Thursday, March 3, 2005
Hieromartyr Theodoretos of Antioch
Kellia: 1 Kings 15:24-35 (1 Samuel 15:24-35 MT) Epistle: 1 John 4:20-5:21 Gospel: St. Mark 15:1-15
St. Mark 15:1-15, especially vs. 5: "But Jesus still answered
nothing, so that Pilate marveled." To encourage his young protégé, Timothy, as the years of his ministry drew to a close,
the Apostle Paul recalled the Lord's "good confession" before Pilate (1 Timothy 6:13). He urged Timothy to follow the
example of the Lord Jesus at His trial. St. Paul's challenge applies to all Christians: our manner of life should follow the
model of the Lord's example. Before the tribunal of the world, let us be found "without spot, blameless until our Lord
Jesus Christ's appearing" (1 Tim. 6:14). How? St. Paul says, by fleeing foolish and harmful lusts (1 Tim. 6:11), by
pursuing righteousness (1 Tim. 6:11), and by fighting the good fight of faith, laying hold of eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12).
These surely were elements in the Lord's "good confession before Pilate," and they caused the Roman Procurator to
marvel.
The most striking aspect of the Lord's demeanor - both in His trial before the Sanhedrin in an all-night session and before
Pilate the next morning - was His restraint. He disclosed great freedom from the passions. In "answering nothing" (Mk.
14:61) to a flood of accusations, our Incarnate God spoke with the infinite eloquence of restrained silence. Through a
"passionless Passion," He "spoke" a word of calm, Divine judgment against all human sin and passion.
Much was asked of the Lord during the two trials, and He answered either with silence or concise brevity. When asked,
"Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" He answered, "I AM" (Mk.14:62), and described His future glory. When
Pilate asked, "'Are you the King of the Jews?' He answered, 'Thou sayest'" (vs. 15:2). "I AM" and "Thou sayest." So free
was He of all passion and the need to defend His life, of any lust for power, of concern to make "His point," or of a need to
"prove" His enemies wrong, that He could remain largely silent. As we are cleansed of passion, God will bless us with
peace and calm even in the most agitated situations.
Is it possible to imagine One more righteous than the Lord? Is it possible to think of a time when His righteousness was
more evident than during His trials and at His Crucifixion? Our hearts command us to agree with Jeremiah and call Christ
Jesus "the Lord our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:6). Most striking in the entire Passion account is the serene perseverance of
our Savior and God while intrigue, betrayal, mob rule, and injustice raged around Him.
Reading through the Gospels, one is struck by the Lord's inner and all-pervading power to manage what happened. He is
revealed as the "Producer" of His ministry, as the "Director" of the sequences, including His own arrest, trials, and
execution. We find the Lord Christ moving the events steadily forward for the salvation of mankind. For instance, at a
turning point in the Gospel of Luke, the Evangelist notes: "...when the time had come for Him to be received up...He
steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Lk. 9:51). The Lord's fellow humans appear as "bit" players, taking their part
in their assigned scenes and passing off the stage. Others pursue their ends. Unremittingly, Christ our God pursues
righteousness and our salvation.
Finally, the Lord "fought the good fight of faith." The Sanhedrin assured themselves that they had rid the world of terrible
"blasphemy" (Mk. 14:64), that they had won a struggle for true Faith. Rather, Christ won the battle of faith. It was He
Who laid hold of eternal life for mortal men who will put their faith in Him. No doubt Pontius Pilate sighed when he did
not lose control of a frenzied mob. What was the life of one harmless Jewish teacher? Pilate sustained the "Pax Romana!"
However, Beloved of the Lord, Pilate lost his greatest chance for eternal life, for Christ offers Life to all through His good
fight on the Cross and His great victory over death. Glory to Thee O Savior, Who didst trample down death by death and
bestow life upon all.
