John 19:11-15: a reflection

11Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.” 12At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!” 13When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement”, but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.” 14Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

As Jesus stands before Pilate, who reminds him that he has the power to release him or crucify him, Jesus answers with a striking calm that rests on a deep truth: You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Even at his trial, even in the hands of those who would condemn him, Jesus knows that no human authority stands except under God; Pilate's power over him was not ultimate but derived, given from above, held only under the sovereignty of God. This truth gave Jesus a settled composure before the one who held his life in his hands: he knew that God, not Pilate, was finally in control. All human authority, however it presents itself, holds only what is given from above; it is never ultimate, never outside God's sovereignty. Jesus faced Pilate knowing this, and it steadied him.

Notice the truth that steadied Jesus before Pilate: all authority stands only under God. Pilate claimed power over Jesus, the power to release or to crucify; and Jesus did not deny that Pilate had authority. But he named its source and its limit: you would have no power unless it were given from above. Pilate's authority was not his own, not ultimate; it was derived, held only under God's sovereignty. This truth gave Jesus composure in the face of the one who held his life: he knew that no human authority is finally in control, that God stands over all. Human authorities may present themselves as ultimate, but they hold only what is given from above; God is sovereign over them all. To know this is to find a settled peace even before those who seem to hold power over us, for their power is not ultimate but under God. God's sovereignty stands over every human authority.

That is worth resting in, for all human authority stands only under God, whose sovereignty is never overruled. We can be daunted by human authorities that seem to hold power over us, our circumstances, even our lives, as though their power were ultimate; but Jesus told Pilate, you would have no power unless it were given from above. No human authority is ultimate; each holds only what is given from above, under God's sovereignty. There is a settled peace in knowing that God, not any human power, is finally in control. When human authority seems to hold power over you, remember that it stands only under God, as Jesus told Pilate his power was given from above. Rest in the truth that all human authority stands only under God, whose sovereignty is never overruled, as Jesus, calm before Pilate, said he would have no power unless it were given from above; for no human authority, however it presents itself, is ultimate, but holds only what God permits under his sovereignty, and to know this is to find a settled peace even before those who seem to hold power over us, trusting that God, not they, is finally in control.

Lord Jesus, as you stand before Pilate, who reminds you that he has the power to release you or crucify you, you answer with a striking calm that rests on a deep truth: you would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Even at your trial, even in the hands of those who would condemn you, you know that no human authority stands except under God; Pilate's power over you was not ultimate but derived, given from above, held only under the sovereignty of God. This truth gave you a settled composure before the one who held your life in his hands. Show me the truth that steadied you before Pilate: all authority stands only under God. Pilate claimed power over you, the power to release or to crucify; and you did not deny that he had authority. But you named its source and its limit: you would have no power unless it were given from above. Pilate's authority was not his own, not ultimate; it was derived, held only under God's sovereignty. This gave you composure in the face of the one who held your life. Human authorities may present themselves as ultimate, but they hold only what is given from above. Let me rest in that, for all human authority stands only under God, whose sovereignty is never overruled. I can be daunted by human authorities that seem to hold power over me, my circumstances, even my life, as though their power were ultimate; but you told Pilate, you would have no power unless it were given from above. No human authority is ultimate. There is a settled peace in knowing that you, not any human power, are finally in control. When human authority seems to hold power over me, help me remember that it stands only under you, Lord, as you told Pilate his power was given from above, and find peace trusting that you are finally in control.