CONTRAST OF THE JUDGES. 1st Timothy 6:15. In an effort to impress the watching crowd, Pilate wrapped his white toga around himself, carefully smoothing each fold. Then, in a deliberate manner, he placed a sash over it, symbolizing the office he held. The signet ring on his finger was ready to stamp his authority. With composed dignity, he finally took his seat—a frail, mortal man.
In contrast, although He is the Potentate over all human tribes, Jesus walks in humility. He is bound, beaten, and reproached by men, unmoved by their careless talk and sinful demands. For the Leader loves His people, and with compassion and dignity, the Ruler of the universe bears the cost of their freedom.
Despite all the evidence, his arrogance causes the lesser of these two men to question who Jesus is. Pilate doesn’t understand and cannot see the motives within the Potentate’s great heart of love because he lacks that in his own heart. Searching for reasons to find guilt, he questions and finds no fault. But moral weakness has eaten him inside, and he yields to the demands of the world.
The King of kings, in patience, observes the weak, immoral, self-seeking judge and quietly says to him, “My kingdom is not of this world;” it is as limitless as the heavens. Earth is to Him a footstool, but He does not despise it. His goal is not to own miles of earth; He created it with His words. The people are His prize. He wants those He loves to be with Him and share His glory. He desires their true love.
His kingdom extends from shore to shore; every inch of the earth belongs to Him. All the stars in the universe are His, and He knows them by name. As the King of kings and the Creator of all things by the word of His power, He has control over even planet Mars, which the weak judge might think of as a god to be bowed and worshiped, not realizing that He stands before him—the only One with universal kingship.
Some people will say, “Your worship,” to a man-made earthly lord, judge, or religious leader, not recognizing or realizing that the only true Lord is their God. Every position that a man can hold is subordinate to His. He establishes and removes the leaders of nations. Before His authority, every judge and those he judges are “guilty before God.” The heart of every religious leader is “deceitful and desperately wicked,” the same as those whose sins they profess to forgive. Someday, every person in authority will acknowledge this. The Caesars have come and gone, along with the judges they appointed. The One of Supreme Authority has not abandoned His intended purpose. He remains the Potentate who cares and desires the best for everyone, and He is the universal Judge, the object of universal worship. As King of kings and Lord of lords, there has never been, nor ever will be, His equal.