PREACHER’S NOTE 22 OCTOBER 2023
Hemmed In
They thought they had Jesus hemmed in. Who is this
young upstart anyway? This is our turf – he has no idea
what he’s up against! Let’s give him a taste of the real
world, see how his naïve ideas deal with this one: Should
we pay taxes or rebel against them? He is obviously trying
to get his ministry off the ground and grow his following – if
he says yes, the people who are looking for a revolutionary
leader will abandon him, and he will be powerless. If
he says no, the ever-watchful Romans will see him as a
threat, arrest him and get rid of him. He has nowhere to
turn!
How often does the world love to hem us in too, control
us. I need the job, so I turn a blind eye to the obvious irregularities
going on, knowing full well that I will be a
scapegoat. I really don’t like to fight, so I’ll just keep quiet
to keep the peace, even though I know I need to put
boundaries in place for a healthy relationship. Hemmed
in, nowhere to turn.
Jesus has other ideas. He shows them a coin – with its image
of Caesar. Symbol of the might and reach of
Caesar’s empire. You’re playing by his rules, benefitting
from his economy. So you need to contribute meaningfully
to that – give him back his coins. But remember whose
image you bear – your heart, your soul belongs to Almighty
God, who is concerned about way more than just
what you have in your pocket. Beyond the world’s expectations,
boundaries and dilemmas, it is He in whom we live
and breathe, and have our being. And they have no answer.
There is always another way, God’s way, when we’re
hemmed in. We serve a chain-breaking, prison-shaking
Saviour!
Blessings, Andrew.