(Read John 19)
You know the kind of friend you haven’t seen in decades, and when you get together it’s like time hasn’t passed. I have several friends who fit into this category. While on a very long drive to the southwestern corner of Colorado, a small rock came off a truck and cracked my windshield. I called Safelight from the highway and made an appointment for the next morning in a city off my planned route. There weren’t a lot of other options.
I should tell you that the city of my windshield repair is where one of my longtime friends lives. It had only been seven years since I had seen him. We exchanged hugs, smiles, and, as always, lots of laughs. Despite my protest, he treated me to a good old western barbeque lunch. Over the years, we would loosely talk politics, knowing there is nothing to gain from these exchanges. You’re never winning anyone over and if you agree, it’s usually a tired conversation. But politics crept in anyway. During our discussion of the current Presidential candidates, my friend asked, “Would you let him date your daughter?” I thought about my reaction and gently said, “No, but I wouldn’t want her to marry the other guy either. Neither are the kind of man I would want for her.” We moved on from this conversation and enjoyed the rest of our time together. After lunch, he dropped me off, and we said our goodbyes.
While observing the stunning red mountains and mesas of New Mexico, I replayed our conversation a few times. I wish I had relayed Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees about paying the Roman “Poll” tax.
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Matthew 22:17-21
The Pharisees were thinly veiled in their trickery attempts to trap Jesus in an inescapable position. All subjects in Roman territory loathed the “Poll” tax more than any other. It was a Roman tribute tax, essentially a head tax, levied on each individual regardless of income or wealth. The Pharisees knew if Jesus said to pay it, He would have no standing with anyone in the Jewish community, but if he said not to pay the tax, He could have been labeled a conspirator or revolutionary opposed to Rome.
Jesus went deeper than responding to the transparent idiocy of the Pharisees. Asking for the likeness on the front of the Roman Denarius coin was brilliant! Whose head was on the coin for the head tax? “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God, the things that are God’s” clearly represented our dual citizenship. We are citizens of both earthly kingdoms and the kingdom of God. Believers have responsibilities to both realms, but our primary allegiance is to God. Caesar’s image might have been on the front of the Roman currency, representing the material world, but Christ pointed out that what belongs to God is us, created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
While Jesus affirms the legitimacy of the state’s authority, he also underscores its limits. If a conflict exists between God’s commands and human laws, God’s authority takes precedence.
So, there’s a king, and there’s a King. Please know that my friend was not trying to trap me in a corner; he was only trying to make a point. I should have conveyed to him, though, that our President, no matter how flawed, is not our King. Only the LORD our God is King.
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
John 19:11-12;15
Throughout much of Jewish history, God has been revered as their ultimate King. However, when their divine King walked among them in human form at a pivotal moment, they chose to substitute Him with a pagan Roman ruler. The insecurity of educated religious leaders caused an outright dismissal of Christ’s proclamation of His divine nature and ultimately called for Jesus’ execution.
Given the historical context and deep-seated Jewish longing for a messianic King to deliver them from foreign oppression, by rejecting Jesus and declaring allegiance to Caesar, the Jewish leaders betrayed their own heritage and the hopes of their people.
We all fall prey to subduing our beliefs at times as we err on the side of expedience, but turning from God, or giving His Kingdom to someone/something else, is a giant leap down a rabbit hole. In the face of trial and adversity, is when we should have the utmost faith in God. When necessary, this faith needs to be public, lacking shame and embarrassment. A sure sign of a mature believer is not being afraid to share and discuss their faith publicly. Yes, it might be awkward, but it was awkward for Jesus when He was stripped and flogged, forced to carry a heavy wooden cross to His execution sight, and have nails driven through His hands and feet for our sins.
Before the food arrived, I considered saying a prayer. I’ve known my friend for decades, and I didn’t think he would mind, but I still should have asked if he was OK with it. I wasn’t worried about other people’s thoughts; I don’t care, but I need to be sensitive to my friends and what they’re comfortable with.
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
Acts 4:18-21Peter and John were imprisoned for preaching the Good News about Jesus Christ to larger and larger crowds. They responded to their accusers with a powerful statement: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!” They showed that Jesus was their King above all else on Earth.
Pharisees then, and other non-believers today, believe all kinds of worldly doctrine as long as it doesn’t proclaim Christ’s Godliness or Salvation from His blood. Even while facing threats and intimidation from powerful religious leaders, Peter and John fearlessly declared their allegiance to Jesus Christ. Their response again demonstrated the importance of prioritizing obedience to God over human authority, even in the face of potential persecution.
Nowadays, tolerance is preached as the most essential thing in the world, yet this tolerance usually doesn’t include our loving God and Savior. After a few more hours of drive time after lunch with my friend, I texted him about my blessing and explained that I should have asked if he was okay with one. He lovingly said, “I need all the prayers I can get!!!! I was very comfortable…and respect your beliefs.” It shows more about your faith to others when you are confident and considerate with people who don’t personally know God yet. I’m praying my friend’s beautiful character is turned to accept and match Christ’s.
There is only one King, and even though it’s sometimes hard to see Him, He’s there. Is your (K)ing from earth or Heaven? Does your (K)ing have a lower or uppercase “K?”
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
Acts 5:29
Key Application:
- Jesus established his identity as the true King (even though the Jewish leaders rejected him and declared loyalty to Caesar). Beware of the dangers of misplaced loyalty and the importance of recognizing Jesus’ ultimate authority. Be on the lookout for situations where we prioritize worldly power or possessions over our faith. Pray to your King!
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.