Jesus Before Pilate, First Interview
Tissot, James, 1836-1902. Jesus Before Pilate, First Interview, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56679 [retrieved November 19, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jesus_Before_Pilate,_First_Interview.jpg.
A Particular Truth
A particular truth can be stated in words-that life is better than death and love than hate, that there is a god or is not, that light travels faster than sound and cancer can sometimes be cured if you discover it in time. But truth itself is another matter, the truth that Pilate asked for, tired and bored and depressed by his long day. Truth itself cannot be stated. Truth simply is, and is what is, the good with the bad, the joy with the despair, the presence and absence of God, the swollen eye, the bird pecking the cobles for crumbs. Before it is a word, the gospel that is truth is silence, a pregnant silence in its ninth month, and in answer to Pilate’s question, Jesus keeps silent, and even with his hands tied behind him manages somehow to hold silence out like a terrible gift.
Frederick Buechner
A particular truth can be stated in words-that life is better than death and love than hate, that there is a god or is not, that light travels faster than sound and cancer can sometimes be cured if you discover it in time. But truth itself is another matter, the truth that Pilate asked for, tired and bored and depressed by his long day. Truth itself cannot be stated. Truth simply is, and is what is, the good with the bad, the joy with the despair, the presence and absence of God, the swollen eye, the bird pecking the cobles for crumbs. Before it is a word, the gospel that is truth is silence, a pregnant silence in its ninth month, and in answer to Pilate’s question, Jesus keeps silent, and even with his hands tied behind him manages somehow to hold silence out like a terrible gift.
Frederick Buechner
Imaging the Word An Arts and Lectionary Resource, Volume 1
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
When Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king, Jesus doesn't deny it, but he puts a different spin on it. He says that his kingdom is not of this world. When we envision a kingdom we think of borders and territory, we envision countries drawn out on a map. Jesus is saying that his kingdom doesn't fit those easy definitions. His kingdom is different and it supersedes those kind of kingdoms. Jesus kingdom crosses borders and boundaries; it exists in the hearts and minds of his followers. These days it is fashionable to declare the a specific person is or is not your president. That statement has to do with believing in what that individual stands for or not. The bigger question is not who is your president, but who is your king. When you declare that Jesus is your king, you are aligning yourself with him and declaring that you will follow him no matter what. Jesus' kingdom supersedes politics. If Jesus is your king, following him is more important than political stances or parties. He becomes what defines your beliefs and how you live. This is that it means to be a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, and that is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, be the king of my life
Overview
When Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king, Jesus doesn't deny it, but he puts a different spin on it. He says that his kingdom is not of this world. When we envision a kingdom we think of borders and territory, we envision countries drawn out on a map. Jesus is saying that his kingdom doesn't fit those easy definitions. His kingdom is different and it supersedes those kind of kingdoms. Jesus kingdom crosses borders and boundaries; it exists in the hearts and minds of his followers. These days it is fashionable to declare the a specific person is or is not your president. That statement has to do with believing in what that individual stands for or not. The bigger question is not who is your president, but who is your king. When you declare that Jesus is your king, you are aligning yourself with him and declaring that you will follow him no matter what. Jesus' kingdom supersedes politics. If Jesus is your king, following him is more important than political stances or parties. He becomes what defines your beliefs and how you live. This is that it means to be a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, and that is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, be the king of my life
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
At the end of this exchange with Pilate Jesus declares that he came into the world to bear witness to the truth. We are surrounded by all kinds of voices pulling us in different directions. We are surround by voices shouting different beliefs and views. We are surrounded by voices declaring that they are right and true and everyone else in wrong. In the midst of all these voices sometimes it is hard to tell what is true and right and what is not. In this exchange with Pilate, Jesus tells us that he is the source of truth. In John 14:6 he tells us he is the truth. In all the sound, distraction, noise, and competing voices, we know where to go for truth. We don't have to be confused or concerned. We know where to find truth. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, teach me your truth
Overview
At the end of this exchange with Pilate Jesus declares that he came into the world to bear witness to the truth. We are surrounded by all kinds of voices pulling us in different directions. We are surround by voices shouting different beliefs and views. We are surrounded by voices declaring that they are right and true and everyone else in wrong. In the midst of all these voices sometimes it is hard to tell what is true and right and what is not. In this exchange with Pilate, Jesus tells us that he is the source of truth. In John 14:6 he tells us he is the truth. In all the sound, distraction, noise, and competing voices, we know where to go for truth. We don't have to be confused or concerned. We know where to find truth. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, teach me your truth