As we approach Eastertide, I offer a brief reflection on this holiday amid turbulent times in our world.
On trial before Pontius Pilate, Jesus made a stunning declaration:
“My kingdom is not of this world…” (John 18:36)
He wasn’t just rejecting political revolution. He was reorienting all expectations–not only for His disciples, but for us as well.
The people of Israel longed for a Messiah who would overthrow Roman oppression, restore national sovereignty, and usher in an era of prosperity. Sound familiar? They wanted a king with a sword. What they received was a King with a cross.
How could a people be so fickle as to go from waiving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna” to yelling “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” in a matter of days? It’s not so mysterious: The people were expecting a different kind of savior…one like Barabbas (who, per Luke 23:18-19, can be seen as a social justice warrior who attacked the oppressors in pursuit of political liberation). Both Jesus and Barabbas were accused of sedition, insurrection, and treason, but Barabbas murdered while Jesus…healed the sick.
Even Pilate was confused. “So you are a king?” he asked. Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37)
It was never about seizing thrones or dominating governments. It was about something far deeper–a kingdom that begins not with policy, but with the transformation of the human heart.
The Idolatry of Earthly Hope
Today, we are not so different from those ancient crowds. We still crave political saviors. We cheer and rage, vote and donate, pin our hopes on men and women we believe will fix what is broken.
But political power is a poor substitute for divine redemption.
When Jesus stood before the Roman governor, He could have summoned legions of angels. He didn’t. He submitted to injustice — not because He lacked power, but because He was inaugurating a kingdom not built on coercion or campaigns, but on love, sacrifice, and truth.
And yet, how often do we act as though electing the right leader will save us?
The danger isn’t politics itself — all of us, Christians included (and perhaps especially), are called to pursue justice, love mercy, and walk humbly even in public life. The danger is political idolatry, the belief that salvation comes from the right party, the right platform, or the right man in office.
It doesn’t.
A Different Kind of King
This Easter, we don’t celebrate a politician who won an election — we celebrate a crucified and risen Savior who conquered sin and death.
His coronation was a crown of thorns.
His throne was a Roman cross.
His victory was an empty tomb.
And His reign is not confined to borders or ballot boxes.
If we are His followers, our allegiance must reflect that. Not in retreat from the world, but in radical reformation of how we engage with it. The church’s witness falters when we mirror the power structures of the world rather than reflect the heart of our King.
I know this is a tough pill to swallow. Think about Peter. We tend to reduce him to denying Christ because he was afraid for his own life, but maybe something else was going on? After all, he had shown tremendous courage hours earlier in the Garden of Gethsemane by drawing his dagger and attacking the mob when Jesus was ambushed. This man was not afraid to die.
Maybe when he denied Christ, he was in a state of shock, realizing for the first time that he did not really know the man he had given up the last three years of his life walking with. Yeah, maybe Peter was not lying when he said, “I do not know the Man!” and we are often guilty of the same thing.
Easter Hope
So yes, we vote. We advocate. We speak out. But we do not confuse any human government with the Kingdom of God.
Because our hope is not in Rome, or Washington, or any other earthly capital.
Jesus died for you. He died for me. And through His substitution, we can become a Bar-abbas ourselves: a son of the Father.
Our hope is in a risen Savior who told Pilate, and us:
“My kingdom is not of this world.”
He is risen. And His kingdom is coming.
image: Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man”), Antonio Ciseri’s depiction of Pilate presenting Jesus to the people of Jerusalem
Thank you Matthew. Every word of it is true. Happy Easter.
Best thing i have even read online
Excellent message. Thank you.
Well said. No snark or double entendre here but thanks for sticking by your Christian principles. So many people espouse those principles in theory but reject them in favor of hatred, greed, hubris, hypocrisy, and all the other things that are the antithesis of the religion they claim to hold dear. That makes it difficult to stomach them in a rather “I can’t stand intolerant people” way. Thanks for remaining consistent with your beliefs and principles.
Bless you Matthew. And all of yours.
Amen. He is risen!
More relevant than all the points and miles posts if that’s possible, thank you for a reminder of what’s important!!!
Outstanding, Matthew. Simply outstanding.
It is precisely because the Jewish people didn’t see that Jesus was offering a solution for all of the needs of humanity – far beyond their Roman oppression – that Christianity – first a sect of Judaism – was opened to Gentiles.
The message of Easter is hope that what we know here on earth isn’t the end of the story. In fact, it was several more decades until the Revelation was given to John when these words highlight the destination of humankind: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21)
God gives us minds to create and “do the things of humanity on earth” including travel and debating aviation – but none of that matters or will matter.
