Day 78 – Jesus and Politics

Read: John 11:45-57

Seeing a dead man raised to life has a way of knocking you off the fence.  After the resurrection of Lazarus, many Jews began putting their faith in Jesus, but others had seen enough and decided it was time to report Jesus to the Pharisees.  At the meeting of the Sanhedrin, the debate did not center on Jesus' identity, background, or even the validity of the reported miracles.  After all, skeptics, and believers alike, had witnessed Lazarus's resurrection.  The old arguments against Jesus would no longer work.  The debate now turned to what had been the real issue all along: the threat that Jesus posed to the people who were in power.

As much as Jewish leaders hated their Roman occupiers, they understood that they derived their power from the very Roman government they claimed to hate.  If people began to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the rightful King, it could upset the balance of power.

John tells us that Caiaphas settled the debate when he said, “It is better for you that one man die for the people than the whole nation perish,” (John 11:50).  John clearly believed that this was a prophetic utterance by the high priest.  The words Caiaphas used to condemn Jesus were a declaration of life for all the people of the earth.

This encounter raises an interesting biblical principle: God alone puts people in positions of authority, and even those who are opposed to Him will ultimately be used to accomplish His sovereign purpose. In His trial, Jesus told the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate that the only reason he had any authority was that God had given it to him.

For all of the Pharisee's fear that the movement toward Jesus might lead to rebellion against Rome, Jesus' actual words and actions only suggested complete and total submission to governing authorities. Jesus demonstrated this when He instructed the Pharisees to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's."  He reinforced it to the disciples when He miraculously produced coins from the mouth of a fish to pay His taxes.

Centuries later, like saplings growing in the cracks of a sidewalk, the teachings of Jesus led to the destruction of the mighty Roman empire, but that destruction didn't come with swords.  It came through submission and love and an abiding faith that God is the ultimate authority. We are all in the hands of God and will be used to accomplish His purposes.  The choice is ours to participate willingly or unwittingly.  Every knee will eventually bow, and every crown will be laid at his feet.

Sovereign Lord,

When I become anxious about the governments and authorities of this world,
remind me that it is You who are in control.
Give me faith to submit to others out of reverence for Your Son
and courage to stand for truth despite the consequences.

Amen