Rev.
George Miller
March 15,
2026
John 18:28-38
Preachers often receive
the comment “I don’t want to hear anything political. Religion should have nothing to do with
politics.”
25 years ago, I
would’ve agreed. Back then, when
starting at Eden Seminary, my calling was strictly spiritual; a faith about
miracles, courage, and total trust in God.
But since serving
one church during a recession and another church in a community steeped in
wounds of prejudice and homophobia, I started to realize- many miracles would
be unnecessary in a world that is just and kind. Courage and trust are needed when facing
obstacles to our health, wealth, and well-being.
The Bible is
political- hence books like Kings, and stories like the Exodus. The writers were political. Prophets addressed issues of unfair rent,
unfair wages, mistreatment of immigrants.
The ministry of Jesus
was political. At Jacob’s Well he talked
to a Samarian Woman, he fed the hungry, offered wellness to the lame, making it
so they could reenter society and earn an honest wage.
How much is our own
political climate devoted to health care, poverty, people’s rights, and those who are from
another land?
Maybe, to make
things a bit easier to hear, we can that the ministry of Jesus was political,
because it was timely. He
ministered according to the events, people, and places of his time.
The ministry of
Jesus spoke to the time he lived, one in which his nation of Judah and been
invaded and occupied by Rome.
Jesus spoke to the ways
of the Temple, addressing money changers with overcharged fees, and clergy
demanding gifts of fatty lambs to dine upon, offering a purer connection to God
that was unlike the policies of the priests.
The ministry of
Jesus was timely, balancing issues that were spiritual and political, holistic
and economic.
See today’s
reading- authorities take him to government headquarters. He’s questioned by the Roman military
governor.
In just 4 verses,
the words Nation is used 1x. King,
Kingdom, and World are each 3x.
King, Nation,
Kingdom, World, are all political terms.
Why does it matter?
Because Pilate, a
military governor, is asking Jesus if he is the King of the Jews. Pilate
is not asking if Jesus is the spiritual leader of the Jews.
Imagine this story
taking place in the Ukraine; Pilate is Putin saying to Jesus is “Are you the
one who is going to stir the pot and lead your people into waging a revolt
against us, and try to kick us out of your country?”
That’s how powerful
Jesus is; how strong his presence, words, and understanding of God and
scripture is- that a soldier with a full
army at his disposal is afraid that Jesus is going to unleash a war, in which
the Romans might lose.
Pilate is saying to
Jesus “Are you going to stir up trouble and try to usurp the current
administration.”
Pilate is so
worried that Jesus is going to lead the people into a march, a protest, a
boycott.
And Jesus, with
only his words, says “My kingdom is not from this world. If it was, my followers would’ve been rioting
already.”
“So,” says Pilate,
“Are you a King?” Jesus says, “You say
that I am…but what I came to speak to is the truth.”
“What is truth?,”
Pilate asks.
Jesus does not
answer. He does not need to. As we’ve seen all along, the Kingdom that Jesus
represents is the Kingdom of God.
Unlike the Kingdom that
Pilate represents, the Kingdom of God is one in which:
-there is enough
for all,
-there is equality
of ALL,
-there is
forgiveness, and
-there is
fellowship.
Enough, equality, forgiveness,
and fellowship- all spiritual, political, and timely.
Jesus showed us
God’s way, a way in one in which God gives us all we need, so we can learn to share,
receive, and trust.
We see God’s way
when water is turned into abundant and delicious wine. We see the way of God in the feeding upon the
mountain, in which little is turned into much, and there’s enough to fill 12
more baskets.
In a culture in
which women were less than, and foreign women were seen as the lowest of the
low, Jesus ministers to and evangelizes beside the Woman at the Well.
Mary and Martha go
toe to toe with Jesus, moving the Lord Of All to tears.
We see beggars
treated as willing workers, blind worthy of compassion, and Jesus saying anyone
who comes to him will not be tossed away.
In God’s Kingdom,
there is forgiveness, and there is fellowship. At a time of great exclusion, Jesus embodied a
life in which he ate with, he welcomed, and he celebrated with such a diverse
group of citizens and non-citizens.
The Kingdom of God,
as seen in Jesus, is one in which God has created the world in such a way, that
we are given enough so that we can give thanks for, and share what we have.
-Men and women,
native born and foreigner are welcome, and equals.
-Forgiveness of
mistakes and sins take place over vicious punishment.
-Folks can come
together without fear, worry, or abusive hierarchy.
Hear how spiritual,
political, and timely a walk with Jesus is.
Hear how beautiful
God’s kingdom truly is; how amazing that we get to be part of it. For all of God’s goodness and grace, let us
say
“Amen.”
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