Jesus showed up in the most turbulent of political climates.  The Roman Empire was vast and powerful–one of the largest in world history.  And they ruled over their subjects with an iron fist. In their reign, they executed THOUSANDS of people.

 

So to say that Jesus showed up in difficult political times would be an understatement.  And to take this notion farther, it is quite possible that one of His disciples, Simon the Zealot, had killed Roman Soldiers.

 

So when the Pharisees and Herodians went to trick Jesus, they were hoping to put His life in danger:

Mark 12  13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

16 But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

 

Jesus came to be King.

 

But the disciples had expected quite a different means to put Him on the throne.

 

How shocked they must have been when they finally realized that He would truly be crucified.

 

They slept as He prayed.

They betrayed Him (Judas).

They denied knowing Him (Peter).

They ran.

They hid.

And they cowered.

 

Little did they know that the outcome was still as Jesus said it would be.  He….would be King.

 

The world of politics is a tricky one.

 

And I, more than most, have been drawn in.

  • It angers me.
  • It brings out my worst.
  • And it sometimes taints my view on what really matters.

Politics and Political Agendas—do not bring out my best.

 

And as I meditated on what God would have me say regarding this verse, it took several days to even know what to write.

 

But tonight I am convicted.

 

And so I hope that I can communicate what God truly would like to say.

 

Lord, USE my words, my fingers, to spread your gospel in a hostile political time.  USE your Hand on your Heart and your Spirit to change our minds. To change us. That we might be salt and light to the world.  That we might actually fly ABOVE the political climate and be who You’ve called us to be.

 

The reality that I would like to convey is this:

YOU are more powerful than any president.

YOU have a chance to impact cities…..even nations.

YOU are called by the grace of God to enact change in this world that could never be reduced to what the world has limited us to.

YOU.

 

I write this not to influence you to be arrogant OR greedy OR haughty.

 

I write it to remind you that when you receive Jesus and ask—the Holy Spirit lives in you.

 

You see—Kings and Dictators and Prime Ministers and Presidents and Senators and Judges—they all have one thing in common.  Their time to rule is short and will soon be forgotten. They rule over a kingdom that will collapse in the sea and never stand again.  Their power over people can only last a lifetime—if that. They can be wealthy beyond description, but when they expire—that wealth gets divided up among the living.  And their power and popularity and influence will never extend beyond their last breath. They are mortal.

 

Jesus—is a different story.

 

His…Kingdom is eternal.

He…owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

He…is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

 

He is the Beginning…And the End.  And His Kingdom will never fail or fall or flinch.

 

It rescues the broken and the weak and the overlooked.  He doesn’t need to conquer anything because EVERY KNEE WILL BOW BEFORE HIM.  He IS His own political party. He IS. And there will be no pandering, no comradery, no lobbyists.

 

We won’t be able to earn His favor or change His mind.  And NO ONE will be able to overthrow His Kingdom—but better than that—NO ONE will want to.

 

Read the aforementioned verse with wisdom.

 

OVER THROW your government.  Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s……And give to God what is God’s.

 

No government can save.

No government can deliver.

No government can bring eternal life…or hope…or peace.

No government can forgive sins…or pay off your debts…or exclude you from breaking the law.

 

No government can do any of that.

 

But you can.

 

You can bring Jesus to the lost and ask the Holy Spirit to deliver.  You can pray that He might heal. You can ask Him to bring peace. And you can share Jesus with the broken.

 

If the government can throw the ball 500 yards, then YOU?  YOU could throw that same ball TO THE MOON.

 

Walk into your calling.

 

Your Love Oh Lord By Third Day

Your Love Oh Lord Reaches To The Heavens

Your Faithfulness Stretches To The Sky

Your Righteousness Is Like The Mighty Mountains

Your Justice Flows Like The Oceans Tides

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OBRvxrzhqs

 

In The Name of the Father and the 

Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

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Coach J