LOOKING OUTSIDE IN

John 18:28-38

Christ the King Sunday

November 26, 2006

Things are not always what they seem. For years, my family and I have faced the fact that we have been unable to trace our family line back any further than three generations. My dad’s grandfather, James Henry Shearier, jumped ship in Milwaukee harbor and went on to lead a life both in the Milwaukee and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin areas. We have speculated beyond him but have come up with nothing certain.

Now, it seems all that is changed. My younger brother met someone of Scottish descent in northern Wisconsin and somehow, this man traced our family back to the Clan MacDuff. That’s MacDuff of Shakespeare’s Macbeth fame. We may be connected to the royal line of Scotland…you think? The jury’s still out on whether this will prove true. I will get a tartan stole if it does prove true.

Christ the King Sunday is also something that is not what it seems—at least, in terms of our celebration here. In El Paso, Christ the King Sunday is a big festival. Pilgrims gather at the foot of Mount Cristo Rey to climb to the summit, where there is a statue of Jesus Christ the King—Cristo Rey, some even making the ascent on their hands and knees. For those who wish to show their devotion differently, there’s a “fun run” to the summit. All of this stands in contrast to our celebration here, which is more solemn and quiet.

All of this, too, seems in contrast to Jesus’ words to Pilate about His followers not making a scene, because His Kingdom is not of the world. Let’s look again at this meeting between Pilate and Jesus as John tells us the story. Things are not what they seem to be here, either. Pilate must have regarded Jesus as pathetic and the leaders of the people viewed Him with disgust and distrust. Yet, here stands King Jesus, completely free and yet, completely committed to showing His majesty and His rule on the cross and through the open tomb. Those who imagine themselves on the “inside” of these events, really are on the outside, looking in as Jesus shows us what it means that He is King.

Things are not always what they seem. Very early in the morning, John tells us, the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate. They had made an appearance of legality, trying Jesus before Caiaphas and Annas and now made an appearance of piety, refusing to go into Pilate’s house—the house of a Gentile—to avoid defilement before the Passover. There’s some irony in the fact that those to whom Jesus came—who should have been on the “inside”—not only rejected Him but also now find themselves on the outside, looking in to watch Pilate and Jesus. Their fears, their rules and their expectations that went unmet have kept them on the outside, looking in.

Then, there’s Pilate. Pontius Pilate, we understand from history, fancied he on the “inside”—a friend of Caesar. He considered his assignment in “backwater” Jerusalem a temporary one, certain that soon his friendships would gain him advancement. As procurator, he represents Rome. In his hands, he thinks, is the power of one of the greatest empires the world has known. In his hands, also, he thinks, is the life of this Jewish rabbi, rejected by His own people.

Yet, things are not always as they seem. Jesus’ demeanor undoubtedly unnerved Pilate. Jesus did not cower before the power of Rome. In fact, Jesus met Pilate with the bold statement not only of His Kingship, but also that Pilate had nothing in his own hands—that Rome was nothing next to Jesus and His Father. Add to this the message Pilate received from his wife of a troubling dream she’d had about this man, and fear and doubt grows in Pilate’s heart. Pilate stands looking face to face with Truth, yet his fear—and fear of the crowd—keep him on the outside, looking in at Jesus.

John tells us how things are. Jesus is the only King in the room with Pilate. Jesus rules. God, Jesus tells him, put what Pilate thinks is in his hands, there so that these events could unfold. What the Jewish leaders think is in their hands is nothing, as their rejection of the One who is the Word shows their motivations not to flow from faith but from fear. Jesus is the only One free to act—free from fear, free from obligation, free from restraint. Whatever a King is, Jesus reveals Himself to be.

Jesus is no victim as these events of Good Friday unfold. He is free—the officers of the guard don’t arrest Jesus, He goes with them willingly; Caiaphas and Annas don’t trap Jesus, He answers truthfully; and Pilate doesn’t condemn Jesus, He goes to the cross willingly and freely. Jesus rules. He is in charge of the meeting with Pilate and of the events that follow. He freely commits Himself to the task of our salvation—He is no victim, He is victorious King.

Remember especially how John tells the story. Jesus says that He lays down His life for His sheep. Jesus tells us that He picks up His life again. We confess in the creeds that Jesus descended into Hell—not as victim, caught finally in Satan’s hands, but as victorious King, marching through to mark His victory. Jesus rules.

John tells us where Pilate is, where the Jewish leaders are and where Jesus is as these events unfold. Where are you and I? At first, we might think that we are on the outside looking in—reading the story some two thousand years later. However, God’s Word always engages us, connecting us with Jesus’ story now. So, where are we?

In Matthew, Mark and Luke, we are left largely with the people outside, looking in to see Pilate and Jesus meet and seeing Jesus in the hands of the soldiers as witnesses. They have their reasons for telling the story from that vantage point. John has a different vantage point.

Every time you and I read Scripture, there is something new that meets us—that’s especially true in John’s Gospel. The Gospel message is always a surprise to our ears, and John shares the surprise here. We are not left on the outside; we are on the inside with Jesus. We know what Jesus knows. We know how the story unfolds. We know why Jesus has come. We are on the inside, with the King, by His grace and invitation.

In addition to Mount Cristo Rey, El Paso is also home to Fort Bliss, one of the largest Army posts in the United States. Fort Bliss was near the congregation I served, Zion, and I had reason to go on post. As I approached the gate, my uncertainty gave way to concern—really, fear. You see, this was during the heightened security of the First Gulf War and I was certain I would not make it past the gate. My years in high school and college were not, shall we say, politically neutral. I was sure the guard at the gate would know all of that and I would be turned away.

Imagine my surprise as I arrived at the gate. Seeing my identification, the guard welcomed me by name and told me I was expected and that I could enter without any more delay. You need to understand that the Chief of Staff at Fort Bliss was the president of Zion Lutheran Church. I got in, despite my past and my fears, because he knew me. You and I get in because Jesus, the King, knows us.

Why does this matter?

Things are not always what they seem. You and I live in difficult times. Disease interrupts our plans and rudely intrudes into our bodies and our lives. Urgencies that flow from job distress or family problems would seem to overwhelm us. Violent and terrible events happen in our world—and in our lives—that might leave us asking, “If Jesus is King, why…?” We might feel that because of something we’ve done or because of these events that we are on the outside, looking in.

Christ the King Sunday reminds us that we live here with Jesus. As Jesus is no victim of circumstances, neither are we. Remember, things are not always what they seem. Jesus withholds showing His majesty and rule full-blast to Pilate. Just because He does, doesn’t mean that He is not King. We know He is.

If He still wraps His majesty in the cross, if we can’t see His rule, it doesn’t mean that He isn’t ruling. He is King. He does rule. He is moving, behind our sight to work all things toward the good that He has in mind for us. He meets us in our loss with His victory. We are like Pilate in that we have nothing in our hands, but Jesus fills our hands—and our lives—with His gifts of forgiveness and hope and certainty.

Things are not always what they seem. The truth is that Jesus rules—and that at the Last Day, that rule will be completely revealed. We will stand with Him then as we stand with Him now, certain of His victory, certain of His rule, certain of His love that moves Him to work for us, certain of how the story ends.

The jury may still be out on whether we Sheariers of the Clan MacDuff. We may indeed have nothing in our hands. However, this Christ the King Sunday, you and I know that Jesus is King. Our hands are filled with His grace and His gifts. We are certain so we celebrate.