REturning despite circumstance

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭:𝟭𝟲-𝟭𝟳 “𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗷𝗮𝗵, 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱.”

John the Baptist was to have the ministry of turning – more precisely REturning – people back towards their God. Commensurate with that was a reconciliation between the generations and repentance of sin to Biblical “wisdom” or righteous precepts. It was to be done to prepare the people for someone and something greater to come.

John would later point to Jesus as that “someone” to come. But inherent in this proclamation is a statement that the people of Israel were not ready to receive their Messiah. They had strayed (or were led astray) from following the ways of the Lord. In occupied, oppressed Israel, the compromised state of mind and path in life is understandable. It’s remarkable the God chose this time to send John the Baptist and Jesus.

Part and parcel of John’s message was that oppression and discouragement were no excuse for not following the Lord. Indeed, there was a thriving and overcoming implicit in the ministry of the suffering and dying Messiah. THAT was not expected by anyone in first century Israel. What the people expected and wanted was a Messiah who would throw off Roman rule and re-establish Israel as THE world power. Jesus would indeed conquer Rome, though not through military/political power. John’s ministry prepared the people for righteousness in the midst of suffering and overcoming despite trial and opposition.

Where do I explain away my ethical shortcomings and compromises with “what I’ve been through”? Where do I do that for groups of people of whom I’m a part? It doesn’t wash and it doesn’t mesh with the gospel I profess to follow. Perseverance and patience (literally “longsuffering” in the original Greek) are products of following Jesus. Do I pray for them to develop and be lived out in my life? If not, I need to.

𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟭 𝗡𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹. 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝘁.

Fellowship of murderers

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟱:𝟳‭, ‬𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 …. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱.

The annual prisoner freedom ritual was meant to keep the peace between Rome and those of occupied Israel. There is no biblical record of it being done throughout the Roman Empire, but that would be consistent with the concessions made to maintain control yet allow some local political fervor to simmer. Indeed, the Pax Romana (Peace of Rome) operated at the tips of swords and spears. So, not really peace at all.

That Barabbas was a murderer (likely of one of the opponents of Israel) was an appeal to his candidacy for release. But that he was a murderer at all was perhaps more so, for his advocates were actively using Roman force to murder the One who served neither their aspirations nor that of Rome – Jesus Christ. He was far scarier than any mere criminal or insurrectionist, because His insurrection was against their sin and corrupt authority. He had to go.

The riddle of the cross is that when humankind does its worst, God’s best results. Murderers free murderers and at some level even flaunt their actions with a destructive arrogance that hurts themselves more than anyone else. God pays love forward through His Son and establishes eternal supremacy over the small reign of small people.

The cross wins. Always and forever. In my life and that of all humanity.

Abandonment and loneliness

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟲:𝟯𝟴‭ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, “𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵; 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲.”

…

𝟰𝟬 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿, “𝗦𝗼, 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿?”

Jesus’ request of Peter, James and John was both for their benefit and his. He appealed to their overcoming future temptation – a good reason for prayer for anyone. But Jesus also wanted their company because of the personal ordeal he knew was coming. He wanted his friends to keep vigil with him.

Surely, being abandoned was part of Jesus’ suffering. On the cross he later quoted David’s psalm, saying “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Anyone who has suffered knows that having someone present can make a big difference. It was part of the reason the writer of Hebrews would say that believers do not have a High Priest who’s unable to sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

“Abandonment issues” stem from parental negligence. A person with a pattern of being left alone – by people whose role and job it is to be there for them – is very sensitive to any situation where s/he lacks company when it’s needed or desired. Yet, this is a situation where Jesus can provide company, for he knows what it’s like. It’s unavoidable to feel abandoned at some point – there are things we must go through alone.

Providing companionship for the suffering – aka the ministry of presence – is a powerful testimony to the presence of God. May I listen to God’s voice and provide that when prompted, knowing just being there speaks love.