Tomorrow, Christians will celebrate that the Lamb has won with many using these words from Revelation immortalized in Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus:
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever
With that anticipation, the next to the last verse of the Bible says
“Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Didn’t expect one of the most insightful messages on this Easter season to turn up on a secular blog but here we are. Thank you for this reflection.
Thank you for that, as a staunch atheist it’s always refreshing to see religious people who really get the point of religion. Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!
Thanks Matthew
Very true thanks for posting this on this website.
If it gets one person to think about their lost condition it is worth more than anything.
Tonight I say Amen. Tomorrow Alleluia.
Happy Easter to a fellow Matthew. Appreciate you!
Quite insightful. And most likely prophetic on what lies ahead for the good old USA.
In this savage world, a respite consisting of this article in this blog is what we need.
Whatever Kyle writes for tomorrow, I will read on Monday.
Great message Matthew. Happy Easter and all the best to you and your family.
On Friday, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
On Sunday, “He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.” (Matthew 28:6)
Well said Matt.
Jim
John Cougar John Deere John 3:16
He is risen indeed!
Hate Christians
It’s because of you we have imported millions of low IQ third worlders that have raped and destroyed our nations and culture all because you subscribe to some Jewish fairytale that puts emotion before logic and reason.
Hate Christians
It’s because of you we have imported millions of low IQ third worlders that have raped and destroyed our nations and culture all because you subscribe to some Jewish fairytale that puts emotion before logic and reason.
You seem to be in the minority here. What an angry, intolerant person you must be. Matthew writes a beautiful post and then you spew your poison at it.
It is a curious tactic to use emotional pontificating unmoored to any factual basis to accuse others of naive emotionalism. One would be hard pressed to read the works of the key Christian intellectuals throughout history (e.g., Thomas Aquinas, Anslem of Canterbury, Blaise Pascal, Augustine of Hippo, Alvin Plantinga, Albert Mohler, N.T. Wright, C.S. Lewis, Norm Geisler, Francis Bacon, William Lane Craig, Peter Kreeft, or scores of similar others) and come away with the with the impression that the framework of Christian thought is based on anything other than thoughtful analysis and an unyielding commitment to logic coupled with empirical observations. To rashly dismiss Christian theology as a fairy tale for the simple-minded fails to recognize the depth of centuries of rumination about all the alternatives examined from every possible angle. Notably, many of the strongest proponents of Christianity are those who began as fierce antagonists against Christianity who changed their minds after examining the evidence and running the data through the crucible of impartial logical analysis. If you’ve ever applied Occam’s Razor to arrive at any reasonable conclusion, thank a Christian intellectual for that too.
Peace and blessings to you on this day that celebrates a third-world man.
Brilliant, Allen. Thanks.
To God be the glory!
Excellent post Matthew. While there are things where I disagree with you, this is not one. A well balanced post that is not biased by the idolatry that is all too common now (on both sides)
Happy Easter!
Blessed Easter, and thank you for this well written confession of our faith. He is risen indeed! Passing on below Easter message on Easter morn received from the Ukrainian Lutheran Bishop:
“And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail[1]” (Matthew 28:9)
Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!
Please accept our sincere greetings on this joyful Easter season! Even under the worst conditions like this cruel war, among murders committed daily by Russian invaders in Ukraine, no one can take away the joy that was first proclaimed by the Crucified and Risen Lord to the women that were departing quickly from the empty sepulcher of their and our Savior. No one can take away our joy from us because our most horrible enemies are conquered: sin, devil and death. We rejoice singing our ancient antiphone, “Christ is risen from the dead. By His death He conquered death and to those in graves He granted life!” May the Risen Lord Jesus Christ bless all of you with this joy during this Easter season and always! For He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!
In Christ, our Crucified and Risen Lord
What a wonderful post! Happy Easter to all.
Happy Easter!
The Easter holiday is not based on the Bible. And Jesus commanded that we commemorate his death not his resurrection. This is observed during the Memorial of Jesus death according to the Bible lunar calendar.
Amen and Happy Easter, Matthew!
Yes Matthew
The Messiah we want is not the Messiah we need.
Anyone who calls themselves a Christian should pray for the courage to stand up for what nurtures and feeds the soul.
It isn’t easy to be absorbed by the values of our culture, and at culture and at the same time to follow the life of one who follows the only God who can save us.
We might be going through life in first class, but heading to the wrong destination.
Blessings
Father Wayne
Happy Easter Matthew and family!
What a beautiful message and I love the thought that Peter might have known Jesus when he publicly denied him!
Excellent!
Well said, Matthew!! Happy Easter!!