John 19:12
“…Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
In the book of Romans we’re told to outdo each other in showing honor. The book of Proverbs, in the sixth chapter, talks of worthless fellows and wicked men who communicate only with “crooked speech,” winks, nods, and diverse signals. Such perverted men, Proverbs tells us, are always sowing discord, plotting evil, and will, in the end, come to destruction. But this day is the day for the enemies of God to achieve their wicked ambitions and be rid of Jesus. Pilate, finding no flaw in Him, and unwilling to send such a man to death, seeks justice, but the Jews will have none of that. Instead, they go ahead and invest themselves further in the plot. This is the trick of sin: it always takes us further than we want to go; it always makes fools of us. Assuredly, it makes fools of the Jews.
Think of the insanity of the Jews pleading with a Roman they despise to honor a king they hate. This will come back to haunt them in a few hours as the inexorable logic of their charge finds them at the cross and they are forced to pledge their allegiance to Caesar rather than to the God of Israel – the true God they profess to serve. But in following their sin – their pride and hatred – they have backed themselves into a corner and this is the final card they can play in order to be rid of the man they hate. Pilate sees no reason for capital punishment and wants to release Jesus but his accusers, unwilling to accept that, resort to this last bit of twisted logic in order to get their way. They will not accept Jesus as King, though they can’t win an argument with Him, catch Him in wrongdoing, or account for how he can possibly perform miracles apart from the true power of God, so they’re forced to line up as defenders of the honor of Caesar.
It’s no different for any of us. When we want our way at all costs we must ultimately do away with God.
There is a mistaken notion today of the benign “seeker,” who appears to the muddle-headed as a happy-go-lucky, but confused, fellow who hasn’t come to Christ simply because he hasn’t had the right opportunity yet. But the Bible never wavers in its claim that the unsaved are not confused – they are rebels. There are no seekers. None. Only rebels. We ask dissenters to read Romans 3:11. Yes, sinners are lost, but not in direction; they are lost in moral rebellion against God’s sovereign rule. It’s easy to see the Pharisees as the pinnacle of religious corruption – professional sinners in a way that most of us could only hope to be rank amateurs. This is comfy and dangerous nonsense, though. Every person that refuses Christ will have to ultimately stake their allegiance either with the true God or with some false god or another. There is no other option. Someone is the ultimate authority. The Pharisees end up using deceit and tactics such as these – even politically manipulating their own Roman governor – because they won’t concede to the true Way. If we are in our own rebellion it will look different but the gist of our tactics will be the same. We’ll do whatever we have to in order to maintain our own power.
So, yes, what the Pharisees do here is exceptionally abominable but every sinner has, in effect, shaken his fist in the face of God and neglected so great a salvation. On what authority do we flaunt our rebellion? Do we proclaim that it’s no one’s business what we do? How do we know that? Who told us that? Is it Science? Is our sex drive never to be questioned? Is that our God? At least the Pharisees appealed to the glory of Rome – with it’s wonders and its legions. So many today point to the glory of temporary bodily pleasures and insist that there will be no judgment even though behind them there is a sad trail of failed relationships, shattered hearts and broken promises.
To live in honor requires truth and truth requires God. All of the false Gods, from Caesar to money to sex, will cause us to lie, cheat, connive, and kill for them. It’s a stunning truth for the hard-hearted and for those that have convinced themselves that they’re basically okay and that this sin business is an anachronism. But this is the logical end of unbelief. You must do away with Jesus Christ and to do so requires you to cast your allegiance with some false god. Here stands Jesus today, though, meek and mild, willing to forgive your rebellion and indifference. It will not always be so. Turn to Him while there is time, for there is a day appointed that we know not and on that day there will be no more lies, only truth and its consequences.
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