the    sides

This is part of our e-journey through the gospel of John. This week’s from John 19:1-14.

A lot of people resonate with Peter when they read the Gospels. The moments of great faith followed by moments of extreme failure, the desire to follow Jesus coupled with the inexplicable habit of running off at the mouth. A lot of people relate to Peter in this chapter - the three denials and how many times have we denied Jesus?

I gotta be honest with you…I think I’m more like Pilate. Peter tried to attack an entire detachment of Roman soldiers by himself armed only with a sword. As a former Army soldier, I know that I would have never done that. Peter then followed Jesus around that night trying to stay close to him knowing that Jesus was more than likely going to be executed. I don’t think I’d do that either. Then Peter flat out denies ever knowing Jesus while using a bit of colorful of language. I’m pretty sure I’d never do that.

But Pilate is a different story.

A Cacophony of Compromise.

Trying to play both sides to the middle. I’ll run over here, try to placate and play nice with the crowd. Then I’ll run over here and play nice and placate Jesus. I can work this out. I’m smart enough and savvy enough to get the screaming crowd and Jesus to work it out.

When Pilate heard this (that Jesus was the Son of the God), he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.

“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free

Pilate knows what he ought to do but lacks the character and fortitude to do it.

His insight has exceeded his character.

Pilate finds himself in the exact position that I dread most - is it possible to remain “friends” with the people and “friends” with Jesus? Can I find favor with the people and Jesus at the same time? Peter’s blunders and failures are redeemable because there is both an extremeness and a humility that will ultimately allow Jesus to have first place. The desire to be liked, popular, and preserve the self-image places Pilate in the middle of two worlds and ultimately that will trump Jesus every time in Pilate’s economy.

And while Jesus didn’t put Pilate in that position, he didn’t rescue him from it either.

And Pilate fails. I’m guilty of glossing over that failure in order to point out Peter’s failure and the crowd’s failure. But I honestly don’t have a whole lot in common with them.

I don’t like how much of me I see in Pilate.