What happens when Kingdom values confront empire values?
What happens when the tension between them comes to critical mass?
What happens when those who love to abuse POWER, have their power threatened with real Power?
What happens when the GREEDY have their ill-gotten gains threatened?
What happens when those who seek STATUS are upstaged by someone with genuine glory?
The events of that Holy Week show the result.
Today, it would be a media frenzy, a spectacle observed by all channels and social media outlets.
Jesus empowered His disciples by BEING the Passover Lamb for them. Jesus broke himself and poured out Himself for His disciples in the Passover Seder, empowering them with the Grace of the Kingdom. The Temple Cult leaders of the time were busy trying to use the Passover feast for economic and political gain, at the expense of the people and Jesus. The Romans were busy using their military might to oppress and control the people.
Jesus parodied Roman power by His triumphal entry, mocking the military glories by showing what genuine devotion is about. The Temple Cult leaders of the time were threatened because it looked bad for those colluding with the Roman Empire.
Jesus continued to teach His disciples about not participating in the values of empire, especially because those values of status and lust for power would divide them. He worked to prepare them for what was coming in prayer. Then Jesus gave them an example of assertive, non-violent resistance to injustice, as He was betrayed by a beloved friend who chose empire values, wrongly accused, arrested, tortured, put through a sham trial, perp walked around the countryside, mocked and humiliated before officials and crowds and lynched. Jesus challenged the authority of Pilate and Herod, and remained an example of faithfulness to the authorities and frenzied crowds.
Manipulated by the Temple Cult Leaders of the time, the people were already angry at the Roman Empire because of their occupation and oppression. Believing as they were taught for generations, that they should do whatever they could, not to resist but rather to collude with Rome to at least survive and get some personal gain out of the empire system, it was not difficult for them to be manipulated. Some were moved genuinely by Jesus at His triumphal entry, still many were swayed to promote and promulgate the system based on Greed, Power and Status that was empire and eliminate anyone who stood in the way. The Temple Cult Leaders, having their illegitimate positions, authority and ill-gotten gains threatened by the real Messiah, and knowing that their false teachings were being exposed for what they were, would do anything to keep the power, status and wealth gained by their corrupt and unfaithful collusion with empire. The Romans had crucified thousands and were good at eliminating anyone who would dare threaten them by gathering an army of 5,000 men and breaking them into "battle" groups of Half Centuries (Luke 9). They were good at eliminating anyone who would claim kingly authority. It all came together at the busiest time of year in the biggest city in the nation. The crowd was worked up in a frenzy and the politicians, power brokers, corrupt religious leaders and empire enforcement police all played their roles predictably. And Jesus was executed in public.
Empire debilitates. The Kingdom redeems.
Empire tears down. The Kingdom builds up.
Empire exploits. The Kingdom empowers.
Empire oppresses. The Kingdom liberates.
Empire corrupts. The Kingdom restores justice.
Empire occupies. The Kingdom brings peace.
Empire destroys. The Kingdom saves.
It was a media circus, as the forces of empire met the Kingdom of God. And look at what Jesus did!
So, Empire or Kingdom?
"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Shalom in heaven (and earth), and glory in the highest heaven!"
or
"Crucify! Crucify him!"
What will it be?
Pastor Jamie
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