Originally published at The Catholic Thing
What does it mean to be a king? That’s at the heart of the conversation between Pontius Pilate and our Lord. (see John 18:33-37) Pilate stands there as a representative of the Roman Empire, possessing some kingly authority and wanting more, seeing kingship as simply having power. For him, a king rules by force. Jesus, on the other hand, stands as a prisoner: chained, beaten, ridiculed. He has no country, no army, no arms, no allies – no forces whatsoever. And yet He talks about His Kingdom.
Pilate, thinking one thing about kingship asks in disbelief, “Then you are a king?” Jesus, meaning another thing about kingship answers ambiguously: “You say I am a king. . .” As if to say, “You mean one thing by that title. . .and I mean something else.” Then He clarifies the something else: “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” He rules as King not by force of arms, not by intimidation or threats, but by the truth.
A king’s fundamental duty is to establish and keep order in his realm. But
