Jesus Understood Other Levels of Authorities

 

Jesus Understood Other Authorities

St. Matthew 22:15, 19-21 "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk...

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

There are leaders all around us whether we see them or not. Some are instituted authorities, some are religious leaders while others are leaders in various fields of human endeavor. Parents are leaders at the home front, this is so that things can be done orderly and decently. Sometimes a person can be entangled in a web of leaders and not knowing who to submit to at a particular point in time. There are cases where these leaders do not agree in their views and policies and to submit to any will be almost impossible because submission to one will mean disobedience to the other due to their contradictory stance. God is not the author of confusion and Jesus knew that very well. Jesus himself said at one time that you cannot serve two masters.

St. Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

It is much easier to serve two masters when they agree iin policies and procedures of doing things most of the time but they will hardly agree all of the time. It will be stressful for any man to submit to two masters (or leaders) all the time. One of the leaders will be held in higher esteem than the other either as a result of the hierarchy of leadership or benefits to be derived by the follower from the leader. When leaders do not agree, submitting to both at the same time will not work. This contradictory stance in leadership was used against Jesus at several occasions. At one time, the leaders at Jesus' time saw how the crowd readily followed him and not pleased with that, they wanted to use it against him. They wanted to find a place and a point where they accuse Jesus of rebellion so that they can do away with him.

"Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk..."

For them, Jesus was constituting a nuisance and making them appear inferior before the people. They were leaders and they saw better quality leadership in Jesus but they also knew that there was another leader who had a say in higher matters that have to do with the people (the governor). If they can not fight Jesus, they will find an occasion to find fault against him with the governor. They wanted to know whether he will have anything against Caesar the governor. The currency of that time had the image of Caesar and using that, Jesus asked:

"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?"

They answered Jesus' question correctly and he continued by using what they said to silence them:

"They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

Caesar had his place and God had His place also. These are two different leaders and Jesus knew the place of each. In the heirachy of leadership, Jesus knew that God had the highest place. The priority of leadership in the eyes of Jesus was God first. This does not suggest that he had nothing to do with other leaders. 

"...Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's..."

The dividing line between Caesar and God is clear to Jesus. This understanding about the difference between Caesar and God showed how Jesus understood leadership. If not for this understanding, Jesus would have been in trouble severally. Jesus was never a rebel and never taught rebellion. Wisdom is profitable to direct.

How did Jesus understood leadership in terms of religious leadership? There was a case of man who was cured of leprosy by Jesus and one would have concluded that curing the man of leprosy is done and dusted but look what Jesus did.

Mark 1:44

"And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."

The first thing Jesus told the man was not to  let anyone know until the priest knows about it first. Why was it like that? Jesus respected the place of the priesthood. Not any particular priest but the place of the priesthood generally. Matthew chapters 26 and 27 gave us the picture of how Jesus finally was betrayed and condemned to death. The priests of his time had a hand in it. Jesus knew it will happen the way it did yet he respected the priesthood. Feel Jesus to send people to the priests for perfection of healing showed the level of understanding he had about priesly leadership. He knew that God can use all the levels of leadership to perfect His work.

Matthew 17:27

"Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

When Jesus and his disciples were demanded to pay tribute to the authority, Jesus worked it out. He paid by some miracle. The fish caught was used to get the money needed to pay the tribute.

"...take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

Jesus gave the money as tribute for himself and for the disciples.

"...find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

By doing this, he reduced the possibility of friction. He gave tribute to the authority even though he may choose not to. This understanding helped him to gain reputation. This showed his understanding and contribution to other leaders.

When leaders understand that they are not alone in the task to lead the people, they will lead the people with understanding. No leader will succeed in leadership thinking he or she is alone in leadership. While Jesus knew that he was above all leaders, he gave them their special place. A 'Do it alone' leader will bring his or her leadership to an end untimely. At the appropriate time, Jesus gave his life, he never died untimely. He accomplished his role satisfactorily pleasing the one who sent him.

Understanding can bring tremendous amount of success in leadership and that is a contributory factor to Jesus' success. This understanding will help you.

Pray:

Father, I thank You for the understanding that there are different levels and types of leadership. Give me understanding of how I fit well into my place. I receive understanding in Jesus name. Amen!