The Gospel of John, chapter 18:37

Fortune Magazine did a survey several years ago of millionaire entrepreneurs. The magazine discovered that the true entrepreneur was distinguished from other moneyed people by his or her drive for power. This drive was not necessarily a negative one that would crush others. It was, however, a force that moved those interviewed to put aside all other wants or desires in its favor. Today’s gospel passage also celebrates power; not in its self-centered, grasping, clutching sense; but in the truest sense of the word: as service to the truth.

In today’s gospel (John 18:33-37) John presents a dramatic exchange between Pilate, the fitful holder of earthly power, and Jesus, the calm possessor of true power.

Jesus explains to Pilate what this power means. True power consists in bearing witness to the truth. Truth here is not to be construed as a philosophical system or as a partial, scientific understanding of the world. Rather, truth is the ultimate reality; that which alone is eternal, namely, God.

Jesus exercises this power in a manner that may seem very strange to our way of thinking. Jesus was no entrepreneur. He was not on the make or looking out for Himself. Through His obedience to God’s will, Jesus grants us access to the truth; to the power of God, making us free people in the service of His Father.

The gospel of John sets up a contrast between the power of Pilate and the power of Jesus. Since poor Pilate does not think much about heaven or understand it, he does not understand Jesus. The Pilate-Jesus dialogue challenges us to reflect on the true meaning of power.

Jesus is telling Pilate that the power of God’s kingdom does not belong to the “world” of activities and relationships that is built upon greed and grabbing, prejudice and persecution, one-upmanship and put-downmanship. Pilate is afraid to give in to this new kind of power or to imagine a kingdom built upon it. Thus he dismisses Jesus’ talk about truth with the lame retort: “what is truth?”

We sometimes share in Pilate’s inability and lack of imagination. We look at the world and figure that bigger is better; that might is right; that muscle means everything. We are afraid to accept the truth of an order based on love and loving obedience to the God of love.

But, this is the power that Jesus came to establish in our world!

To Him be Glory and Power.

Fr. Hugh Duffy