Reflecting on Mark 12:13-17
"Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" (Mark 12:16)For the Jews, the Roman taxes were a burdensome and detestable offense.
Not only was it crushing them in poverty, it was a religious abomination.
On the coin was a ‘graven image’ of Caesar.
And on it was inscribed two unacceptable phrases:
— Pontifex Maximus, meaning high priest.
— Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus.
The religious leaders refused to carry or accept such coins.
Here they want to catch Jesus with a trap.
If He supports the tax, the people will turn on Jesus.
If He rejects the tax, they will report Him to the Romans.
Jesus is shrewd in His response.
He points them to the inscription and image on the coin.
The image and inscription reveal who it belongs to.
If the image belongs to Caesar, then the coin belongs to Caesar.
Where Jesus is shrewd is in the underlying meaning for image.
The Jewish leaders knew that Adam and Eve, and all of us, are image-bearers.
We have God’s image imprinted and inscribed upon us.
Therefore we belong to God, everything about us.
To give to God what is God’s means all of us, 100%.
Caesar can have his petty coins, our hearts and lives belong to God.
Jesus is not advocating a form of separation of church and state.
Jesus is not offering a formula about paying taxes and tithes.
Jesus is exposing their divided hearts, their hypocrisy.
Who are we really serving, whose kingdom are we really seeking.
The religious leaders were serving themselves and their own interests.
They hated Jesus because He was not serving them and their interests.
Jesus did not advocate rebellion, nor did He ignore suffering.
He devoted Himself and all that He had toward love and good deeds.
He sacrificed His comfort and interests to help those burdened by Rome.
He put His own safety on the line to serve those burdened by the Sanhedrin.
He opposed oppressive taxes and tithes by self-giving love.
Our loyalty is neither to the church nor the state.
Both can become oppressive and abusive in their own way.
Jesus does not propose rebellion or revolution, but gracious goodness.
Our only ongoing debt to God is to love others as He loves us.
“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:7-8)
As Jesus followers, we are called to humble, gracious love.
We pay our taxes, we submit to our leaders and employers.
We treat all people with respect and honour, even Caesars.
But we never deny love through that, by doing unloving things.
If Caesar demands unloving actions, we humbly and graciously refuse.
Not rebellion, not revolution, but respectful humble non-compliance.
Some Christians today are trying to serve God and Caesar.
They are combining politics and faith in an unholy alliance.
They are treating their leaders as high priests and sons of the divine.
Our duty, our debt, is not to this or that political leader or party.
Nor is it to this or that church leader or denomination.
Our one duty, our one debt, is to love God and people fully.
To love each and every neighbour, as God in Jesus loves us.
This is how we live out His image and inscription on our lives.
This is how we give to God what is God’s… our whole hearts and lives.
God could care less whether you are conservative or liberal.
Whether you are republican or democrat, on the right or the left.
God could care less whether you are evangelical or catholic.
Whether you are baptist, reformed, anglican or methodist.
We have one duty, one debt: to receive and give ourselves fully to God and His love.
God’s image is inscribed upon us, we belong to God, paid for by His love.
We are God’s priesthood, sons and daughters of the living God.
We represent God and Jesus in all our words and actions.
May the love of God and Jesus be inscribed on all our words and actions.
May we give ourselves fully to this love, as He gave Himself to us fully!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, forgive me for taking sides in our worldly church and political games. Remind me of how You love and serve all people in all parties and denominations, in order to restore them as God's image-bearers.
May my life reflect Your image in the world, and not my own interests.