Power Versus Humility

Palm Sunday; Luke 22:14—23:56

Many historians believe that Pontius Pilate did not live in Jerusalem. He most likely lived in Caesarea By The Sea where the full army was stationed. (I don’t blame him. Jerusalem gets cold in the winter and boiling in the summer. Caesarea is right on the Mediterranean and is quite pleasant all year long.) But every year he would make the journey with a good size force to the Fortress Antonio in Jerusalem in time for the Jewish feast of Passover. You see, the Jews were known to cause a bit of “good trouble” during the major feasts, so Pilate wanted to be on hand to run the show in person, if needed. It would be all pomp and hoo-hah as the Roman Army processed through the West (or Gannaath) Gate.

Of course, we know all about the entrance that was happening on the other side of the city, possibly at the same time. Jesus enters Jerusalem through the Eastern, or Golden, Gate riding on the back of a donkey. There is no armed force escorting him. Instead, there is a crowd hailing him as the Messiah, the one who will bring peace to Israel. There is no pomp with this parade, only palm branches lining the road for him.

The contrast is clear. A show of power versus a show of humility.

Later, Jesus is arrested by the Temple Guards. This is an image hard for us 21st century folks to grasp. We cannot picture that the Church would have its own police force. But in the time of Jesus, the Sanhedrin ran the city of Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin was a combination of city elders and business people, and the Pharisees and Sadducees. This was the City Council, mayor and city bureaucracy, all tied into one. And yes, they had a police force.

The Temple Guards come for Jesus in the middle of the night with clubs, swords, and righteous indignation. A traitor to the cause of Jesus and his disciples, kisses Jesus as the signal that he is the one to arrest. Jesus sadly looks at him and says, “Really, dude? With a kiss?” When Jesus’ followers try to resist the police, Jesus tells them to calm down, that this has to happen, and that all will be well. And he is led away without a struggle.

The contrast is clear. A show of power versus a show of humility.

Before the night is over, Jesus has to face the genuine power in town: Pontius Pilate. A cruel man with no compassion towards the Jews. In Jerusalem, he represents the supreme authority of the Roman empire. Pilate looks down his nose at the wretch standing before him and toys with the Sanhedrin. Pilate asks, “What have you done? Are you really the King of the Jews, like your leaders say you are?”

Although Jesus is on trial, he speaks with authority during his exchange with Pilate. Rather than directly answering Pilate’s questions, he presents a vision that contrasts with earthly kingship. “For this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” [Jn 18:37] In a world where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake, and where people are deeply divided, Jesus reminds us that the one standing before Pilate is the Truth. When Jesus talks about truth, he doesn’t just mean being honest or saying true things. He means that he is the Truth. If we want to be part of his heavenly kingdom, his loving community, all we have to do is follow Jesus; the Truth and the light that shines in the darkness. The amazing thing is, truth is the only power Jesus uses.

The contrast is clear. A show of power versus a show of humility.

As I listen to the Passion reading and move through Holy Week, it is easy to get caught up in the suffering of Jesus and the abuse of power. I choose to look at his humility. There was a reason he did what he did, and there was a goal and an end in the plan. It is that goal and end I want to focus on. If I can emulate the humility of Jesus in the face of tyranny and power, then I have achieved the peace that Jesus teaches.

Jesus models for me the way to speak the truth to power, a way to courageously call out injustice and demand peace, even as I try to maintain my integrity and remain rooted in the Truth. Jesus is The Truth. My truth must be fixed on him.

Every Day.