The Import Of Image

Last Monday the world watched as Barack Obama was inaugurated into office for his second term as president of the United States. You can be sure that great care was taken behind the scenes to project a certain image of power and wisdom through all the proceedings. Armstrong Williams writes in his Townhall.com column these words about the importance of image for modern day politicians. 

Today, most voters grow up learning from television images, rather than words. The successful politician, therefore, must be more adept than ever at using images to solicit knee-jerk reactions from voters.

In the Gospels we find a most important story about how Jesus teaches his disciples to relate to earthly rulers. Throughout his public ministry Jesus was opposed by several important political parties. Three are mentioned in the Gospels: the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Herodians. We know precious little about the latter group. It may be that they were friendly to the continued dynasty of Herod the Great and his family. Political family dynasties are well known also in American politics. I need only mention the Kennedy and the Bush families as examples. In any event, as these parties saw Jesus' influence grow they became alarmed, fearing that he and his followers would threaten their power. So they tried to entangle him in a paradox. They asked him about paying taxes, a subject at the very center of current American politics. The Gospel of Matthew records the story,  found also in Mark 12 and Luke 20. 

Roman Imperatorial Coin of Julius Cesar

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." - Mat 22:15-21 ESV

Newsweek available

The Jews had an extreme problem with the Roman Caesars' penchant to proclaim themselves as one of the gods. Consequently they would not accept Roman coins as offerings in their temple and they had a deep hatred for those Jews who sold themselves out as tax collectors. On the other hand they could not avoid paying taxes to their Roman rulers. Either way they felt that had Jesus in a noose. Were he to say it was lawful to pay Roman taxes they could nail him as a traitor to their nation. On the other hand, were he to say it was unlawful, they could report him to the Romans as one stirring up insurrection. It was a perfect plan. Jesus' answer is most intriguing. 

The challenge for us Christians remains. Our "caesars" would still like to think of themselves as gods. Note the controversial front page of the current edition of Newsweek. The image quite obviously alludes to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and suggests that we are or will be tempted to deify the current president. This in any event is an extremely dangerous thought. Together with the Jews of Jesus' day we must resist with all our hearts and lives any such ideas. 

The response of Jesus to the Jews does indeed remind us who are citizens of the United States that we are to pay our taxes to the established government. I'll not get into the current controversy about who should pay them and how much. Instead I would emphasize that we owe allegiance to our president and our nation. Our president has been rightfully and properly elected. We may agree or disagree strongly with his politics, but we will pay our taxes one way or the other. 

In addition to that consider again the second part of Jesus' teaching: "Therefore render . . . to God the things that are God's." Our God and Creator has indeed established His image in our midst. I quote again the Apostle Paul's words about Jesus Christ.

He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. - Col 1:15-17 ESV

 In Jesus we find everything we need to know about the invisible God. He has made Him known. To Him, King of all kings and Lord of all lords belongs all power and glory forever and ever.