*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
- Do you agree that religion is political? Why or why not? What examples can you think of to support your position?
- 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?
- What do you learn about Jesus in Luke 23?
Seek Grow Love 