Politics

Readings for today: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

Anyone who suggests Jesus isn’t political hasn’t read the Gospels. An illegitimate trial by religious authorities under the cover of darkness. An illegal sentence of death for a religious crime. Delivering Jesus to Pilate for judgment. Pilate’s appeal to the crowd to set Him free on Passover. Pilate’s attempt to shift jurisdiction to Herod. Pilate’s many attempts to avoid sentencing Jesus on trumped up charges. Pilate’s caving under the political pressure once Caesar’s name was invoked. It all reeks of politics of the worst kind.

How does Jesus respond? Does He defend Himself? Does He call on His followers to rise up? Does He rage against the injustice of it all? No. In fact, when directly asked by Pilate if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus essentially replies, “Those are your words not mine.” When directly confronted on the many false charges brought against Him, Jesus chooses to say nothing. When Herod questions Him and demands He perform miracles to entertain him, Jesus again stands silent. The only answer Jesus gives is recorded in the Gospel of John. He says, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jewish authorities. But my kingdom is not from this world.” (John 18:36 CSB) This is a clear political statement. Jesus is claiming to represent a kingdom much greater and much more powerful than any kingdom in this world. Greater than Herod’s kingdom. Greater than Pilate’s kingdom. Greater than even Caesar’s kingdom. None of them have any authority over Him except that which has been given to them by the One Jesus came to represent.

Jesus’ example is instructive for us. Jesus never withdraws from the world. He never goes off into the desert to hide or to create an alternative society like the Essenes or the later monastic Christians. Jesus never seeks to dominate the kingdoms of this world. He never seeks to overthrow Herod or Pilate or Caesar. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find any criticism of any worldly authorities coming from Him. It’s not that there wasn’t injustice or corruption in Jesus’ day…quite the opposite actually…it’s just that Jesus never placed any stock in the reformation of the kingdoms of this world. He knew He was here to represent a different kingdom altogether. The same is true for us. To live in the world but not be of the world. To live and love and serve under the authorities of the kingdoms of this world while representing a different kingdom altogether. A greater kingdom. An eternal kingdom. A heavenly kingdom.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalms 22

The Danger of Politics

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 9-12

We want a king. We want to be just like the nations around us. We want to play the world’s game by the world’s rules. We cannot break ourselves of our dependence on temporal power and wealth and influence. God delivers us. God saves us. God works miracles on our behalf. He provides for us. He protects us. He guides us. He nurtures us. But it is not enough. It wasn’t enough for Israel and it’s not enough for many Christians living in America today. Instead, we pursue political power. We chase wealth and influence. We place our trust in human beings or political parties or the next election cycle. We compromise our witness by supporting those of questionable character and selfish motives. We believe the ends justify the means. And the results are tragic. Society descends into chaos and confusion. Every one does what is right in their own eyes. We sacrifice freedom for tyranny. Truth for lies. Peace for violence. Grace and love for vengeance and hatred.

The same thing happened in Samuel’s day. Though Samuel had led them well over the course of his lifetime and though God had provided victory after victory under his leadership, it was not enough. Though God had been faithful to raise up deliverer after deliverer throughout her history, the people still turned back to their sinful ways. They refused to remain faithful to God. They refused to trust God and walk in His ways. They refused to obey God and His commands. The result was continual cycles of fear and anxiety and injustice and oppression. Now a new threat appears on the horizon and Samuel is old. Rather than turn to God, the people call for a king. A strongman to save them. A warlord to lead them into battle and deliver them. They want to be just like the nations around them. Playing the world’s games by the world’s rules. It’s heartbreaking.

Thankfully, God is gracious. Though His people have rejected Him, He will not reject them. Samuel says, “When you saw Nahash, king of the Ammonites, you said to me, ‘No more of this. We want a king to lead us.’ And God was already your king! So here’s the king you wanted, the king you asked for. God has let you have your own way, given you a king. If you fear God, worship and obey Him, and don’t rebel against what He tells you. If both you and your king follow God, no problem. God will be sure to save you. But if you don’t obey Him and rebel against what He tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers.” (1 Samuel 12:12-15 MSG) God does what He consistently does throughout the Scriptures. He speaks to us in a language we can understand. He uses the cultural forms and norms of our day to bring about His will and His way. Yes, the people of the ancient near east all had kings and though God wanted Israel to look to Him as king, He was gracious and condescends to their weakness. He gives them what they want and promises to work through this new political/social structure as long as they remain faithful.

There is an important lesson here for us. Notice where Samuel lands his sermon. He continues to challenge the people of God to worship Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the great Shema that Moses taught them so long ago and it remains relevant in our day as well. We cannot place our trust in human leaders. We cannot expect the right politics to save us. The right laws to save us. The right social and economic policies to saves us. Yes, we need to be engaged in each of these areas and work to align them with God’s Word but, at the end of the day, only God can bring about the transformation our society so desperately needs.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 13-16