The political situation of a citizen in the Jewish state in Jesus’ day was peculiar if not sometimes precarious. The days of the Israelite's dreariest darkness were during the centuries of captivity in Babylon. Now it’s liberties temporary won by the Maccabees, just prior to the coming of Christ were forever gone. Palestine was subject to imperial Rome, but Claudius allowed the Jewish people considerable autonomy. They had their own king, Herod; but they also had an appointed governor from Rome to manage civil strife named Pontius Pilate.
Still this situation was not satisfactory to many of the Jews. A large contingent followed the Zealots who were patriots longing for the independence of Israel as in the days of the Maccabean revolt started in 166BC (Ref: Josephus, Antiquities, 17:3:4). A smaller faction supported the family of Herod, most of who were in favor Roman rule with all its attendant benefits. Into this political patchwork/circus, our Savior Jesus entered the world. To make His position more difficult, He was not only a Jewish citizen and a Roman subject, but the long expected Messiah. Albeit a highly misunderstood Messiah even by the religious scholars of His day.
Unfortunately, due to the recent past history of the Maccabees, the Jews, especially the Zealots, expected the Messiah to assume Herod’s throne and deliver the nation from the yoke of foreign domination in a militant manner. Furthermore, He had the power to stop all the paltry strife and could have lifted Himself over it…but He did not.
Jesus in-fact steered clear of political squabbles and patriotic zeal. He was not a civil agitator advancing His agenda to reform civil government. He didn’t need to. His ideas and modus operandi to bring Scriptural salvation to men did plenty to intensify political strife regardless. In the attempt to bring righteousness to men we see why political divisions and conflict formed instead. We see clearly to the heart of why Jesus always attempted to steer clear of the human politicking. At the root of the political strife, division and contention lies demonic ideology which itself will always fight against the righteousness of God. Those that rabidly pursued their political ends or political power were and are nearly always driven by a demonic engine. This should be brutally apparent today. One needs good spiritual discernment to see through the intrigue and subterfuge to the root of the problem. A demonic political cleaver that can and will cut down the middle of all relationships; societal, ecclesiastical and familial.
Jesus was a law-abiding citizen. He violated no ordinances of the state, whether the Jewish state or the Roman Empire. All the testimony against Him at His trials broke down (Mark 14:56, 59). At His civil trial, He was falsely charged (Luke 23:2). Pilate ignored the findings of the Jews, and after he examined Him he judged Him innocent (Luke 23:4; John 18:38; Matt. 27:24). Jesus was a good citizen. He told all to render to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God what was God’s. Any astute student of Scripture understood what he was saying.
He encouraged obedience to civil laws, and stifled all disorder. The Pharisees and Herodians sought to entrap Him on several occasions with questions about civil ordinances (Mark 3:6; Luke 11:53, 54; John 7:32; 11:47, 57). At last, they proposed the problem of hated taxation, “Should a Jew pay taxes to Caesar” (Matt. 22:17-21)? If He said, “Yes,” He was not a patriot to the Jewish state; if “No,” He was a traitor to Rome. Jesus answered, “Yes” because it was the law of Rome. He told His accusers the truth without fear of consequences. Jesus also demonstrated lawfulness by leaving Jerusalem quickly to prevent civil unrest (John 6:15). Jesus respected the civil laws of Rome and was not a revolutionary regardless of how His spiritual enemies painted him otherwise.
Jesus did not attempt to obtain through political methods what He knew could only be accomplished by spiritual forces. He was not a civil reformer; He was a redeemer of life. Redeemed life would express itself in a desire to purify the government. Satan tempted Him to seize power first, and rule people with an iron fist second (Matt. 4:8). This was the way of Rome and the desire of the zealous Jews. Jesus sought in society and in politics what He sought in each person’s life, redemption and restoration (Matt. 12:36; 23:26; Luke 6:45; John 10:10). Not depravation and destruction. Jesus was a true reformer, using spiritual forces, not political power to establish His platform...His Kingdom.
He laid the foundations for a true state. We need to remember that there was no such thing as popular government in Jesus day with majority vote. Government was totalitarian; it was top down. Jesus set forth principles reversing this unilateral tyranny. In our country, we have a far greater role to play than citizens or subjects during Jesus’ day. During Jesus’ day, people endured because they had no power to change things. Now if things are wrong, we are accountable because we possess the ability to reform. We are building the kingdom Jesus started and laying the foundation for a true state to come.
Some think that Jesus’ declaration that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36) deprives His disciples of duties in civil government. If all Christians stand aloof from political duties, the very people preventing Christ’s rule and the advancement of His Kingdom will rule in its stead. The duties Jesus urged on His disciples are present human duties that encourage neighborliness, lawfulness, and order—this is a summary of the virtuous state (Matt. 18:15, 35; 19:17-21; Mark 9:42; 10:43-45; Luke 6:38; Luke 10:25-37). Christ’s disciples are to use their gifts, and if they are political in nature, the civil government is the sphere to use them.
The wretched qualities of some politicians then and now...manipulation, lying, compromise, and the exaltation of expediency above principle, Jesus despised. These are not the character traits of a Christian politician. These types of behaviors should never be tolerated of an elected official. If they are it is more a statement of the spiritual decrepitude of the voter or constituent majority than the elected official. People do in fact get the leaders they deserve. That example was shown repeatedly in Scriptures. No one has ever equaled Jesus in the exercise of humanitarian efforts, constructive achievement, noble management of people, and the use of compassionate and spiritual forces to strengthen, purify, and advance society. Although Jesus was not a politician, He teaches us the true goals of government, which are the true foundation for political wisdom and power. It is wisdom and power sorely lacking in a majority of American politicians and their constituent acolytes today. This is why America is under judgment and on the decline.
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