SHADOWLANDS, by Craig Gallaway. Original watercolor, 27″ x 33″. The shadow of a cross lies hidden within the tumbled beauty of fallen leaves. “For when he was crucified he did that in the wild weather of his outlying provinces which he had done in glory and gladness.”

The current political situation in the United States is a turbulent mess, full of name-calling, threats of violence, partisan/tribal animosity, refusal of civil discourse, and claims of righteous indignation. This atmosphere is not, however, particularly new. When Jesus came to Jerusalem to inaugurate the Kingdom of God, he was faced with an atmosphere of tribal politics very much like our own. And yet—unlooked for wonder!—he did become King, on a Roman cross; and even now his Kingdom is growing like seeds planted in a field overnight.

From one side, in first century Jerusalem, Jesus was confronted by the “zealots,” groups of violent revolutionaries who were determined to throw off the existing government. The zealots championed the cause of ethnic Israel, and looked for God to restore their political fortunes. In first century Jerusalem and Galilee, there were a variety of rebel leaders and strict religious groups (Pharisees) who hoped to lead this revolution, and they were prepared to use violence to do it. Judas was acting as a zealot when he tried to provoke a violent confrontation between Jesus and the Temple guard. Saul of Tarsus (later known as Paul,the apostle) was a zealous Pharisee when he persecuted Christians, and stood by at the stoning of Steven. Likewise, the disciple Peter was often tempted to use violence, so little did he at first really understand Jesus’ goals for the Kingdom. Sound familiar?

From the other side, Jesus was confronted with the power of Rome, and with the claims of the State to achieve a new progressive order under the pax Romana. Of course this “order” included the self-indulgent claims and practices of ancient pagan culture, such as the cult of Caesar (the State), polytheism, sexual decadence, and the exposure of unwanted children. And yet it also included, where possible, an uneasy alliance with religious leaders, even in Israel. Such, for example, was Herod Antipas, who executed John the Baptist for exposing Herod’s own moral decadence, and also the chief priests of the Jewish Temple who shouted, “We have no king but Caesar,” when given opportunity to drop the false charge that Jesus himself was a zealot. And then Pilate, the governor, though he knew better, was willing to go along with the sham in order to protect his own position, thus shirking his God-appointed role to restrain evil. Sound  like something from the evening news?

Into this turbulent political atmosphere Jesus came proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God, and himself as the long promised “Messiah” (in Greek “Christos,” the anointed king). But the Kingdom he proclaimed would not come by violence as the zealots supposed. “Put away your sword, Peter.” “Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Nor would it come to promote the power of the State as an end in itself. “Pilate, you would have no authority unless it were given to you by God.” Rather, it would come in freedom to those who with Jesus pray, “Not my will, but thine be done.” To those who, as the Apostle Paul sang, “Have this mind in you which was also in King Jesus, who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but humbled himself and became obedient, even unto death on a cross. . . . Therefore, God has highly exalted him, and given him the name that is above every name whether in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Now that’s something to remember and think about as we go to the poles on election day, no matter which tribe may seem to be winning for the short term.