Tag: Herod

Religion and Politics

*Theme Week – Celebrating Jesus – Luke 23

Old Testament: Zechariah 11 & 12

Poetry: Psalm 147

            There’s an aphorism that says: “Two subjects that you should never talk about in polite company are, religion and politics.”  Why is that?  Because they often turn into arguments that can never be resolved.  Why can’t they be resolved?  Jonathan Swift wrote in 1721 that: “You cannot reason someone out of something he or she was not reasoned into.” Quite often people don’t choose their religious tradition or their political affiliations, they accept them from their parents. (Some do reject their parents’ religion or politics, which can create some unpleasant conversations at family dinners).  There is no doubt that conversations around religion and politics can and do grow contentious at times.  In my 60 years of living, I would say politics have become more contentious in the last 5-10 years than I can remember in my earlier life.  Some might argue that Trump is the cause of divisive politics, and others might argue that Trump is the outcome of divisive politics.  I would say that there is some truth in both of these arguments.

            What I really want to say as I reflect on today’s reading in Luke 23 is that to say religion and politics is to present a false dichotomy.  Religion and politics are not two separate things.  Religion is political.  One early political philosopher, Aristotle (384-322 BC) envisioned the role of politics to be that “government exists to promote and foster virtue in a way that leads to the good life of its citizens.”  Virtue is doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.  For him, the good life was the positive result of doing the right things.  Jesus lived between 300 – 400 years after Aristotle.  Jesus taught that if we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” then we would experience good outcomes in life. (Matthew 6:33-34).  Notice the similarities between Aristotle and Jesus?  Government or Kingdom and virtue or right living.  There has always existed a strong correlation between the governing powers and the right behaviors of the people and how that results in peaceful and good living for everyone.

            In today’s story, we see politics at work.  Israel’s religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus’ massive popularity among the common people.  At the time the religious leaders of Israel had a comfortable arrangement with the Roman authorities.  Rome pretty much left them alone to practice their religion, run their temple sacrifices, and hold their religious feasts and pilgrimages.  As long as the Jewish leaders kept their people in line there wasn’t much of a problem.   But Jesus came along bringing up the ancient talk about the Kingdom of God and God’s anointed King ruling.  That kind of talk made the religious leaders very nervous.  When Jesus came to Jerusalem right before the Passover he was greeted by crowds who wanted to install him as their King.  This would have undoubtedly led to a major conflict with Rome that would have enormous consequences for the leaders of Israel.  So they needed to put a stop to Jesus and his followers.  They needed to get rid of him before his followers got out of control.

            Remember the original Herod tried to have Jesus killed as a baby.  Now, Jesus was brought before  this Herod (descended from the previous Herod) who was not Jewish and not heir to the messianic throne of David, but merely a puppet of the Roman Empire.  Pilate was the Roman governor and was Caesar’s representative in that region.  Both Herod and Pilate needed to keep the peace and keep the Jewish people in line or else their positions would be threatened.  They both had comfortable lives in palaces.  The Priests and scribes lived comfortable lives too.   They all had vested interests in maintaining the status quo in the region.  Jesus was a threat to their political power.

            So, in very political acts, all of the various groups worked out their plan to publicly execute Jesus, even though he had admittedly not committed any crime worthy of capital punishment.  They chose to set free an actual murderer and insurrectionist, while they crucified an innocent man, who also happened to be the son of God, the heir to David’s throne, the true King and Messiah.

            As you continue to celebrate Christmas, eat Christmas leftovers and get ready to celebrate New Years, take a moment to think about what’s truly important to you and why.  Do you commit your allegiance to Jesus as King?  Do you want to seek first God’s Kingdom and the way to live right that Jesus taught?  If so, you are making a political act.  And if you reject Jesus and the Kingdom of God you are also making a political act.  You can’t avoid politics or religion.  Just make sure that you make a thoughtful decision about Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

-Jeff Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you agree that religion is political? Why or why not? What examples can you think of to support your position?
  2. What do you think the following people thought about Jesus – Herod, Pilate, chief priests, a Jew watching the events unfold, the criminals, the centurion, Joseph of Arimathea? 
  3. What do you learn about Jesus in Luke 23? 
sgl23bibleplanDownload

When Evil Wins

Matthew 14

January 14

What do you do when tragedy strikes? How do you respond when it looks like evil has triumphed? How do you handle great loss?

