Are we all that different from what these folks did 2000 years ago? When crunch time comes along, how many will simply submit to whatever dictates the State hands down to us – even those that conflict with our Christian faith? If the Covid wars of 2020-2022 were a test run to see how easily and quickly governments could take total control over a population, we have seen the clear results, and what can come next is too frightening to consider. Is the church ready to challenge the earthly powers if need be, to be true to Christ and his Kingdom? 

One of the most powerful and disconcerting confrontations recorded in the gospels – and there were many – occurs near the end of the earthly life of Jesus as he confronts Pilate. While Pilate was not too thrilled with going after him, having found no fault with him, the baying mobs outside wanted blood. So he finally gave in to their demands.

All four gospels record his time before Pilate. This is how Luke 23:13-25 records events:

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

As can be seen, Pilate did not view him as being a big risk – but it seems the crowds did. As we read in John 19:12-16:

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

Note that some of the Jews, including many of the leaders, insisted that “We have no king but Caesar.” Plenty of Jews did see Jesus as their Lord, but too many others were willing to give their allegiance to a pagan ruler instead of their actual Messiah.

All this should be familiar territory for the Christian. We know very well how the gospels record the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. But the issue for Christians today – two millennia later – is this: How many contemporary believers view things much the same way as these Jewish leaders? How many will say, ‘We have no king but the secular state’?

‘But,’ some will object, ‘no Christian today thinks that way.’ Hmm, not so fast. Simply recall what happened a few years ago. In the guise of ‘keeping us safe,’ our secular rulers closed our churches and ordered us not to hold any public worship services. Even home churches and Bible studies were effectively banned in many places, including Dictator Dan’s Victoria.

And here is the real clincher: Just how many Christians readily went along with all this? How many were quite happy to forgo worshipping the Lord with other believers for many months on end?

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