I grew up when Pope Pius XII was Pope. We had a photo of him in Church and now and then heard about an encyclical that he wrote; by and large, however, the Pope was a religious figure we knew little about. How things have changed! Can you count the times that Pope Francis has been on the evening news or the subject of various podcasts? The world of politics has reached down and scooped him up into their storm of controversy. It seems everything he says now is media fodder. Both political sides use him to support their points of view.
Things were not much different in Jesus’ day. He lived in a fiery political climate. Various Jewish groups were rising to challenge the Roman government that ruled them. Religious figures were drawn into the conflict to help put pressure on the Roman officials. Jesus, the new kid on the block, seemed uninterested in the world of politics. He was sent to establish a new entity that he called the “Kingdom of God.” He made it clear that his kingdom was not of this world.
Still the politically minded people tried to draw him into their world of conflict. They did it not to gain his support but to undermine his ministry. Jesus’ amazing success sparked jealousy among religious leaders, and his association with John the Baptist made him suspect with Herod’s supporters. So, the two groups connived a scheme to put Jesus out of business (Mark 12:13-17).
“Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came up and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.”
Talk about flattery! Do you think they were dumb enough to think Jesus judged them as sincere? Here were his archenemies giving him a public compliment! What did they have up their sleeve?
“Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?”
No doubt they turned to each other and snickered, wondering how Jesus could possibly wiggle out of this question. Would he say “yes” or “no”–either way he got himself in trouble.
“Knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why are you testing me?’ Bring me a denarius to look at.’ They brought one to him and he said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They replied to him, ‘Caesar’s.’”
Jesus quickly turned the tables on these hypocrites and put them on the spot. Why, they wondered, did he want to see a coin with Caesar’s picture on it?
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
Oops, they forgot that the answer to their question was “both-and” not “either-or.” The government in charge had legitimate authority and manufactured their own coins. Pay them their due. God’s kingdom had authority too, so pay the temple tax as well.
Jesus, as God’s Son, had authority over both civil and religious authorities. He was living in a Kingdom that was not tangled up with the politics of the day. Religion, for him, was a system for giving honor and glory to God. He was able to stand above the petty arguments of the Pharisees and Herodians, and call people to repent of their sins so they could qualify to enter the Kingdom of God. He was wise enough not to get caught up in their silly arguments.
We don’t have to be for or against the Pharisees, the Roman government, or the Herodians. Our call is to repent and become a committed member of the “Jesus party.”
