“You would have no authority over Me at all unless it had been given you from above.”
– Jesus, to Pilate (John 19:11)
To Pontius Pilate, Jesus was nothing more than a country prophet from backwards Galilee. Pilate had killed his fair share of Jews, seeking to demonstrate his reign as a force to be reckoned with. So what made Jesus so different from the others? Jesus stood before Pilate and would not speak. While most prisoners would plead their case, scream for mercy and argue against their opponents, Jesus remained steadfast and silent.
“Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you or kill you?” Pilate finally asked. Exasperated by the Jews’ complaints and unnerved by Jesus’ reticence to speak, Pilate retreated back to his prestige and power, reminding Jesus of the great authority that accompanied his position. After all, he carried the sword. He ruled his little part of the world with an iron fist. Perhaps if confronted with so great an authority, Jesus might concede under the pressure and say something that would either seal his doom or send him home.
Jesus could have recognized Pilate’s power. He could have spoken with him privately or sought to reason with him until he saw the merits of his case and the unjust accusations of the crowd. But such a response would ultimately have been an admission that Pilate was really in charge and that Jesus’ future lay in the hands of an earthly king.
Jesus responded instead by challenging Pilate’s claim to authority. “All authority comes from God” was the truth that the bloodied Messiah forced upon the wealthy ruler. God is in control, and He is the One who ultimately possesses all authority.
The knowledge that all authority comes from God should keep us humble, even when we are presented with opportunities to exert leadership. As leaders, managers, CEOs and employers, we should never point to our own prestige and power, abusing the authority we have over others. “All authority comes from God” is to be our mantra. We are vessels of God’s authority, and how we exert the authority delegated to us ultimately reveals the kind of God we believe in.
written by Trevin Wax. © 2007 Kingdom People Blog