And should I find myself in an abandoned or even lonely state, let me know Jesus went before me and will NEVER abandon me through the Holy Spirit. His grace is sufficient.

Opposition endured

Hebrews 12:9 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Opposition is to be expected.  The claim the Jesus is God the Son will be abrasive to those who say there is no God and those who believe God having a Son to be blasphemous.  They will do whatever they can to discredit, disqualify and marginalize the message of the Gospel.  They will overplay grace to the point of eliminating sin from consideration.  They will overplay judgment to the point of becoming God’s agents of wrath.

To contrast this opposition to modern polarized battles of culture wars, if I’m not careful, the imbalance of both sides will penetrate my own thinking.  The over-reliance and -emphasis of policy will dull the edge of the sword of the Word.  Platforms and ideologies that allow or punish whatever groups think are evil blur the redemption Jesus accomplished.  All can be forgiven.  All can be made righteous and holy.  Human reason and its formulations have forever opposed God’s purposes.  It’s easier to back a candidate or party or ideologue than follow Jesus.

It’s hardly that Jesus stands for lawlessness or lack of conviction.  That’s absurd.  But his compassion goes deeper than those confronting him as does his heart-searching conviction of sin.  Laws cannot be made to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it’s something only the Holy Spirit can do.

As the passage implies, weariness and loss of heart are real dangers.  The arguments Jesus had (and there were many) – challenging his authority, identity and actions – show the nature of the opposition and his radical clinging to justice and grace.  To be sure, that opposition led to his death.  Before that, it was assassination of his character and denunciation of his message.  He endured it all and won.  May I (and we) do the same.

The Identity Decision

John 8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

This dialog is the ending of a large, contentious exchange with the Jewish leaders and Jesus. Underlying it all was his identity. His references to his origin, and thus, the origin of his message and ministry, were all pointing to God as his Father and heaven as his point of origin. The leaders repeatedly referred to their national and spiritual identity as children of Abraham, but Jesus refuted that spiritually, saying that Abraham was in line with what He said and did.

Finally, Jesus spoke of his eternal existence, that he had in fact seen Abraham in heavenly places. They scoffed and fumed, and he said the words “I AM”.

Those words identified Jesus with Almighty God, who uttered them to Moses as the name that was to identify the LORD to his people. The tense is the eternal present – God always IS. The Jewish leaders instantly recognized what Jesus was saying and picked up rocks to stone him to death (as they had earlier in the chapter to a woman they had caught in adultery).

This debate is at the heart of following Jesus to this day. Did God visit earth? Did God’s Son lay his life down (that is, it was NOT taken from him) for the sins of humankind? Did he indeed rise from the dead after being executed? If so, Jesus is “I AM”. If not, physical or verbal stones fly at the impostor making such an outlandish claim. There truly is no middle ground. Intentionally ignoring the controversy is to allow flying stones, for the person of Jesus makes humans choose sides:

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters”

It is no manmade tribal orthodoxy in force; it is a decision about the identity of Jesus.

I’ve seen and experienced well enough to believe he had seen Abraham before he was born on earth and one day he will see me in the same place. He is indeed “I AM”.

A deeper reconciliation

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟱: 𝟭𝟳-𝟭𝟵 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝘀!” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

The layers of hatred and evil that were in play throughout the Passion of Christ were the perfect background for his death. Pilate had released Barabbas, continuing an annual tradition to placate the occupied nation of Israel during a time of heightened national fervor. The religious leaders who had handed Jesus over to him insisted that he crucify Jesus, using that fear of uprising to get their way. And the Roman soldiers, who hated the nation of Israel in return, took it out on Jesus. As it says in Colossians:

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟮:𝟭𝟱 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀.

There were those in every group and position in the hierarchy of group that would one day turn in faith to Jesus. Reconciliation in the Body of Christ would undo the destruction in which they had participated and advocated for. When Jesus said “Forgive them Father, they don’t know what they are doing” he certainly spoke of his own agony on the cross. But the embroiled resentment between people and nations was certainly in need of forgiveness as well.

