Sunday, November 26, 2000 (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Revelation 1:4b-8; Psalm 93; John 18:33-37
Go to Harvard Square in Cambridge or Washington Square in New York City or any public place where chess players have gathered to watch or challenge each other. If you stand in the midst of the crowd long enough, you will eventually hear someone say, “That’s it!” It might be a soft whisper or a matter-of-fact statement or even an enthusiastic exclamation, but it will be the announcement of a spectator who realizes that the game is over. Even if the soon-to-be-loser doesn’t realize it, the spectator and the soon-to-be-winner know that the decisive move has been made and the outcome assured. No matter how long the loser prolongs the game and thinks there is hope of winning, he hasn’t a chance in the world. Those who know what is happening see who the victor is.
John the Evangelist gives us a chance to watch and learn from another kind of encounter: the one between Pilate and Jesus. There is Pilate, the wily and cynical old-timer who has consistently knocked off all challengers. He is definitely someone you don’t fool around with. He’ll toy with you and then swoop in for the kill. But then here comes Jesus, the young upstart from the boondocks who has been raising eyebrows with his persistence and skill and surprising strategies. No matter how good he is, however, or how many people are rooting for him, the odds are very much against his displacing that crafty old pro Pilate.
What a match it turns out to be. At first, Pilate is curious and a bit annoyed. He wants to know if Jesus really is a threat because he’s heard stories about how clever this fellow is. Now he wants to find out for himself. “Are you the champ?” he asks. “Are you the new gunslinger who is supposed to be really fast on the draw? Are you the new kid with the never-before-seen offensive moves who can also play terrific defense? Are you the one who is going to take over my place of honor?” As the conversation continues, we get the feeling that if cigarettes had been invented at that time, Pilate would be chain-smoking them intensely as his curiosity and discomfort turn to agonized puzzlement and dejection. This Jesus is no ordinary player. Jesus’ strategy is brand new. Because Pilate lives in a world of intimidation and cruelty and mercilessness, he cannot comprehend what Jesus is bringing to the table. It’s a different reality, unlike anything Pilate has seen before. Pilate is out of his league as he faces Jesus’ strong resistance, mysterious mercifulness and unrelenting compassion. He doesn’t know how to deal with it, so he can’t wait for the match to end.
