, O God [in Christ], for you have made the suffering of humanity your suffering. You have come to establish a kingdom of the poor and humble. Today we sing to you, because you are alive, you have saved us, you have made us free. Amen.