Jesus preached a political message. When he spoke of the Kingdom of God has come close to achieve, then this speech had an unmistakable political overtones. If God came to power, then broke for the ruler of this world bad times, one might think. Herod Antipas, Jesus of Galilee sovereign, after all, was this view. After just John, this gloomy doomsayers from the desert of Jordan, had as a potential troublemaker can eliminate, put him the appearance of Jesus in no little excitement. Also forbade him to kill themselves. His subjects had not forgiven him, even the execution of John. So he tried to threaten to Jesus at least from his own lands away. Herod wanted to kill him, he is from the vicinity of the Prince happened (Luke 13:31). But Jesus is not impressed and called Herod a fox unflattering (Luke 13:32). After all, Jesus then appears to leave the territory of Herod and avoid to Judea.
The images used Jesus when he speaks of the reign of God, but almost always not taken from the political sphere. These are images from the Nature: a mustard seed that grows into a tree, the birds nest in the seeds on rocky or fertile soil, which rises, parched or unlikely brings a rich harvest. Leaven that leavens the dough, weeds in the field. There are images of precious goods (Pearl, treasure in the field) that deserve to get full use. Everything totally apolitical images of the rural peasant or domestic sphere.
And yet these images are often liable to a little hidden subversive. The weeds in the field, the angry farmers, the mustard seed, feared as a weed and even as a greenhouse crop, which tends to sprawl, while a whole garden overgrow can. Which farmer wants a huge mustard plant in his garden, which serves as the abode of the birds that do then feast on its seeds? The ferment may well have a useful function, was seen as a symbol of impurity. In connection with the woman who handled it, he wakes at least a little discomfort in the listener. The behavior of the merchant, who gives all his property for a single pearl turn, is economic nonsense. What he should with the pearl? It can only starve yet. The behavior of the farmer who finds the treasure in the field, it covers up again and buys that field, at least morally suspect, if not simply a violation of law. It
is a strange kind of power that Jesus has in mind since. It is a kind of underground movement that sets out to nowhere for open combat, but from below, hidden from the agitated against the ruling power. However, rather like a natural phenomenon or through civil disobedience, or simply through obviously foolish behavior.
A similar result is obtained if one looks at those who work for God's rule. There are no soldiers or servants or ministers of a king. They are workers who bring a harvest, or wandering preacher who move from village to village. Your Code of Conduct: As a wanderer without a wand and shoes, with only a jacket pocket, and without food for the journey they should be on your way. On the hospitality of those they received, they have to rely on. What they have to offer in return? They should heal the sick, find them, banish demons and assure the sovereignty of God has come among you!
The policy of Rabbi J. confusing but quite original. It works neither active in the construction of a new political order, nor do they wait passively for divine intervention. Jesus said simply, with a certain wink insolence: The reign of God is already there and at work. As weeds in wheat and mustard in the overgrown garden, they speak in the body of the current political regimes. I said, Jesus, and my people make it visible if we heal the sick, exorcise demons, we have legislation, overrule call small cells of counter companies in life, under the law of the kingdom of God life, the law of brotherhood. In these societies against the usual hierarchies have no meaning. There is no intermediary between man and God. Family ties are of secondary importance. In short, the rule of God has arrived among you. Point!
The price of this policy, however high, for those who put them into effect: homelessness, hostility, persecution, death. How far Jesus himself had a clear idea of where his policies would lead ultimately whether God would really act and assert his power would be recognizable to everyone, can not be said. I think Jesus was on the point of view, God's sovereignty is at work and he and his family are the new Israel, the rest is God's business.
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