Jesus & Politics

Where it all began… In order to understand this all, we need to see Jesus more clearly so we can see ourselves more clearly- Brooke Andrews

1 Samuel 8:1–18 (NIV)

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” 6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Sa 8:1–18.

What does this tell us about God? That He desires and knows what is best for His people, but if we choose to deny Him, He gives us that choice.

What does this tell us about when people lead nations? When they lead nations, the people have to obey the leaders interests, and not God’s.

John 18:33–38 (NIV)

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 18:33–38.

What does this tell us about God’s kingdom? That it is made of people who listen to Jesus’ voice, believe the truth, and follow Him.

For example: Matthew 8:5-13

Matthew 8:5–13 (NIV)

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 8:5–13.

So… Jesus said this Roman Centurion had “such faith” in him,

Matthew 10:1–4 (NIV)

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 10:1–4.

one of his disciples was Matthew a tax collector for the Roman government, and Simon the Zealot

Zealots were Jews who were completely opposed to Roman government and the polytheism with how they ruled the Jews. Simon then, was either a Jew who was very zealous for obeying the Mosaic law, which would lead to complete distrust of Roman law or authority, or he may have been a part of the Zealot sect/group that formed around AD 6. Either way, he despised Rome.

John T. Lowe, “Simon the Zealot,” The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

What does this show us about God? Jesus chose different people from different perspectives and different political backgrounds to be His disciples and learn from him.

We also see that people with different politics who come to Jesus get transformed and their perspectives change to become more like Christ.

So then, what does God’s kingdom people look like and how do they live? Galatians 5:16-26

Galatians 5:16–26 (NIV)

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ga 5:16–26.

So then, what can we conclude of about politics?

politics are not the Answer for humanity’s best.

God has the best in store for us and always knows what is best for humanity

We access Kingdom Culture through the Spirit who dwells in us

We change our views when we see Jesus clearly

“The clearer you see Jesus, the clearer you will see yourself.”-Brooke Andrews