By Timothy W. Burnett
Before we speak harshly of Peter, let's keep in mind that God looks in our hearts. He knew Peter's heart-felt love and understood his fears and need to protect himself. The word says that Peter wept after his denials. It is God's loving and compassionate style to look upon our hearts and not condemn us for our wrong decisions or mistakes. Thank God for what He did for us through Jesus Christ our Lord and savior!
After facing two religious trials under Annas and Caiaphas, Jesus was bound and delivered to the governor Pontius Pilate. Because the Jewish leaders would not enter the judgement hall, Pilate came out and asked, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" (John 18:29). They began to lay false accusations against him by saying, "We found this man perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar and saying that he himself is Christ a King." (Luke 23:2-3). According to John 18:30 the religious leaders also said, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto you."
In the presence of the Jewish leaders Pilate turned to Jesus and asked, "Are you the King of the Jews? and he answered and said, 'You said it.'" (Mark 15:2, Luke 23:3 and Matthew 27:11). Pilate told the accusers that he found no evidence of guilt in Jesus (Luke 23:4). Then the chief priests and rulers were more fierce and said, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place." (Mark 15:3 and Luke 23:5). When Pilate heard that the accused was from Galilee he sent him to Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod was very happy to see Jesus because he had long desired to see him do a miracle. He questioned Jesus intensely, but he gave no answer as the chief priests and rulers stood by vehemently accusing him. Herod was not happy with Jesus' performance and arranged for his best soldiers to treat him with great contempt. They dressed him in a magnificent looking robe and sent him back to Pilate. Before this time Pilate and Herod were enemies. After Jesus left, they became friends (Luke 23:6-12).
It might have been during this time that Pilate said, "Take him and judge according to your law." "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death," responded the Jews (John 18:31). Pilate again entered the judgement hall and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, 'Do you say this thing of yourself, or did others tell it to you about me? 'Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you unto me. What have you done?' Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from here.' Pilate said, 'Are you then a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.' Pilate said, 'What is truth?'" (John 18:33-38).
An important bit of information can be learned from the above scripture. Jesus never claimed to be a worldly king, but a spiritual king. During the age of the grace of God, His born-again children can reign as royal children in the name of Jesus Christ (1Peter 2:9-10). In the future God's 144,000 of Israel will reign for 1000 years with the Lord Jesus (Revelations 20:4-6). The Epistles contain no scripture that shows Jesus Christ to be a reigning king over the world during the age of the grace of God. The Epistles do refer to Jesus as the Lord and savior for all who believe. Jesus is referred to as the head of the body of Christ, but not as King of kings and Lord of lords during the age of God's grace.
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