Also in Colossians, Paul wrote

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟭:𝟭𝟵-𝟮𝟬 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀.

… it was an “all things” reconciliation. This is no statement of universal salvation, but of the far reaching effect of the death of Jesus, right in the middle of the most bitter of antipathy between people. The peace made between things starts with individuals who know full well their own sin that was paid for. It spreads and encompasses all creation.

The soldiers, levying out their own punishment upon their hated assignment and the people in the land, were accomplishing the exact opposite of what they thought. A short time later, a centurion guarding the crucifixion, would utter (Mark 15:39) “Surely this man was the Son of God!” And others would believe later. It was not the end, but the beginning.

Do I regress and devolve into tribal hatred? Do I refuse to see the overarching of Christ’s reconciliation, even as it has overtaken my own life? Let me regain the vista of peace that falls upon the whole earth. And rejoice in all that has been forgiven and redeemed.

Joy rekindled

John 20:15-16 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Mary of Magdala had come to attend to the dead body of Jesus. She had witnessed his brutal death at the hands of the Romans, all the while being jeered at by those who opposed him and his ministry. She was traumatized and seared with grief. This was a personal time to say good-bye to one who had saved her life.

To discover the body missing would only add to her despondency. When Jesus approached her, she did not recognize him (many did not know the risen Christ until it was revealed to them). So her question was one of desperation, from the tenderest of hearts. In her mind, likely any number of things could have happened to the body, among which was the fact that the tomb was that of a rich person and NOT a place the body of someone like Jesus would have been laid to rest.

When she offered to “take him” it meant collect his remains from wherever they had been moved (likely discarded like rubbish) and at least provide Jesus the best resting place she could afford or arrange. Mostly, she just wanted to see him again.

The gardener would immediately identify himself, greeting her by name after these words and her sorrow turned to bubbling joy as Jesus had predicted. She was, then, the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection. And she couldn’t contain herself, telling the other disciples what she’d seen. In other accounts it says that her words seemed like foolishness to them – a common take on excited speech (slow down, Mary). Where is their grief in my life, where is there fresh or residual sorrow? Where have I left a situation as desperately unsolvable and frozen in that dissolution or brokenness? I am right – I will not solve anything. But I am wrong if I adopt hopelessness as final. It is NOT hopeless. God DOES resurrect, He DOES give new life and revives dead things. While it will never be the same, it may well be better.

Do I allow hope to arise? Do I consider that the “gardener” will call my name, as one in whom he has planted the seeds of salvation which push up a mighty tree from the soil? Awake my soul

Of slap happy tyrants

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟴:𝟮𝟮 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁?”

…. and …

𝟮𝟵-𝟯𝟬 𝗦𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱, “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻?” “𝗜𝗳 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹,” 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱, “𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”

Responding to accusatory questions about his ministry, Jesus asked “Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” (v 21). That was considered impudent and disrespectful towards the high priest Caiaphas, for which he was struck by those around him. Yet, as the Jewish leaders turned him over to Pilate, Rome’s authority over them, they felt very free to answer his question with their own arrogance. There was a clear, ongoing conciliatory placation of the people of Israel by Pilate; it was in his interest to maintain civil calm and good relations with the nation of Israel.

This afforded the chief priest and his henchmen the opportunity to push Pilate around. There was no love lost between the two layers of power and authority. The Jews hated the Roman occupation and the occupiers themselves. And vice versa, to be sure.

It is a clear sign of a despot in power that demands compliant respect and abuses those who it believes fails to tow the line. In that regard, even asking honest questions that interrupt the human -ordained rush to “justice” – is seen as rebellion. And the attitude towards authorities above despots – whether human or divine – is lip service to protocol formalities with an underlying acrimony to anyone or anything that would presume to hold power over the tyrant.

