American politics is wild right now. We seem poised for a dramatic transformation. I’m hoping that in this revolutionary moment, we pause to consider the spiritual ramifications of what we’re witnessing.

Now, I know that some of you will bristle at just the mention of his name, but Van Jones had a salient tweet that I really believe expresses what should be at the heart of this cultural shift.

We need a spiritual revolution inside our political revolution.

— Van Jones (@VanJones68) June 27, 2020

Can I get an Amen!?

Probably not because too many consider him an enemy for serving in the Obama administration. We’re in a climate in which we can’t talk to the other side, other than to shout them down for not being in lockstep agreement with our own perspectives.

We need a spiritual revival in our nation. As a Christian, my hope is that it is in the hands of the Holy Spirit and not one of the many versions of the spirit of this world (1 Corinthians 2:12). As Christians, we can work toward ensuring this next generation listens obediently to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit by exemplifying that behavior now.

The Real Jesus

If we want to lead the way in a spiritual revival in our culture, we must acknowledge the real Jesus of scripture. In our overly politicized environment it will be challenging to divorce Him from the right and left-wing concepts we’ve had ingrained into us since we were children. In order to truly follow the Spirit, we must listen to what He says to us about who Jesus is.

In revitalizing the American context of Jesus, we begin with his identity. He wasn’t a white or black guy. If we track His lineage, it’s necessary to acknowledge that He probably looked more like the Muslim people of the middle east that we want to admit.

He was raised in poverty, as evidenced in Scripture by the gift at His circumcision. He worked as a carpenter for nearly two decades if we consider that he probably worked with his father at a young age and didn’t stop until His ministry began at around age 30. He was definitely a working man. Probably sun-beaten. Definitely not the Lilly-white, blue-eyed, blondish-brown haired Messiah we see depicted in Western art.

He also wasn’t an American. He was an Israelite. He wasn’t a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Green for that matter. Reading what He said in Scripture leaves Him strictly and adamantly a non-partisan independent. He was a Jewish man practicing the faith of Abraham under the Law of Moses.

‘Authority’

One thing Jesus did often in His ministry was speak truth to power. Maybe you can correct my error, but I don’t recall Him ever standing up for anyone in power. Seemingly, His harshest words were reserved for those with religious power. Strange for a ruddy carpenter who came from nothing to think He has the right to challenge religious authority.

Yet He didn’t spare the politically powerful either when given the opportunity. Such is what I’m going to write about today. Just one simple exchange between Jesus and the man who could stay His death penalty. Let me set the stage.

Pilate had just paraded Jesus out before the Jewish crowds. Jesus had been horrendously beaten. He was bloodied with a thorny crown crushed into His scalp and a purple robe draped across His shoulder. Pilate considered the punishment to be enough for someone guilty of merely running his trap.

In spite of Pilate’s belief, the crowds called for the death penalty. He was guilty. He claimed to be God. Their Law gave only one sentence for someone found to make that claim falsely. In their eyes, He had blasphemed and deserved death.

Hearing this claim startled Pilate. He took Jesus privately to get to the bottom of this. How could a god be delivered into his hands to die? Let’s pick up the exchange from Scripture.

“He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer.” – John 19:9 HCSB

Pilate needed to know that Jesus wasn’t a god. If Jesus was the son of God, Pilate needed to determine the Roman god from which Jesus had descended. Jesus was silent. Christ’s perceived insolence threw Pilate into a rage in which he lashed out at our Savior.

“So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?” – John 19:10 HCSB

Pilate confronts Jesus’ insolent silence. How dare He not answer the question of one at his level of authority. Did Jesus not know whom it was He with which He was dealing? Pilate clarifies his own power by asserting that he can release or kill Jesus.

Pilate wasn’t king. That level of authority belonged to Caesar alone. However, Pilate was the top authority in this region. He appeals to the same authority that so many in our own nation do at every level of government. We’ve encountered such power trips. We’ve seen out-of-control mayors, city/town councils, police, governors … all levels of government … use power and authority to abuse. I’ll talk more about that momentarily.

Truth To Power

“You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”” –John 19:11 HCSB

Jesus quickly rebuffs Pilate’s ‘authority’. He makes it clear that Pilate operates on borrowed authority. Since his authority is borrowed, Pilate is responsible to whomever entrusted him with this level of authority to use his power in a just manner.

Who gave Pilate his ‘authority’?

The text here doesn’t specify. Most assume the power over Christ’s life comes from one of three sources: legal, populist, or divine. Let’s look at how Jesus’ words could mean each and how that plays into this equation.

Jesus may have been referring to Roman legal authority. Perhaps Pilate’s mind crept to Caesar and the Republic that his office represented. If he truly found Jesus legally innocent, how can he execute an innocent man and be just in the eyes of Rome?

It is also possible that Jesus meant the Jewish crowd that had delivered Him to Pilate. Pilate had a history of run-ins with the Jewish population. The Jews engaged in civil disobedience more than once during his tenure. According to historians, Pilate caved once in regard to Roman standards being in the temple, but later sent his police force in disguise to infiltrate a protest and beat many protesters to death. His relationship with the Jewish populace was mixed at best, brutal at worst.

Most likely, Christ is pointing to the divine origin of all authority. Hence, anyone who uses authority over another human is found in usurpation and thus God’s standard of authority (Romans 13:3) is in play. Using power in an abusive manner would make one guilty before God Himself. Add to that the chance the Pilate might actually be involved in executing God and his conscience began working against him.

“From that moment Pilate made every effort to release Him.” John 19:12a

Note the amazing power of truth. Jesus was held by the authority of His day. Jesus spoke truth to him. He spoke truth to power. The truth convicted and condemned the conscience of the one in authority and left him floundering for an equitable resolution.

As we deal with authority issues in our day we should have the same resolve. We should speak truth to power and allow the Spirit of God to work through that truth.

Outcome Isn’t Our Thing

The outcome isn’t necessarily the best measure of whether a choice honored God. Jesus spoke truth to power and it didn’t end well for Him. In spite of hearing the truth from Jesus, Pilate caved to the crowds and crucified Him.

We can’t let the perception of a negative outcome drive us away from speaking truth. Especially if we are in a circumstance that calls for us to speak truth to power. Everyone in authority is living on usurped authority and should know well to whom they are responsible for making just use of that power.

In America, those in authority should answer either to the Constitution or to We The People. But our responsibility as Christians is to firmly remind them that regardless of what either of those are saying, they are ultimately accountable to God for representing His justice.

He will be the One ultimately on the judgment seat. Most of us know the text well and I’m just going to point you to the passage and highlight a few verses below. The passage is Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus told a story about sheep and goats. The sheep, on His right, go into eternity with Him. The goats, on His left, go into judgment. What was the basis or the dividing line?

“Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’ “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’” Matthew 25:44-45

If you have authority on this earth you are entrusted with securing the least of these among us. How you used your authority will be judged on that basis by Christ. Often the law isn’t moral and the people aren’t moral and ask for immoral things to be done in their name.

The one holding authority must recall their eternal Judge and not allow injustice to befall the least by their hands. Impoverished people, immigrants, the sick, and those in prison are the ones typically most harmed by government edict. They are also the ones most ignored by the generally public.

It is our responsibility to make certain that those in authority to which we have any level of impact must use that authority to protect the least among us. Even if that truth causes us to lose friends, jobs, and influence.

Our responsibility is obedience. We must leave the outcome to God.