This is the end of the liturgical Church Year.
Oh sure some of us will gather together on Wednesday night to give thanks for another year of blessings upon our already blessings…but that day, really isn’t liturgical, as much as it is civil.
But “there is always a precedent” for giving thanks…like it is “the very least” that we can do…
This also means that the Season of Advent and the countdown to Christmas is right around the corner. It is looming.
But before we can go there – there is this necessary pause to close out “this year,” first. Closure is a good thing. Closure is usually a very good thing.
In a lot of ways our Gospel text coming from John’s gospel is strange. It is, but “a small part” … a “glimpse actually” of Jesus’ trial before Pilate.
King’s do not stand trial. Ever. Kings rule until their deaths. Kings are the ones who are in charge of everything that goes “on” and happens “within” their kingdom. The buck stops with them.
Kings can be overthrown and conquered. Kings die untimely deaths. Kings are deposed. Rebellions occur. But kings are seldom put on trial. Defeated kings usually simply perish and are heard of…no more. The lucky ones are sent off into exile somewhere.
We need to bear in mind, this is not a “trial” like we experience in 21st Century America.
“This trial” had but “one goal.”
The accused was already found guilty. The reason for the “trial” (if you will) was only to choose the appropriate penalty…to pass sentence.
And, an interesting King this one is, to be sure!
Not a conquering warrior, (by any means) no weapons (of mass destruction,) no army, no throne, no crown, no sword, no steed (of his own,) no scepter, either. You could not even point (physically) to where his kingdom was.
It was interesting. Kings simply are not put on trial. But this one is. It is highly un-usual.
He is a vulnerable king. He comes from a position of vulnerability and yet, he speaks as one still having great authority. He stands before Rome as an equal, if not a superior. He does not cower.
He is known as being a “powerful one” “who embraces” his powerlessness.
He has been “handed over.” Freely he accepts his fate. If he is vulnerable – it is because he is willingly giving of himself. Quite literally he is pouring himself out for others.
The charge against him of being “King of the Jews” is included in all four of our gospels.
The culmination of this King and his giving of himself…is seen in his allowing people very much like us – to crucify him.
Again – what king is stripped naked? Beaten? Broken, laughed at? Spit upon? Blind folded. Slapped repeatedly? Nailed? And hastily laid in a borrowed tomb?
And he does all of this quite willingly?
Pilate questions. Jesus confounds. Pilate is stymied…and surprised. He is one of a kind…that is, for sure.
This is the kind of King, Jesus was and is. It is this kind of kingship that is being celebrated. It is different.
A King of kings…and Lord of Lords…powerless at his humble birth and vulnerable at his willingly being handed over to death…
What King does this? What king acts like this? What king “gives” like this? It is a self-giving…a self-emptying.
Pilate is simply amazed and astounded. He cannot fathom what Jesus has done. Why is he so despised and so hated. Why do so many raise up against him?
For the record, the world still rises up against him – and he still is being tried, over and over and over again.
And he still submits to the process of humiliation and degradation.
Today he is being tried in hearts and minds around the world. Still laughed at and belittled.
If we are to talk about what Jesus has done, I can assure you, it is not like any other king on the face of this earth.
What he does is – this – to be unfairly tired, convicted, and executed. He will suffer, die, rise and be vindicated.
Two thousand years later. And still he is being tried. And the world still tries to convict him.
This is our King. This is “his day.” For some of us, his reign continues over us…and will throughout all eternity.