In Matthew 14 we get to see how Jesus reacted. He had just heard about the fate of his relative and fellow worker, the man who had prepared the crowd for his own arrival – John the Baptist. John must have been such a blessing to Jesus. John was the one who knew and believed and spoke for Jesus first. He had performed the baptism in which the dove and the voice of God announced that Jesus was the loved son of God. I am sure that had been an incredible bonding moment for both of them. And now John was dead. Too young to die, he was just a few months older than Jesus. He still had more work to do. He had been so faithful.

To compound emotions, John’s death had been a violent, vengeful, plotted beheading at the hands of Herod the tetrarch (which means he was a ruler of one quarter of the region formerly ruled by his father Herod the Great). Herod the Great had been the one who had ordered the death of all baby boys 2 years old and younger in the vicinity of Bethlehem, trying to assassinate young Jesus because the Magi had told him the star they were following signaled the birth of a new King of the Jews. Jesus had escaped the grasp of Herod the Great. But, now Herod’s son, with assistance from his twisted family tree, had murdered Jesus’ kin, John, who had boldly told Herod he had sinned by marrying his living brother’s wife. Evil had triumphed in this round. The righteous man John was dead while Herod, Herodias and her daughter lived and celebrated the death.

Jesus’ first reaction is to get away – alone. “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” (Matthew 14:13). There may have been some tears. There may have even been some angry outbursts, perhaps. Or maybe not. We don’t know exactly. But he was wise in seeking a moment of stillness and quiet – just him and God. It doesn’t say he prayed – but we know Jesus. For example, see what he does next time he is able to be alone (Matthew 14:23).

The crowds aren’t sensitive to Jesus’ needs, but they know they need Jesus so they seek him out and disrupt his quiet time. Rather than rebuking them or running away, Jesus compassionately makes time for them and meets their needs. In fact, the next 24 hours are going to see some of the most amazing ministry and miracles Jesus has with the crowd and with his disciples. Many more sick are healed, thousands are fed with one small lunch, and Jesus and Peter walk on the water! And, between it all, Jesus gets in some more quiet time with his Father.

When faced with tragedy, loss, heartache and evil it is easy to be tempted to give up or give in. Jesus shows us how to give it to God (again and again) and continue the fight. Jesus knew the war was not over. This round went to Herod, but there was more to prepare for. There would be more battles. There would be more sick, hurting, hungry, and scared to care for. The victor has not yet been crowned. We look forward to that day! Until then, give it to God and continue the fight.

-Marcia Railton

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. What loss have you faced? During your lifetime when has it looked like evil has won a round? What was your first response? Were you able to get back in the game? Do you benefit from quiet alone time with God? If so, how? If not, what’s missing?
  2. Jesus invited Peter to get out of the safe boat and come join Jesus ON the water in the middle of the lake in the middle of the night. And Peter got out of the boat! What would you have done? What would Peter have missed if he had stayed in the boat? Can you think of a time you courageously tried something new for Jesus? What could you do with Jesus if you were willing to step out of the boat?
  3. Peter was walking on the water with Jesus!! He began to sink when he saw the wind and was afraid. What fears are you sinking in? What could you do with Jesus if fears didn’t hold you down? How can you keep your eyes on Jesus instead of on your fears?
  4. Jesus rescued Peter and said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” What tone of voice do you think Jesus used? How do your own doubts affect your relationship with Jesus? Did John the Baptist ever doubt? What did he do? What evidence can you find to counter your doubts?
2022 SeekGrowLove Bible Reading PlanDownload