It’s been an interesting few weeks in America and we certainly are seeing loads of intense feelings, ideologies, conflicts, posturing and reactions. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has led to very heated interactions and strong political polarization. I’m clear that Charlie had very strong devotion to Jesus and wanted his life, ultimately, to point others to Jesus. I’m also clear that he leaned into a more conservative political persuasion, and people have intense reactions whether they agree or disagree with Charlie’s positions.
While all of this has been happening in the U.S., I’ve been reading Luke 19-20. In these chapters, Luke makes it clear that Jesus’ followers thought He would immediately bring and establish the kingdom of God (Luke 19:11). When Jesus rides into Jerusalem and we read about His triumphal entry (Palm Sunday), huge crowds turned out to celebrate His arrival. Consider that His followers were shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’”
If you read Luke 19-22, you’ll see massive tension and conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders. In many ways, these religious leaders were heavy influencers—political leaders in their own right—and they were incredibly threatened by Jesus’ popularity and teaching. It’s also important to consider that the crowd who celebrated Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem were the same people who clamored for His crucifixion five days later.
I’m writing this blog because I think that Holy Week and other times Jesus taught in the temple are interesting studies in the mixture of politics and religion. When Jesus taught in the temple, He challenged both religious and political leaders, as well as causing common people to rethink various perspectives.
There were several occasions when religious leaders challenged Jesus with questions, and they even threw a woman caught in adultery at His feet. They also tried to trap Him in a political quandary when they asked about paying taxes to Caesar. They asked Him questions about marriage and heaven, and in exchange, Jesus asked them some rebuttal questions and exposed the ugly underbelly of their hypocrisy.
There were plenty of traps and tricks the religious leaders employed to try and find reasons to accuse, condemn and arrest Jesus. What I think is most important though is not one political side or it’s opposite (conservative or liberal), but Instead, what Jesus said and did is loads more valuable. In Jesus’ replies and reactions to hostilities and accusations, consider these things:
- Jesus tells us that we are made in God’s image and, as such, we can reflect our heavenly Father’s values. This was Jesus’ answer to the question posed to Him by the religious leaders with regard to paying taxes. In Luke 20:24-25 we read, “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” As we are made in God’s image, let’s live our life as His child.
- Jesus level set forgiveness, being clear that everyone needs forgiveness. I’m referencing His answer to the woman caught in adultery and the religious leaders who were accusing her. In John 8:7 we read, “But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’”
- Jesus’ parables that He gave in the temple made very clear contrasts between earthly perspectives (selfishness, power struggles, fear, insecurity, etc.) and divine purposes. In these parables we read about the divine value of multiplication, submission to God’s authority and God’s efforts to reach humanity, to name a few lessons.
- Jesus talked about generosity using the widow’s mite as a blatant life lesson. Consider His words in Luke 21:3-4, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.” In this lesson, Jesus demonstrates radical generosity.
If we are going to genuinely follow Jesus, then let’s follow Him no matter what other people say or do. Let’s allow our faith in Jesus and our love for Him to shape our outlook, conversations, values and behaviors. There have always been liberals, conservatives, political upheavals, opposing perspectives and loads of philosophies. May we always keep our eyes on Jesus more than anyone or any political ideology.
