Scourge of the unfaithful

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟮:𝟰𝟳‭-‬𝟰𝟴 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

Peter had asked whether Jesus’ parable of readiness for his return was given for the disciples only, or all people. Jesus responded by describing the phases of judgment that will occur when he returns for his bride, the church. The overall advice to draw from the passage is “Be Ready”. That is, fight any temptation to slough off and become lax or negligent in one’s responsibilities. The picture is of diligence.

The word for “beating” means to flay or scourge – to whip, that is. It’s punishment in some form. The servant in this case is a believer in Christ who has not maintained a life directed by what s/he has learned and practiced. The shirking or malpractice of a life Jesus has saved will be punished to varying degrees. It’s hard to know what form it will take – if this refers to judgment that occurs after this life. If it is in this life, the blows can take many forms, including loss and removal from prominence.

The blows to be rendered to the disobedient servant is a clear warning to desist in abusing or ignoring what has been formed in the life of the servant. That admonition should be enough to get the believer’s attention.

The final sentence (“Everyone to whom …”) both predates and corrects the following Marxist statement:

“𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑”

.. as that translates into redistribution of goods by the state. The oppression wrought by forced acquiescence to that iron-fisted edict has physically killed millions.

Jesus is speaking of willful giving – heaven’s purposes surely do require more from those with more. But it is out of the obedient heart of the servant and as directed by God that the “more” proceeds. It is to God that the servant of the gospel reports, and it is for (and truly, to) God the well-endowed servant gives. The demand is an expectation of love.

The passage is stark in its declaration of judgment for believers. The servants described are NOT those outside of Christ. It’s chilling in its duty-bound cause and effect proclamation, but what do I expect to happen to abusers within the Kingdom? Or do I judge them as not part of the Kingdom because of their bad words and actions? I am not the judge, I beat no one and can look on no one with an eye for revenge or payback. That’s God’s job.

For me, the message is to remain diligent in my relationship with Jesus and my fellow believers. Do NOT let my love grow cold and keep trusting God for all he will do.

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.

Generosity and Labor

Matthew 20:15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

The master of the field had decided to give equal wages to all his workers no matter how long they had worked.  The ones who had been at it the longest were upset by this, since they only earned the same as those who had worked a few hours.  It was a labor dispute.

Then the master replied with the questions above.  There are 2 aspects to his words:

1. The protesting workers had been paid what they had agreed, but considered that they had control of what all others were paid.  They wanted equal pay for equal work but the master decided differently.  At the heart of that is an assumption that they thought the money was theirs to distribute, not his.
2. The master’s intent was generosity.  In a day and in a place where people lived hand to mouth, a day’s wages would ensure a family ate that night only.  He wanted no one to starve.  Nobody in the story was lazy, they were just unemployed, even into the late afternoon.

For 1., state-level socialism does in fact remove ownership of fields and the wherewithal to pay workers from society.  The state is the master and its wages and conditions are engineered and metered.  The workers get their way – equal pay for equal work.  Except that corruption invariably creeps in and work ethic degrades because there is no reason to work well or even care about one’s toil.  There is no advancement and there is no reward for extra diligence.

Ownership of resources allows for incentivizing good attitude and extra work.  If a “master” grows in wealth, his/her resources can be re-invested in people and entities that will continue to grow.  Greed notwithstanding, the organic seeding of resources has the often-realized potential of causing people and corporate entities to thrive.  Individuals can accumulate wealth as well, becoming “masters” in their own right; it’s part of the system. 

As a follower of Jesus, I believe all I have belongs to God.  Not a few times have people accused and insinuated that I need to give here or there – to them or others in need.  Yet what I have is mine to steward, to pray for wisdom about how and where to give and invest.  I am allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me.

For 2., the scourge of the wealthy – their greed – is vividly exposed.  If I want to protect freedom of resource distribution and the growth of my estate and the community and nation, I MUST practice generosity.  Greed is why socialism arose and why it keeps its place as an alternative to free enterprise.  And greed is not only the practice of the well-to-do (though being greedy with a lot has larger impact).  Ten thousand mini-misers have the same effect as one wealthy one.  The workers in the story were not generous to be sure; they wanted what was coming to them and a strict limit to what the late arrivals were paid.  They did indeed begrudge the generosity of the master.

God is infinitely generous.  His reward is not “fair” as humans would compute it, but abounding in grace as an expression of unconditional love.  If I receive the free gift of salvation – and I do – I cannot with integrity begrudge the generosity of my God towards those who don’t deserve it in my eyes.  Let me learn this deeply.

