Introduction:

OK, I've got a confession to make. The thing that bugs me the most is a petty bureaucrat with absolute power who is abusing the power in a most unreasonable manner. A couple weeks ago, on the way up north, I stopped at the Pine County courthouse to pay the taxes on our deer shack. At the time, I asked to buy a copy of the county plat book; the map book of the county. I was told that they had run out, more were being printed. I said fine, could I buy a copy of one page. I held the County Treasurer's copy in my hand. Three and a half feet away there was a copy machine.

"No."

Why? "It's against our policy. We make money selling these, and it's copyrighted."

I said I didn't want to copy the whole book, I knew that the copyright laws allowed a tiny portion, one page of any copyrighted materials to be made legally. She said to check with the County Auditor's office. So, very nicely, with a nice smile, I walked to the other end of the court house, to ask if I could buy a copy of one page of the plat map book.

"No."

Why? "It's against our policy. We make money selling these, and it's copyrighted."

Yes, but you don't have any for sale. The law allows anyone to copy a page...

"It's against our policy. We make money selling these, and it's copyrighted."

So, I smiled. I really did. I was very nice. I was on my way to the woods, and this wasn't going to spoil things.

So, I walked back to the County Treasurer's office, and asked if I could hand copy the portion of the page.

"Sure. You can hand copy it."

But I can't spend $.25 for a copy. I can't pay you a dollar to copy it.

"It's against our policy." Why? "That's our policy."

I smiled again, and drew my copy. I really did smile. Through clenched teeth. I was on my way to the woods.

Petty bureaucrats with absolute power. That's the greatest challenge to my sanctification. Or test. I really did smile, and I was very nice. That time.

I) Pontius Pilate, the Petty Bureaucrat

So, I marvel even more at our Gospel story today. It's the ironic story of the petty bureaucrat Pontius Pilate interviewing Jesus. Pilate holds all the power. He is the petty bureaucrat of the moment. Hear the introduction to the text:

John 18:33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

OK, did you hear anything strange there? You couldn't because the English translations don't translate it. I double checked this with Troy the Greek whiz, and he double checked it and said I was right. The text goes like this: "Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, (saying) "You are king of the Jews?" Pilate thinks he's asking a question, but instead, he actually does it in the form of a statement- "You are king of the Jews" - he's standing there in front of the King of the Universe; he's standing there, looking into the eyes of Truth incarnate, and, for about the 30^th time in the Gospel of John, the Truth blurts out of his lips- "You are king of the Jews" He doesn't have a clue as to what he said!

Now, if you don't know that Pilate just made that statement, Jesus' next words don't make much sense, as they don't in English Bibles: "Did you say this yourself, or did others say this about me?" In the English Bibles these words don't follow; it sounds like Jesus is some sort of wise guy; in the Greek it makes perfect sense. "You are king of the Jews!" And Jesus asks, "Did you say this yourself, or did others say this about me?" He realizes what happened- the encounter Pilate is having with the Truth is making the Truth come out of his lips- he is bearing witness- Jesus wants to know if it's coming from faith. Maybe Pilate is struggling with believing! In the other encounter stories, when people start talking like this, they do believe. Jesus is leaving the other option open, -maybe Pilate has heard the witness of others- which is it, Pontius?

Pilate takes the coward's way out, and avoids the question, answering with one of his own: [35] "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

Is Pilate trying to learn more? Is he trying to get at the Truth? [36] Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

II) Pontius Pilate - Power Player

Pilate had spent his whole life learning about power. He was a professional power player. He had made it this far- he was the top petty bureaucrat of a back-water, trouble-making Roman province no self-respecting Roman bureaucrat would ever want to be stuck in. He was holding down the fort, marking his days until he could get out of there, and back to civilization. Keep the peace; don't rock the boat; balance all these tricky Jewish parties against each other, and live long enough to get back to where the world made sense. If an uprising got out of control, he'd never get the promotion he hoped for. Keep things peaceful, keep the lid on, and get home sooner.

And now poor, weak Pontius is facing a riot, a miracle-man, and a demand to kill in the name of Rome. If Jesus claimed to be a king, this would be treason; this would make Jesus a conspirator against Rome. Then Pilate could justify killing Jesus. Pilate is looking for he easy way out. Petty bureaucrats do that. But Jesus makes it hard for Pilate: [36] Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

III) A Different Kingdom

No revolution there. But a Truth. Jesus does have a kingdom. It's not the kingdom of power; it's the Kingdom of Love. He's not a power player, he's the Prince of Peace. He rules the Kingdom of the hearts of believers. It's the eternal Kingdom where Jesus shall reign forever. It's the only Kingdom that will last forever.

Guys like Pilate will never get it. They're a part of a Kingdom of this world that only knows power. They're from a kingdom that scratches and claws and fights its way to the top. Pilate is caught on that escalator, and there's no way off. He will either be carried up or down, and he's almost powerless; caught in the Roman machine.

And there he is, this petty bureaucrat, pretending to pass judgement on a king more powerful than Caesar. The Truth even blurts out of his mouth. Jesus is in control; he is laying down his life that he may take it up again.

The Kingdom Pilate is a part of is the same Kingdom of power, fame, riches, looks, big houses, big cars and all the fame and power of this world. Pilate played the game and lost. He'd be lost from history, if he wasn't entombed in the creeds! A hundred years ago some even doubted that he ever existed! But a small inscription has been found from some Roman building project- laying in ruins. He's known for one thing- "suffered under Pontius Pilate." What a way to be famous! The biggest wimp in history! The guy who washed his hands so he wouldn't make waves. He stood back to watch the kingdoms of power swirl about him to destroy Jesus. Pilate ultimately gave the permission that allowed Jesus to be killed. He just stood idly by.

The Truth blurts out again: "You are king!" Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." 37 Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" There it is! He said it again! Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." It's like a big time pop singer, who is living a life of sin, but sings Christmas songs; the Truth is so close, but Pilate just won't listen. All the right answers are even coming out of his mouth- but he doesn't get it-Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again...

This morning this story comes to you, and you enter it. When you hear the story, you're forced to stand next to Pilate and ask yourself who is this Jesus? Will the Truth enter your life, or will you walk away? Which kingdom are you serving? The power player or the Prince of Peace?

Every person on earth serves one of these two kingdoms. Even if they think they serve only themselves, they're betting that they will win in the power game.

How many failed rock stars can you name? Movie stars who once were famous? Ever walk around the theater in LA, where the famous stars have their names in the concrete? So many are names you can't even recognize. They had their 15 minutes of being on the top of the world. Pretty soon they go the way of the Newt Gingrich, Monica Lewinsky and or the singing Hansons. Mmbop. And Pontius Pilate. The kingdom of the world looks pretty glamorous. But it has very, very sharp teeth. It keeps its promises poorly. It sucks you dry and grinds you to dust.

But the Prince of Peace keeps his promises forever. He's not going to let you down. He tells the truth, because he is the Truth. And he's calling you. You can trust him for a lifetime. You can trust him for eternity. He's not going to let you down. He is faithful. Invitation; Amen.