“Pilate said, ‘Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’ Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.’”
John 19:10-11
From the oldest statement of faith in the Christian church, the Apostles’ Creed, we recite a line about Jesus which says that he “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” The creed doesn’t mention any of the many others that Jesus suffered under. Just Pilate. Why is he written into this ancient affirmation of faith?
Most historians agree that Pilate’s name is in the creed so that the church fathers who wrote the creed could establish a historical marker for believers to come. Pontius Pilate was an actual figure with a tenure as governor of Judea during the time Jesus lived on earth. The life of Jesus was not legend; it was real history.
But more importantly, including Pilate’s name reminds believers of the conflict between two rival sources of power: the kingdom of men, stewarded by shallow but powerful men like Pilate, and the kingdom of God which arrived in humility in a humble rabbi from Nazareth, unjustly arrested and brutally tortured.
Pilate’s “power” was no match for Jesus, King of the Jews, Son of the living God, our all-powerful Savior.
Most historians agree that Pilate’s name is in the creed so that the church fathers who wrote the creed could establish a historical marker for believers to come. Pontius Pilate was an actual figure with a tenure as governor of Judea during the time Jesus lived on earth. The life of Jesus was not legend; it was real history.
But more importantly, including Pilate’s name reminds believers of the conflict between two rival sources of power: the kingdom of men, stewarded by shallow but powerful men like Pilate, and the kingdom of God which arrived in humility in a humble rabbi from Nazareth, unjustly arrested and brutally tortured.
Pilate’s “power” was no match for Jesus, King of the Jews, Son of the living God, our all-powerful Savior.
Scripture Focus
John 19:1-16
Insight
The Apostles’ Creed reminds us of the conflict of the ages between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (see Genesis 3:15).
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 25-26
- Psalm 74
- John 16
