Suffered Under Pontius Pilate (The Creed, Part 8)

[This devotion is part of our series on The Apostles’ Creed, you can find all the videos in there series on our Apostles’ Creed Page. The devotions will be added as they are posted.]

Mark 12:13-17, Romans 13:1, Acts 5:29

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Last week we started the phrase in the creed, I believe he suffered, but now we need to finish a statement he suffered under Pontius Pilate. And right here is another beautiful mystery of the Christian faith that even though Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, he submitted himself underneath the rule of flawed human authority.

In fact, we see this throughout Jesus entire life. From the moment he is born, Mary and Joseph submit to a decree from Caesar Augustus to follow some order for a census. Who was Caesar Augustus? He was a tyrant who killed off the other competitors so that he could be the absolute ruler over Rome. He was a tyrant who forced the Roman Senate into passing a law that gave him supreme executive power for life. He was even looked on as a god. And yet Mary and Joseph submitted to his decree and moved.

Later in Jesus’ life, when he was asked, should we pay taxes to Caesar? Jesus asked for a coin and said, whose image is on the surface of that coin? The answer was Caesar. Not just any Caesar. Tiberius Caesar. A man whose appetite for pleasure would make most people’s skin crawl. And yet Jesus said, render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and give to God that which is God’s. (Mark 12:13-17)

And of course, for his trial, his sham trial, Jesus had to put up with Pontius Pilate, himself, a spineless governor who could not recognize truth when it was staring him in the face. A man who represented a systemically corrupt Roman system that was absolutely racist, that was corrupt all the way back to the emperor in Rome. And yet Jesus humbly submitted to that rule and that authority.

Why? Because he needed to keep the fourth commandment. He needed to honor and obey the authorities, because the authorities that have been established have been established by God. (Romans 13:1) This is important for us as Christians today because so often, especially in our country, we recognize that there’s a separation between church and state, and that’s how our government is arranged. But the problem is, as Christians, when we think of these as two separate categories in our own heart, I can have my political views over here and my religious views over here. And the two boxes never touch. That isn’t how it’s supposed to work.

As a Christian, a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom, my religion must rule over my politics. So some examples of this. A Christian might say to themselves, I have freedom of speech so I can say whatever I want. I can post whatever I want or repost whatever I want about government and government officials, and I don’t have to worry about the consequences. As a Christian, your freedom of speech is underneath the fourth commandment, commanding us to honor authority, and the eighth commandment telling us to defend our neighbors reputation.

Other times people tell themselves, well, because this person is corrupt, I don’t have to respect them. Or because this officer, this man or woman in a law office position because they represent a corrupt system, I don’t have to show them respect. But Jesus’ humble suffering under Pontius Pilate teaches us that this is not the case. As a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom, you are forgiven. You belong to his kingdom. As such, we render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s. The government gets my honor. My respect, my obedience, as far as it doesn’t break God’s Word. And unfortunately, they also get my taxes.

But I give to God what is God’s. God alone commands my unquestioning loyalty. God alone has my body, my soul, my heart, and my absolute obedience. And for you as Christians living in this world, the day may come, like with the apostles, where we are asked by our government to disobey God and always remember their answer. We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29) And then they joyfully accepted the consequences for that confession of Jesus. They willingly suffered under their government, all for the name of Jesus. And that’s what it means when we confess in our faith that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate. Amen.