After thinking about Pilate and the enemies of Jesus, finally, we turn our eyes on Him. We can learn much from the way he responds during his two interviews with Pilate. Most people usually consider these interrogations, but the way our Lord behaved, it is almost like he is the one interrogating his judge.
We learn two valuable lessons from our Lord. First, He clearly and calmly tells Pilate that “His kingship is not of this world.” Here we have another example of our Lord’s unequivocal and deep sense of belonging. He does not try to fit in–even if, as Pilate reminds him, it could save his life.
How can we nurse a deeper sense of belonging to Jesus? It will make a world of a difference if we know that we are rooted in Him–as branches are to the vine (John 15:1-7).
The second lesson is His audacity to speak truth to power. He tells Pilate, “You would have no power over me unless it had been give you from above.” As discussed earlier, this audacity is a rare and endangered species in the digital age.
If we truly want to follow Jesus, we need to pray for the audacity of discipleship. How can we provide this audacity a sanctuary so that it can flourish?