All the events from
Jesus' birth to his crucifixion were intertwined with politics of the
day. Herod sought to kill Jesus (killing all male infant during
that time) to remove any potential threat to his rule; the masses tried to forcibly make Jesus king and liberator of their
oppressed nation; the religious
leaders who felt their comfy protected positions were potentially
being threatened and exposed made false accusations and spread lies; then disillusioned crowds demanded his
execution when Jesus didn't turn out to be the “liberator” they
hoped for.
Even occupiers played
political football with Jesus, passing Him off to their opponents in
an attempt to trigger a political fumble. They mockingly crowned him
“King of the Jews” before his execution, seemingly to quell any potential uprising or threat to their position and power. And then the cover-up of His resurrection - all to protect religious and political positions. Hmm,
doesn't sound all that much different from today's politics, does it?
So how does this “King
of the Jews” respond to these attacks? His silence seems almost
deafening, as he says nothing to defend himself, He doesn't spew insults nor return any of the false accusations, distaste or hatred poured out
upon him. No, nothing like any of the leaders of the day -or any of the
ones we see today. This recipient of much hatred remains silent like a lamb before the
shearers, about to be slaughtered.
He however continues to
show love, as He always did. As he showed compassion on the adulterous
woman, healed the multiples in need, taught the teachable -even a
pharisee who humbly came for advice during dark hours, He continues to act in love right to His final
hours when He selflessly tells his disciple to look after His mother,
while forgiving those who crucified him as they “know not what
they are doing”.
No, not even in his own
pain did Jesus ever criticize or use others for personal gain. Politics was never His game, but He set the ultimate example
of how a servant could lead and a leader should serve -even to the
point of sacrificing himself for the good of others.
Something for us to
consider both personally as well as a society, before we all too easily become consumed by the filthy and ruthless politics of today.
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