Pontius Pilate

Passion Sunday

Sometimes when I can sense that someone is constantly seeking approval and have a strong need to be affirmed, it usually is an indication of vulnerable insecurity.  When that particular person is seeking approval from me, I'm very honored and blessed.  But if I constantly disapprove, no matter their hard works and efforts, I often wonder if it may be because I want to have control over the person.  Or to put it in a classical sense, I want to maintain power over them.  

In my youth, I often sought approval from my parents and teachers.  As I got older, things began to turn around when others began to seek approval from me.  At first, I didn't see it as having power over them, but more so in the lense of responsibility.  And yet it is a fine line because to refuse any ounce of approval is to say: I have power over you.  

In the Passion Narrative, Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea.  And when the crowd is thirsting for the crucifixion of Jesus, Pilate takes Christ him aside and says: Do you know that I have power to release you and the power to crucify you.  But Christ responds: you would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.  And even though Pilate knows that he has the power, he did not exercise that power but washes his hands in the presence of the crowd.  Here Pilate refuses to exercise the power because he needs to please the crowd.  They come to him to make a difficult request.  Being worried about the riot, he consequently seeks their approval by letting them carry out the unjust sentence.  

Pilate did try to get around it by having Jesus scourged, hoping that the crowd would have sympathy for Jesus after seeing the scourged Christ.  Notice that Pilate tried to persuade the crowd to not go through with the crucifixion by saying: shall I crucify your king, and I find no fault in him.  But the crowd became relentless, showing no approval until they are able to follow through with the crucifixion.

Having authority and power over someone is a huge responsibility, but also can become a dangerous temptation, especially if we are not aware of an inner need to possess power and have that person at the tip of our fingers.  Identifying it as a temptation is one good solution, but more importantly is to acknowledge that power and authority comes from above.  "You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above."  Blessings.