The warped faith of a tyrant

Matthew 14:1-2 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

In the family line of Herod, murderous oppression was a common way to maintain one’s reign.  Herod the Great had killed all the boys in Bethlehem in an attempt to snuff out Messianic prophecy.  His son Herod Antipas, in this passage, had murdered John the Baptist for calling out his unlawful marriage to Herodias, who had formerly been married to his half-brother Herod Philip. 

It is tempting to presume these men had no faith in God or his role in the affairs of humankind.  But the words above prove that they certainly did have a fearful faith in the God of Israel (Herod’s line was Edomite).  For if in Herod’s estimation John the Baptist could be raised and could perform miracles, he held the man he had beheaded in high esteem.  This is also verified in the account of John’s execution elsewhere – Herod was afraid.

There is a misplaced presumption of faithlessness in bullies and oppressors.  They are often in desperate fear of judgment – they know what they’ve done is evil and see no way out except brutality and human force.  Yet, Jesus saves monsters; it’s a fact and recurrent testimony.  Saul of Tarsus came to faith and many believers were still incredulous because he had singled out Jesus followers for persecution and destruction.  Yet, God saved.

Herod would never repent of his ways, and would later die a horrible death which is clear judgment of God.  But, the fact that he had enough faith to recognize the person of John the Baptist shows a projection onto God of tyrant – much like himself.  This provides prayer insight and wisdom concerning our dealings with such people.

May I never see God as one who imposes his will with violence and ruthlessness, but one who is slow to anger.  Let me never see God as one to be outmaneuvered via human wranglings and selfish pursuits.  Let me be pliable and listening to God’s heart, sensitive to his call and move.  In Jesus’ name.   

Bring me through

Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

The heavenly discussion in Job 1 is unique in the Word of God.  God and Satan have it out over Job, a certified righteous individual on earth.  It is particularly unusual in that the accuser is not the one who mentions Job as a person guilty of this iniquity or that.  No, it is the Lord who brings up Job’s name.  Sometimes I’ve mused that if Job was there and knew what was going to happen, he would protest loudly – “NO!  Do NOT bring me into this conversation!”  For Job would puzzle about all the disaster and theological rankling that would follow.  In all his suffering, his biggest question would be “Why?”

Far from a boasting match between God and Satan at the expense of a poor human, we have in the book of Job a vital picture of the testing of faith.  It is Satan who makes it a petty contest.  All the while God knows his servant’s heart and even his limitations. 

I can read abandonment into the story, or abuse or oppression.  But God never abandons Job, and any abuse or oppression is on the part of the evil one.  It’s a universal script for the human condition.  For it is a constant temptation to blame God for every malady and trial I undergo.  And certainly, he allows these things in my life.  But God also knows what I’m made of – indeed, what God himself is building to this day – and knows the end from the beginning.  It is the supreme lesson of Job’s story that:

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

How could Paul, the writer of the book of Romans possibly have the assurance to say that “we know”?  Only by walking through Job-like experiences.  It’s hardly a desirable path,  but it’s part of being formed in Christ.

So I won’t be a fool and say “Bring it on!” but I will lean in and say “Bring me through!”

Flowing word of salvation

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟮:𝟰𝟴-𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲.”

Rejecting Jesus was and is commonplace. He said radical things about himself and the world. His moral teachings were likewise deeply contrary to the norm in human relations and dynamics (e.g. who naturally loves his/her enemies?). His miracles and actions made him harder to ignore, and he made no bones about declaring himself to be God the Son sent to earth.

One who rejects Jesus rejects more than s/he thinks. For it is not just a random voice being silenced, it is the person of the Son of God. Since Jesus speaks from the Father, it is God being canceled in a life.

There is judgment having NOTHING to do with the words or actions of any human. Jesus spoke, and still speaks, the word Almighty God has directed. What he said contains everlasting life – yes, after this life in this body – if I receive and believe it (thus letting it work into my thoughts, words and actions). The new birth in faith is letting the line of communication continue unhindered. It is a flow that saves me.And if I’m honest, I can see it likewise measured towards me from those I have hurt.

That can be terrifying.

Rejecting what Jesus says cancels the only out I have – his shed blood for my sins. And it puts me on the throne of judgment which is a travesty and usurpation of role. I cannot wield such judgment; so I am no such judge.

Jesus spoke, and still speaks, the word Almighty God has directed. What he said contains everlasting life – yes, after this life in this body – if I receive and believe it (thus letting it work into my thoughts, words and actions). The new birth in faith is letting the line of communication continue unhindered. It is a flow that saves me.

The Tyranny of Immobility

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟱:𝟭𝟱 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱.

