Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
'Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him (Jn. 18:33-38). '
Jesus testified to the truth and the Jews rejected the truth, but his disciples accepted the truth as Jesus spoke it. Pilate was told about Jesus and his concern about Jesus’ kingship was from a political nature. He did not care about the Jews religious concerns and even appeared to be scornful of the Jews by his rhetorical question to Jesus, “I am not a Jew, am I (v. 35)?” Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty of any crime so his role in the death of Jesus cannot be excused; “I find no guilt in him (v. 38).” Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews (v. 33)?” Jesus did not speak about himself or deny his kingship but answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world (v. 36).” Jesus told Pilate that he reveals truth but Pilate was not interested in hearing Jesus. Jesus separated himself from the Jews who rejected him when he said. “If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews (v. 36).” Pilate showed his lack of understanding like the Jews who rejected Jesus when he asked dismissively, “What is truth?” To those who believe, the Risen Lord is king. Those who do not believe continually put Jesus to death by their unbelief.
Collect For Christ The King Sunday
Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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