When we meet the truth face to face, there are three options available to us. Know the truth and acknowledge it, if unaware of the truth try to learn it, or know and deny the truth.
But what is truth? Jesus Christ knows the truth in its fullness. He said that he was indeed king (Jn 18:34-38). He was no ordinary king, but ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’. It was an indelible title and so it was inscribed on his robe and on his thigh (Rev 19:16). His kingship was prophesied by Nathan (2 Sam 7:12-16) and Isaiah (Isa 9:6-7). Gabriel told Mary that his kingship is forever (Lk 1:33). It means God, angels, and men in one voice testify that Jesus Christ is King.
Then how could someone disbelieve it? Yet the Pharisees, scribes, and priests denied this truth. In fact one of the major allegations they leveled against Jesus in his trial before Pilate was his claim to be a king (Jn 19:12). Now it was Pilate who was in a dilemma. He didn’t know the truth but wanted to know it. So he asked Jesus,”What is truth?” (Jn 18:38). But unfortunately he couldn’t wait for the reply. Instead he rushed to the Jews who were adamantly denying the kingship of Jesus (Jn 18:38). Thus he, together with them, crucified the Lord of glory for they were far from the wisdom to know the truth (1 Cor 2:8).
Pilate went to the wrong person and it was his undoing. Had he gone to his wife, he would have got a glimpse of the truth that is Jesus, who was standing before him as an accused. She was endowed with a grace rare to the consort of a Roman governor and she dared to send word to Pilate while he was sitting on the judgment seat to refrain from doing anything with Jesus (Mt 27:19). But at that critical moment Pilate forgot, or perhaps ignored his wife’s warning.
After delivering the most unjust of verdicts, it was perhaps Pilate’s futile attempt to hide his guilt that he got an inscription done on the cross; ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’ (Jn 19:19), something that would be remembered every time when someone looks at the crucifix. But the chief priests couldn’t accept it because they had already rejected the Lord of glory as their king and declared their allegiance to another king. ‘We have no king but the emperor- Caesar’ (Jn 19:12).
Truth throws three options to anyone who comes in its way. Know the truth and confess it, or deny the truth, or try to know the truth from those who are knowledgeable. Those who know and confess the truth will become free citizens in the kingdom of Christ. Those who deny the truth will be forced to serve another king, a king of their choice, for all eternity. As for those who do not know the truth but are eager to know it, they have to choose their destiny.
Let us celebrate this Feast of the Kingship of Jesus Christ in anticipation of the day when we will be admitted to his eternal kingdom.
(www.v-catholic.com)
