Servant or Caesar?

Jesus rejected Satan’s offer of unlimited political power and instead chose of the way of the Suffering Servant - Matthew 4:8-11.

Satan tempted Jesus by offering him political power over “all the kingdoms of the world.” However, he refused the Devil’s offer. Instead, he submitted to the way of the ‘Suffering Servant’ that led inevitably to his death on the Roman cross. Satan tempted The Son of God in four ways. The most seductive was the offer of power over the nations - (Matthew 4:8-11).

The Devil took Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the “kingdoms of the world ('kosmos') and their splendor.” He offered him more than just sovereignty over the Jewish nation or the small territory of Palestine.

[Photo by Daniil Silantev on Unsplash]

The term translated as “world” or ‘kosmos’ can refer to the entire planet if not the Universe. The Devil offered the Messiah of Israel a means to establish the “Kingdom of God,” the very thing for which he was sent.

In the Gospel of Luke, the Tempter boasted that he would give Jesus “all this authority” if he only acknowledged Satan’s overlordship, and he claimed that “it has been delivered to me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it.”

Jesus did not call him a liar or dispute his right to dispense political power, which almost certainly he would have done if the Devil did not have it. Furthermore, if Satan received this authority from a higher source (“it has been delivered to me”), it could only be God. Behind his claim was the fall of man in the Book of Genesis. His “right” or rulership over humanity was due to Adam’s disobedience - (John 12:31, 14:30).

To acquire this awesome power Jesus had to “render homage” to the Devil. The Greek verb so rendered denotes giving allegiance to someone of higher rank. In other words, he was required to acknowledge Satan as his Master and Sovereign.

Was he not the Messiah appointed by God to reign over the nations? How could he govern the world without the military might and economic power of the World Empire? - (Psalm 2:6-8).

Satan was offering a shortcut to the God-ordained sovereignty promised to the Messiah, a way for Jesus to avoid suffering and death. Imagine all the good he could do if he possessed Caesar’s throne and commanded the legions of Rome! If there was ever a justification for resorting to State power, this was it. Who was better qualified to wield the imperial scepter than the Prince of Peace?

SUFFERING SERVANT

Rather than bow to Satan or stoop to the violent methods that dominate the present world order, Jesus chose the path of the Suffering Servant. In his Kingdom, victory would be achieved through self-denial and sacrificial service for others. “Greatness” would be measured by acts of mercy and love, especially to one’s “enemy.”

Contrary to the expectations of his contemporaries, Jesus embraced the “form of a slave” and became “obedient unto death.” Therefore, God exalted him to reign and gave him the name “above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

However, Calvary must precede exaltation and glory, and his disciples are summoned to adopt this same orientation by letting this “mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus”:

• “Who being in the form of God, counted NOT the being like God a thing to be seized, but instead, poured himself out, taking the form of a slave, being made in human likeness; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross” - (Philippians 2:6-9).

Institutional Christianity has a long sordid history of mixing Church and State, a tradition inherently incompatible with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. The temptation to use political power to impose “right” belief has been too great, but advancing God’s Kingdom through the political means of this fallen age necessitates employing the State’s coercive power.

We as his disciples must choose between following the “Lamb wherever he goes,” or giving our allegiance to the “Beast.” When we employ the corrupt political systems of this world, we begin to embrace the “Beast from the Abyss,” prostrate ourselves before its “image,” and “take its mark.”

We must take seriously the Scriptural portrayal of political power as Satan’s territory. If the Devil works behind the scenes of this world’s politics and the political power necessitates giving allegiance to him, since Jesus refused to do so, should we not follow his example? Or should we embrace what he rejected?

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• The Messiah Arrives - (In the ministry of Jesus, the kingdom of God arrived, commencing with his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist – Mark 1:1-3)

• Rend the Heavens! - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus – Son, Messiah, and Servant of the LORD)