This week's gospel lesson comes straight from the climactic center of John's passion narrative. Typically, as John focuses on Jesus' appearance before Pilate, he is less concerned with chronological exactness than the presentation of a particular theological message. In this instance John constructs the confrontation scene between Jesus and the symbol of Roman authority to emphasize Jesus' kingship and his divine qualification for judging the entire world.

Pilate and Jesus confront one another beginning in verse 33. The supposedly powerful Roman official begins his examination aggressively, questioning Jesus about his rumored title "King of the Jews." But Jesus' response in verse 34 turns the query back on Pilate, forcing him into a defensive posture. Pilate quickly side-steps Jesus' sugge…