Power

British politician Tony Benn once insisted that five questions ought to be asked of any powerful person:  What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you use it? To whom are you accountable? How do we get rid of you? Those who use power and position to strong-arm or manipulate their subordinates will avoid such questions in fear of being exposed. On the other hand, those who have been placed in position of power who employ equality and goodwill gladly welcome scrutiny since truth can afford to be transparent.

It’s ironic that the one trustworthy power, Jesus, was asked these very questions before His enemies "got rid of Him." It was Pilate who asked Christ, “Where do you come from?” and was met with silence which only urged him to ask further, “Do you refuse to speak to me?...Don’t you realize I have the power to either to free you or crucify you? When the high priest Caiaphas questioned Jesus about his disciples and His teachings, Jesus replied, “I have spoken openly to the world and have always taught in the synagogues or the temple where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.” This honest answer was met with a brutal blow to the face of God.

Caiaphas had Jesus whisked off back to Pilate who pushed again, “Are you the king of the Jews and what exactly have you done?” Pilate was interested in hearing exactly where this Jesus derived His power and in whose interest He used it so He answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”Pilate then exclaimed, “You are a king then!”  Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born. For this I came into the world, to testify of truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Christ explained His mission as He spoke these words to His Father, “I have brought glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. I have revealed You to those whom you gave me out of this world.”

Christ was very clear on the power He had, from where it came, whose interest in which He used it, and to whom He was accountable yet was given a death sentence in return.  Hebrews 6:6 says as we distrust God, we nail Him to the cross all over again. As we say no to life, we are as Pilate asking, “What is truth?” as Truth Himself stands before us. May the lies about Him be exposed and replaced by that which has the power to heal and transform our ashes to beauty.

-S.N. Bemonte  2008