The demoniac that Jesus had delivered from satanic oppression was a terror to the community. He was forced to live away from other people. Yet, after the deliverance, the people were afraid. Why? Part of the answer likely lies in the way Jesus cast the demons into a herd of pigs – a threat to the livelihood of the swineherds. But another part is that the order of things had been upset. The outcast was no longer that and there was no telling what other societal changes were in store if Jesus stayed in the area. So they begged him to leave.

There is a sickness of preserving the status quo. Horrible destitution, abuse and oppression may exist, but people fear change more than they want any problems solved. “The devil I know” is still the devil, and the enemy of our souls and our Lord.

There are parts of the world where the practice of charity by Christians causes them to be hated and persecuted. Caste systems are in jeopardy when the mercy of God is on scene. Institutional evil is enormous in scope and adoption by the masses. Freedom is a direct threat to the tyranny of immobility of social station. Keep the poor poor and the rich rich at all costs.

But the cost is too much for Jesus. He heals and delivers because his love won’t allow anything else.

May I also do the same accounting; seeing the human waste and suffering kept in action by convention and its irrational fear.

O Lord, grant me eyes to see and wisdom to act upon it. In Jesus’ name.

Becoming a worthy house

Matthew 10:11-13 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you

To the modern reader, the instruction in Matthew 10:11 is puzzling. What does “worthy” mean? If it’s synonymous with righteousness, the statement runs afoul of the gospel message, that none are worthy apart from Jesus’ blood. We can know that Jesus had not yet died for the sins of the world, so that takes that interpretation out of consideration.

In Middle Eastern culture, to this day, hospitality is deeply ingrained. Empathy extends readily to travelers, who were and are considered vulnerable. This is in force across people groups. This was in practice during Jesus’ time on earth as well. So, a “worthy” house would be one that openly receives visitors.

Against that were suspicious households; who would be fearful of letting in thieving and potentially violent strangers. There is little question that there was and is basis for such fear. Yet, it disqualified a household from a visit by one of Jesus’ closest disciples.

Both postures have fear as their basis. But the worthy house has concern for others, while the unworthy one only fears for itself. This is the very basis of being hospitable.

People and families who have been violated are bound to be afraid of anything that would allow that to happen again. That is normal and understandable. But coming to faith in Jesus involves trust that overcomes the protective layer of isolation. Without that, there is no healing and restoration.

While victims are absolutely right to know and proclaim their pain and personal loss, unless and until an openness to the therapeutic community of Jesus develops, their testimony is blunted and powerless. They become unworthy to receive the blessing Jesus bestows. This is not blaming victims for anything, it is allowing wounds to fester when there is antiseptic and bandages readily available.

Worthiness in receiving Jesus and his disciples is simple, but very hard for some. It means extending care and concern outside self and close-knit others. Heaven itself may be knocking on the door:

Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

I want to be healed like that; I want to take in those sent to me. May it be so.

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.

When pretense is deadly

Acts 13:11  Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, had conspired to sell some land, give part of the proceeds to the cause of Jesus and keep some of it for themselves.  But their story was that they were giving the entire sum, which was a lie.

First Ananias, then Sapphira, testified before Peter that they had given the entire amount.  He pronounced judgment on each of them, for they had “not lied just to human beings but to God.”  They each instantly fell down dead.

This is a seemingly radical departure from a ministry and movement that featured so much healing and blessing.  If you lie you die?  How could it be?

There was and is a practice of toy religion – human doings and sayings that supposedly win the approval and appeasement of God.  It’s commercial – you say a few prescribed words, perhaps 1000 times to really be impressive, and you get the blessing.  You pretend to be “all in” and are actually only partly “in”.

It’s very clear from the context that the pretense (or acting – hypocrisy) was the problem here – Ananias and Sapphira likely thought everyone pretended just like they had under the Law of Moses.  Not now.  Doing things just for show turned out to be fatal for them, and the fear of that being exposed “seized the whole church”.  Following Christ was not to be a sideshow to the real event – personal, secret life.

Let me know this – they could have kept part of the money and told the truth about it and not undergone the judgment.  It was about being honest.  Turning greed into generosity is discipleship that often takes time, but turning what is fake into what is real needs to be called out right away, and in this case at the expense of the lives of this couple.

So where am I pretending?  How and where do I give only lip service to the things of God, giving part and saying it’s all (or even making that allusion), boasting (even in subtlety) or doing anything that lacks integrity?  Do I sin? It’s with no pride that I say “yes”.  Do I lie about my shortcomings?  Well, I won’t say I advertise them, but let me be quick to confess them to any and all who ask.

Let grace define me – not just receiving it but being open that I need it.  Every single day.