Among the Jews in the days of Jesus there were two major religio-political groups: the Pharisees and the Sadducees. In broad strokes, these were the "conservatives" and "liberals" of their day.
I've read several recent posts on Facebook claiming that it was the "right-wing conservatives" aka "Pharisees" who opposed Jesus and were primarily responsible for his crucifixion. Ostensibly, citing this example serves to shore up the argument from today's liberal left-leaning Christians that Jesus was also a liberal who focused his ministry on social justice issues, caring for the poor and oppressed, and overturning the money-changers' tables in the temple courtyard.
However, it was the Sadducees-controlled Sanhedrin which paid the bribe money to Judas, condemned Jesus to death, and turned him over to the Romans for execution. Both the Pharisees and the Sadducees were unanimous in their desire to rid the earth of this rabbi from Galilee whom they could not control. Their united action was purely political in their attempt to maintain their dominance and complete control over the Jewish nation.
But, of course, they also had to deal with Rome. The Roman soldiers and governors were a foreign occupying force requiring obedience and taxes to support the Empire. They were hated by the Jews who were hoping for a Messiah to kick the Romans out of the Levant and regain Israel's glory days of Kings David and Solomon. When Jesus didn't play into their political agenda, the Sanhedrin condemned him to death by crucifixion and turned him over to Pilate. The rough Roman soldiers flogged him, jammed a crown of terrible Judean thorns on his head, and tortured him unmercifully before leading him out to Golgotha where they crucified him between two thieves.
So, what do we see here?
A centuries-long political struggle between the Jewish religionists (both Pharisees AND Sadducees) and the occupying Empire, united in the one momentary goal of ridding the Earth of someone who wouldn't yield to their worldly authority.
Jesus did not give credence or support to either system--except to individuals who exhibited the principles of HIS Kingdom in their personal relationships with other people. He did heal the sick, raise the dead to life, encourage the poor and down-trodden, but *he did not do these acts of grace to support or shore-up the political ambitions of either the Jews or Rome.*
He said clearly, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place" (Matthew 18:36).
It seems clear to me that the end-time attack on true followers of Jesus will not come exclusively from either the left or the right. Instead, it will be a coalition of both liberal and conservative religionists, using the powers of civil government, to punish those who will not yield their allegiance to anyone but God alone.
I am fully convinced that as a follower of Jesus, my *primary loyalty* must never be to the warring political factions of our day in their struggle for political dominance and control. I cannot conscientiously align with either uber-liberals or ultra-conservatives. Our calling as individual Christians is to be "his hands," "his feet," "his presence" to minister grace, peace, and hope. This calling is entirely outside of and separate from any political parties or movements. Through his grace--and his grace alone--we are to be channels of God's love, acceptance, and forgiveness to a world he loves more than life itself.
O Lord, may "your kingdom come, [may] your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
"Even so, Come! Lord, Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).
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