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John 18:33-37                                                    

 

TRIAL OF THE AGES - Jesus’ trial before Pilate is the centerpiece and dramatic climax of the story of Jesus in the gospels. "There is nothing parallel to its scope or literary artistry in the trial narratives of the Gospels. The trial is structured like a drama, with seven scenes delineated by Pilate’s movements in and out of his headquarters. The trial brings to conclusion many of the important christological themes of the Gospel, especially the themes of judgment and kingship." [1]

QUESTION FOR QUESTION - Jesus returns Pilate’s first question with a question as is common in the Gospel of John and further on in the trial. His responses move the reader to the heart of the issue-how much can Pilate act on his own or will he be the pawn of other interests? Jesus’ questioning creates a subtle imbalance in the conversation, a sort of conversational reversal: Jesus positions himself as the interrogator and Pilate the one on trial.

ANOTHER WITNESS - As in the case with John of the Apocalypse, so here also Jesus acts in the role of a witness; and Jesus will have many more faithful witnesses that will follow him faithfully through the ages-from among the earliest Christians to witnesses in our own present time. The road will lead to their deaths because of their allegiance to the Faithful Witness.

 

As a child were you ever blamed for something you didn’t do? How did you react?

Under pressure and fear, Peter scorns Christ yet becomes a leader in the nascent Christian movement. Why then, when Pilate caves in under pressure do we vilify him?

Do you see any of Pilate’s qualities / weaknesses in yourself?

 

Please refer to the homily in the DPS archives for Christ the King Sunday.

 

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[1] The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), page 1944.