From Mark 15:1-5 / Between Two Worlds – Nowhere is the strange way in which Jesus straddles 2 worlds and 2 realities more evident than in these exchanges. Two wondrous things emerge. 1 – So why not a simple, unqualified “why yes I am!”? Because He is the king of the Jews, but not the way Pilate imagines such a King to be. He is not meant to be their present political ruler. He is meant to govern their souls. His kingdom is not of this world in the way they would understand it. He is King of the Jews, yes, but not as Pilate would have understood it. And not as many of His followers then, or even some today would have it either. We seem more interested in power over world systems than power over sin and death. He knows fully “This is My Father’s World.” 2 – Why does He not defend Himself? And here is something truly unfathomable: Because He is willingly taking our guilt upon Himself. He will not defend Himself as not guilty, because He is being counted as guilty for us. So that He might be our substitute. And so that we might go free and be counted righteous in Him. Oh what a Savior!