The king is dead. Long live the king!
by Pastor Jim Strelan
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘Here is your king,’ Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, ‘Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!’ (John 19:14b,15a).
Read John 18:1 – 19:42
I hope you took the time to read this long account of Jesus’ suffering and death. Sometimes, it’s good to read things as a whole piece. When I was a school chaplain, I once asked the Year 9 class to read this passage, in turn, aloud. I wasn’t sure how they would react, given that they were prone to silliness (I’m being polite here!). But I was amazed at the silence, respect and almost awe they displayed as they read and heard the story. Maybe it has impacted you this way as well.
See how the idea of Jesus as king permeates the reading, especially in Jesus’ encounter with Pilate. And doesn’t the reaction of the priests stun you? ‘We have no king but Caesar’ (John 19:15b). They loathed being under Roman rule. They loathed the image of Caesar on Roman coins that burnt holes in their pockets. But Jesus as king? Not our kind of king. Not the Messiah, the Deliverer. And so, they called out for his crucifixion.
The king is dead. No fight. No army to overwhelm his captors. Not a bejewelled crown but a crown of thorns. Recall Isaiah 53:2b,3a:
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.
In some ways, you can’t blame those looking for a king for not seeing that kingship in this Jesus. And for the few who did, this dying was an end to any dreams they may have had.
This account has particular potency when we ponder the very basic Christian confession that Jesus died for me. For us, for the world. He is a king, but this king gives up everything and gives his life so I can have life. He is lifted up. Even though it is accompanied by jeers and mocking insults (and some tears), the notice Pilate fixed at the head of the cross speaks a truth: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’ (John 19:19b).
The king is dead. I can’t wait to, once again, make the proclamation: Long live the king! Can you?
For a moment, I am silent in reflection … thank you, Jesus. Thank you for giving of yourself. I honour you. Amen.
Jim is a retired pastor who lives with his wife, Ruth, on the north side of Brisbane. He is a proud and not very humble Brisbane Lions supporter. Jim likes to read, listen to music and play golf. He and Ruth love being with their young grandchildren and watching them grow. For Jim, grace is everything, and he will share that however and whenever possible.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
