In 1 Corinthians 13:12, referencing what awaits us in eternity, the apostle Paul wrote that “now we see in a mirror dimly, however then head to head.” What wouldn’t it be like to talk face-to-face with Jesus? The Roman governor Pontius Pilate had simply such an encounter as Christ stood on trial earlier than him—an encounter that, as Alistair Begg explains in his sermon “‘What Shall I Do with Jesus?,’” revealed the Son of Man’s majesty even because it introduced Pilate to a vital crossroads:
Governor Pilate finds himself face-to-face with the King of Kings. He’s asking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). He doesn’t say, “Effectively, I’m the King of the Jews,” as a result of in spite of everything, he was the King of the Jews, however he was way over the King of the Jews. Pilate is introduced face-to-face with the Lord of the universe. Pilate may don’t have any idea of a kingdom that might “stretch from shore to shore.” He may don’t have any idea of a kingdom that might transcend the bounds of geography and historical past and ethnicity and sweep world wide. How may he ever? He’s so fixated on this.
Maybe we must always pause and remind ourselves of Psalm 2:
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples think about a useless factor?
The kings of the earth set themselves
and the rulers take counsel collectively to set themselves
towards the Lord. (Psalm 2:1–2, paraphrased)You may return two thousand years and discover Pilate doing what you could find at present all through the world in those that are in positions of authority. You don’t discover that women and men are by and enormous calling upon the nations of the world to bow down earlier than he who’s the King of Kings, to bow down earlier than the one who was anticipated once we studied 2 Samuel: “And his kingdom might be an eternal kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:16, paraphrased). It’s superb, isn’t it?
“Effectively,” says Pilate, “so you’re a king.” Jesus says, “Yeah, proper first time. You’re right. You’ve mentioned it out of your individual mouth.” I feel that’s what he’s saying. He mentioned, “Effectively, you say so.” He’s not denying it. He’s simply taking part in him in some methods. Absolutely Pilate on this encounter should have been conscious of the truth that he was dealing, and he certainly knew he was dealing, with somebody like nobody else he had ever met—that in precise truth, though he was the governor of a province, though he was vital in his personal little world, when he got here face-to-face with Jesus, this was an encounter comparable to he had by no means had. The majesty of Jesus certainly should have been pervasive. It couldn’t be swallowed up. It couldn’t be hid behind bruises and a bloody eye and spittle on his face. There’s no method out for Pilate, as we’re about to see.
Stream or Learn Alistair’s Newest Sermons