This is a direct mirror of the posture of Satan in Isaiah 14:

𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝟭𝟰:𝟭𝟯 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁, “𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻; 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱…”

That is, the Jewish leadership longed to rule over all the world and thought themselves worthy of that rule. The ultimate riddle was that they crucified the only One who was worthy of that rule, out of spite and rivalry.

Where is my despotism? Where do I presume to know it all and see it all? Where do I practice Joe Walsh’s lyrics:

𝑌𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢, ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡. 𝑁𝑜 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡

… where I should be advancing those below me and supporting those above me (vs. merely passing a test)?

There is no authority above Jesus Christ; every earthly tyrant will one can concede that. And Jesus rules with love and mercy, which are the delightful enforcers of his reign. Let me live in love knowing that His kingdom is not of this world.

The tipping point and the cross

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟮:𝟮𝟬-𝟮𝟮 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗦𝗶𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀.” 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀.

Jesus’ notoriety and reputation were spreading. While we don’t know the intentions of the Greek Jews who desired to see him, one possibility is certainly to offer an invitation to travel and bring his ministry to the diaspora, the spread-out Jewish community outside Israel. If that was NOT their intent, their request was certainly a way for Jesus to become more famous and potentially increase his influence.

Jesus would have none of it. He answered: “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱.” (verse 23). It was not long before he would be crucified. None of his followers had a clue. Jesus said “no” to the request for an audience with him by the Greeks.

John 12 cites the “tipping point” of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus in swaying the masses to follow Christ. It was so persuasive that the Jewish rulers planned to kill Lazarus to cancel its impact. As a celebrity, Jesus’ popularity was at its zenith.

Yet, he shut down those – including his immediate followers – who would scheme to promote him even further. For certainly, with his increased influential power their standing in the community would also benefit. Jesus constantly quashed his promoters and their plans for him.

He had bigger things to accomplish, though none of them would have bought into his future direction had they known. The bigger things involved ignominy and horrible suffering. His opponents would have their brutal victory for a few days.

As a follower of the crucified One, let me learn to question and pointedly ignore efforts to boost public opinion by market means. It is not an eschewing of all communication that would serve to invite people into the Kingdom or advance discipleship. Motivation is crucial in that. Word of mouth, shared experience and testimony will naturally attract people. But staying on point requires a veering away from publicity for the purpose of fame., I desire to make only one person famous, the one who went to the cross for me.

God doesn’t share his glory because he’s insecure; humans cannot bear its weight. And the one who would usurp comes to no good end. Let my heart then glorify its liberator alone.

Whom to fear

Luke 12:4-5 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!“

Fear has many expressions and many causes. There is rational and irrational fear. Jesus is speaking of real fear of real danger. There is, among the reactions to the proclamation of the gospel, with its declaration of sin, the possibility of murderous hatred arising in those convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sin yet obstinately impenitent. Indeed, tradition tells us all the apostles (possibly John excepted) were killed for their faith. And to this day, martyrs are murdered.

Jesus said that the judgment of God is far more fearful than losing one’s physical life on earth. God, too, can take this life. But only God can eternally condemn to hell. THAT should cause a deeper fear.

Jesus would himself show the limitations of murders. “Dead men tell no tales” is patently false in Jesus. With Jesus, the dead don’t stay dead. The flip side to condemnation in hell is eternal life in heaven. Life after death is promised to believers.

Now, one doesn’t earn eternal life by being murdered for one’s faith. Only the blood of Jesus buys that. But there is a shrinking back in fear that can dog believers and frighten them right out of bearing witness.

It’s not only physical death that scares them, it’s the assassination of their character and the shaming of their words and lives that drives them into frightened, dark corners of the soul. Satan knows all too well the success of keeping people in shame.

Between shame casting and believer who interpret the Great Commission as “Go into all the world and be obnoxious to every creature”, effective Christian witness is stymied. Jesus message to only fear God needs adoption by all believers. It is a core belief that undergirds the love of God in action.

Where am I/where are we in the mix? Somewhere in the middle I think. But this admonition is a spark plug, a spur to my faith. May I heed and react in loving obedience.