When Jesus was arrested and crucified, it was because of the threat he posed to the power of temple leadership and the authority of Rome. Especially troubling was the growing number of the lower classes who believed Jesus was the rightful King of the Jews by divine appointment, and that he, not Caesar, was Lord. It was nonsense, of course, but troubling just the same.
On Thursday before Easter, Christians reaffirm that what was nonsense to the political leaders of his day was true, and is true today. Jesus is Lord, and his authority is not dependent on any king, president, political party, or popular movement. It means that Jesus and his followers remain a threat to political leaders. Not only will faithful Christians not subordinate The Way of the Cross to political demands, they will continue to advocate for the full dignity of every human being to be recognized by civil authority without discrimination. It has been harder for Christians to equally value the sacredness of creation and humanity’s sacred obligation to care for it, but it is a growing concern that will not be abandoned to the whims of the market.
There are loud voices claiming to be Christian that have allied themselves with secular power, social prejudices, and authoritarian rule. They are false prophets who have misled many who believe they are doing the right thing as they turn away from Calvary and towards Caesar.
That may sound harsh, but it’s intended to be a wake-up call to the truth. It may also sound self-righteous in the extreme, but it is simply a confession that the church has often erred, as has each of us, including me. In this holiest of holy days, it is a call to renew commitment to follow Jesus in the way of love and godly justice as best we are able. Speaking only for myself, the best of my ability is both limited and too often sporadic. I’ll try to do better with God’s help.
At Mark 12:17, Jesus says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The “things that are Caesar’s,” that is, everything that concerns power, are not thereby condemned, but rather are located by the priority of rendering to God the things that are God’s.
This relationship of priority comes into startling focus when Jesus first asks God if he has to take the cup of suffering “the things that are Caesar’s” about to unfold in Jerusalem, and then realizes that to render to God the things that are God’s, the answer must be “Yes.”
So, yes, Jesus says “Yes” to everything about to unfold, because he understands and acts on the priority.
Do we understand the distinction in priority that Jesus draws?
It’s necessary to ask this question, since it’s now all too clear that millions of Americans who “identify” as “Christian” perversely reverse the priority so that rendering to God takes place through serving political power.
But if we witness this perversity, does that also mean we are willing to say “Yes” to the cup of suffering as Jesus did?
Indeed…”…we have erred and strayed from they ways ike lost sheep…”
H+