Jesus Christ, a subversive? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 23:1-2a,

"Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they
began to accuse him, saying, 'We have found this man subverting our
nation.'"

We are told in the previous chapter that the chief priests and the
teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,
Luke 22:2. Having come up with a way by paying Judas for his act of
betrayal, and arresting Jesus, this was their official complaint.
Jesus was "subverting" the nation. While the arrest and trial of Jesus
was a mockery of justice and a false pretense, there is something of
truth to their complaint against Jesus. He was "subverting our
nation." Not only had Jesus invaded Israel and invited the people to
a new kingdom, the "kingdom of God", his intent was to take this
subversive message to the entire world through Israel.

The world has its own structure, its own hierarchies, its own way of
doing things, all in opposition to its Creator since the garden of
Eden. The world, in its sinful rebellion and animosity toward God
shuns the things of God. I am reminded of how the world is
characterized in Psalm 2:1-3, "Why do the nations conspire and the
peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.'"

In this sense Jesus came as a subversive. He was subversive toward the
world of sinful mankind, a world living in opposition to the things of
God. The religious leaders saw their lofty positions in society
endangered, the teachers of the law saw their "wisdom" tied in knots
when they attempted to challenge Jesus. The rulers and authorities
found themselves threatened as the Lord captured the hopes, the hearts
and the minds of many people.

Truly, this world of lost and sinful man was subverted by the Son of
God who came as a penetrating light into its darkness, breaking its
hold on people and freeing them to embrace a new nation, a new kingdom
that he offers to all who will embrace him in faith!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com