Jesus, like anyone of us was born into a political world and lived under a political State. During the time of Jesus, that political State was the Roman Empire which stretched from 31 BC to AD 476. Prior to this, the Greeks, the Medo Persians and the Babylonians had ruled the world from BC 626-63 BC.
The Bible records two interesting events in the life of Jesus on earth where he was confronted with the state and had to give an answer to what was asked of him. The first was when the Pharisees and Herodians asked him whether one should pay taxes to the Roman Government. Jesus countered by asking his questioners to produce a Denarius coin. When it was brought to him and he asked whose picture was in the coin, they told him, it was a picture of Caesar the Emperor of Rome. Jesus then replied them: “Render therefore, unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s (Matt. 22: 15-22). The important thing to be noted in this event is the fact that Jesus recognized the authority of Caesar on earth even though he knew that he himself was the ruler and king of all the kingdoms of the world (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14;19: 16).
The second incident was during his trail when Pilate asked him, “Knowest thou not that I have the power to crucify thee, and power to release thee?”But Jesus replied him: “Thou could have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above”(Jn. 19:10-11). This reply of Jesus confirms Romans 13:1 where the word of God states: “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities… (For) the authorities that exist have been established by God.” Jesus therefore was affirming that Pilate would have no authority except that which was granted to him from above (Read the whole of Romans chapter 13 for a clear understanding of the institution of the state by God).
Now, two facts emerge from these two events namely-that civil governments (the State) has been established by God and also that Jesus too recognized this institution. As for this institution of the state, on being asked by Pilate whether he was a King, Jesus had replied that he was a king though his “kingdom was not of this world (Jn. 18:33-36). We must however remember that after his second coming to earth, the kingdom of this world is going to become the kingdom of Jesus and that he will rule forever and ever into all eternity (Rev.11:15).
In conformity to these two facts, the book of Daniel further states that “the Most High (God) rules in the kingdom of man and gives it to whomsoever he wills” (Dan. 4:17; also 4: 32-35). As evidence of this fact, we find from the book of Daniel that King Nebuchadnezzar was not a God fearing man but was still made by God to rule over the whole Babylonian Empire of numerous nations (Dan.4:19-27).
In the light of these facts, we Christians must know that God is very much involved in the political and legal affairs of the world and that Jesus too was not silent on these issues. Far from it, in his visit to the Synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus opened the book of Isaiah 61:1-2 and after reading out “The spirit of the Lord is upon me…to preach the Gospel to the poor…to preach deliverance to the captives… and to set at liberty them that are oppressed,” he went on and declared: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your eyes” (Lk. 4:14-21).
Surely, Jesus was here talking about both spiritual as well as political salvation because nowhere has scripture ever taught that there would be political or legal oppression in Heaven where we have to fight for setting such captives free! Who then dare say that God is not involved or interested in world political affairs?
Kaka D Iralu
