Jesus Before Pilate, First Interview
James Tissot, 1890

My dear friends,

As today's Gospel reading opens, Jesus is brought into Pilate’s headquarters as a political prisoner, having been arrested and accused by his own people of claiming a kingship that threatens the power structures of the time. Though Jesus is widely known as a teacher and healer, his message of compassion, forgiveness, and a higher allegiance to God’s kingdom has unsettled the religious and political leaders. Now, he stands before Pilate, the Roman governor, whose authority symbolizes the immense political force of the empire. In this charged atmosphere, Jesus is not the type of king Pilate expects; his lack of resistance, his calm demeanor, and his purpose defy the usual displays of power, setting the stage for a life-and-death dialog about the nature of truth, authority, and the true kingdom of God.

Pilate's question about kingship reveals his fixation on power, yet Jesus invites him to see beyond the literal. On the Bodhisattva path, we learn that ultimate truth transcends worldly roles and titles. A bodhisattva's “kingship” lies in mastery over one’s mind and in serving others without attachment. Jesus, here, demonstrates such spiritual sovereignty—a sovereign who lives for truth and love, beyond worldly status or political might.

Jesus' response encourages Pilate to examine his own understanding and motives. In the Bodhisattva’s journey, one learns that seeking truth requires inner clarity and sincere introspection. Jesus invites Pilate—and us—to look deeply and see whether our views arise from genuine understanding or from conditioned beliefs handed down by others. This is an invitation to the truth that liberates.

Here Pilate's words reveal a separation he feels between himself and those he governs, as well as his distance from Jesus’ message. This division echoes the obstacles to spiritual growth when we perceive others as fundamentally separate from ourselves. On the Bodhisattva path, we cultivate a mind that embraces all beings. By reducing this mental separation, we come closer to understanding Jesus' message of unity in truth and compassion.

Jesus reveals the nature of his kingdom, rooted in peace and truth rather than in worldly conflict. In Buddhism, this aligns with the Bodhisattva’s understanding of ultimate truth: it does not engage in the divisive struggles of samsara. Jesus speaks of a kingdom where love and wisdom are the guiding forces, a realm accessible to all who seek with a pure heart and mind. In this, he exemplifies the bodhisattva vow to renounce worldly gain in favor of boundless compassion.

In this moment, Jesus affirms his purpose: to bring truth to light. The Bodhisattva, too, is born into the world to serve truth by alleviating suffering and guiding beings toward enlightenment. Jesus teaches that truth is recognized not by worldly allegiance but by an awakened heart illumined by divine wisdom. Like a Bodhisattva, Jesus invites us to follow not with blind allegiance but through understanding and love for all.

Pilate's question lingers, leaving us to contemplate the nature of truth. For the Bodhisattva, truth is not static but is realized through direct insight into the nature of reality. Jesus presents truth as a voice, a calling, rather than a mere concept. In this, truth is a lived experience, discovered in the compassionate acts and wisdom of those who walk in love. Pilate’s question, though unanswered by Jesus, opens the door for us to listen and discover this truth within ourselves.

As we celebrate Reign of Christ Sunday, let us remember that the kingdom Jesus speaks of is alive within each heart willing to walk the path of love and wisdom. This is the essence of the Bodhisattva way, to recognize our own calling to embody compassion and truth. In doing so, we participate in a kingdom “not of this world”—a kingdom that lives wherever love and understanding prevail.

Jesus stands before Pilate as a political prisoner, yet he is unlike any other brought before the Roman governor. Accused by his own people of claiming a kingship that threatens both religious and imperial authorities, Jesus has been handed over by the leaders of his community. Pilate, representing the vast power of the Roman Empire, approaches this interrogation with a mixture of cynicism and curiosity, for he is accustomed to judging cases based on political calculations, not spiritual convictions. As the questioning unfolds, Pilate grows uneasy with Jesus’ otherworldly responses. When Jesus speaks of a kingdom “not of this world,” Pilate begins to see that this quiet teacher poses no immediate threat to Roman order. However, he dismisses Jesus’ testimony on truth, asking dismissively, “What is truth?” and, deciding Jesus is politically insignificant, returns him to the religious leaders, setting in motion the events leading to the crucifixion. In this moment, Pilate’s indifference becomes part of a greater drama, for he is blind to the truth that Jesus represents—a truth that transcends power, position, and worldly dominance. This encounter calls us to reflect on the nature of true authority and the tragic irony that Jesus, though innocent, will be condemned for his radical message of love and liberation.

As Jesus stands silently before Pilate, the first signs of an impending upheaval begin to take shape, foretelling events that will echo far beyond this moment. In less than a generation, Jerusalem will be devastated, the Temple destroyed, and the Jewish people dispersed throughout the world in the wake of the Roman siege. Amidst this scattering, the teachings of Jesus—like seeds carried on the winds of the diaspora—will find new soil across distant lands, taking root in hearts and minds even as empires rise and fall. The Gospel, initially feared and dismissed by the powers that be, will endure beyond the reach of those who sought to suppress it. This exchange between Jesus and Pilate, veiled in the language of political inquiry, holds within it the quiet power of a truth that transcends worldly authority, enduring far beyond the lifespan of Rome or any earthly empire. In this way, the encounter becomes part of a greater, unfolding destiny, one in which the message of love, compassion, and liberation will be carried forward, alive in the scattered community of believers.

In a time when many feel the embers of Christianity dimming in the face of modern disillusionment, a new seed takes root, borne by the Tibetan diaspora. Just as the Gospel once spread through the Jewish diaspora, this new seed, grown from the love, compassion and wisdom of the Bodhisattva path, begins to mingle with the spiritual soil of the West. As Tibetan teachers bring these teachings, they sow seeds that give hybrid vigor to Jesus' message: to awaken to love that transcends the self and to serve all beings. Out of the ashes of a fading Christianity, a new Gospel might emerge, not as a replacement, but as a renewal. This "Gospel of Awakening," harmonizing the wisdom of the East with the love-centered teachings of Christ, offers a fresh path for those seeking spiritual depth. It invites us to awaken to the truth that sets us free to work for the benefit of all beings.