“Why did Jesus have to die?” There are a few scripted answers to this question, a plethora of theological justifications, and perhaps just as many explanations and speculations. Perhaps “why” is too heavy. Likewise, “Who dunnit?” is too simplistic without nuance.
And that’s the point of this series? We plan to dive into the nuances surrounding the circumstances of His murder. Oh, is “murder” too provocative?
Beyond the obvious, scripture’s power is that it calls each generation to ask the hard questions, challenge traditional answers, and use the insights God continually reveals to explore our own biases and guilt. Lent is a good time to do this.
Our opening answer to the question of who dunnit is “Jesus died because he challenged the powers of this world.” This answer is rational and consistent with historical experience. Those who challenge power oftentimes fail in their attempts, and many end up dead. Power is an addictive elixir, and there is no greater power than to determine whether another person lives or dies.
The most powerful person during Jesus’ ministry was Caesar, the dictator in charge of the Roman Empire. Arguably, the President of the United States is similarly powerful in modern times, although power is shared among numerous world leaders.
In first-century Palestine, the people had no say in who held power. The same is true in several authoritarian nations today. But in the U.S., each of us has a say in determining who we put in charge. And Christians, in particular, are among the most influential voters.
Dr. George Barna, Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University, argues that it was self-identified Christians who made the biggest difference in our last presidential election. This is because 56% voted for our current president, and Christians represented 72% of the voters who turned out.
While Kamala Harris received 60% of the non-Christian vote, this segment was outnumbered five to one. Voter turnout was down significantly from prior elections, including among Christians. However, turnout among non-Christians was even lower.
One group in particular, known as Spiritually Active Governance Engaged Conservative Christians, turned out in force, with 99% casting a vote in the last election and 90% voting for our current president. Catholics also turned out in higher numbers than in past elections.
Notably, only a quarter of Christian voters cited the party platform as influencing their decision.
One source of influence consistently identified among conservation Christians, however, was clergy and churches. This source was clearly more impactful than individual research. On average, voters estimated spending less than two hours figuring out who and what they would vote for. And one in five admitted spending no time looking into the facts before voting.
Just under 60% of Christians connected with theologically conservative segments cited religious beliefs as their primary motivation for how they voted.
Inflation topped the list of issues cited by Christians that influenced their vote, followed by immigration. However, immigration was more likely to influence theologically conservative Christians. Abortion and the candidate’s view on Israel were secondary to every group.
Immigration also influenced Christians from mainline denominations, along with defending freedom and democracy.
More than half of Christian voters reported encouragement by their pastor or church to vote, and just under half received information connecting particular issues to biblical principles.
Our current president received just under 50% of the popular vote, a much smaller margin than earlier presidents. The American people did not give him a mandate to do whatever pleases him. Like all presidents before him, we expect him to uphold and defend our constitution. In particular, he is expected to further reign in inflation, improve our ability to pay our bills and have a little left over for a rainy day.
Collectively, Christians are mostly responsible for whatever outcomes, good or bad, our nation and the world experience over the next four years and beyond.
But what does this all have to do with who murdered Jesus? If we investigate this case simply as a historical event, the answer is not much. But what if we focus more on the dynamics leading up to His death? What can we learn about speaking truth to power?
Priests living in first-century Palestine were in the upper-income levels of society. Following the Babylonian Captivity, there were no kings in Judah for five hundred years. Power centered among the priests, who collectively acted as a ruling class. They retained much of their political power even after kingship was reestablished around a hundred years before the birth of Jesus. However, a few decades before the birth of Jesus, Judah lost its independence when Rome decided to intervene in a Jewish civil war.
Priests also wielded a lot of economic power. One source of their income came from a temple tax levied on every Jewish person. Priests lived in luxury at a time when most were struggling to survive. Archeological excavations of priestly residences have revealed great reception rooms with mosaic floors, large dining rooms with extravagantly carved and painted walls, and lots of fine furnishings.
The biggest threat to the priests’ economic and political power was Rome. The priests knew that the Romans were willing to intervene again in the event of another conflict. So, the priests appeased their occupiers by making daily sacrifices for Caesar in the temple. They also used their power and influence to keep the peace among the Jewish people.
The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly.
Luke 21:37-22:2
Jesus made the priests nervous. For example, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, he was celebrated by a great crowd of people. Soon after, Jesus went to the temple and warned the people to beware of religious leaders exploiting the vulnerable to live in luxury. He also blamed the temple tax for forcing widows into poverty. Jesus even predicted that the temple itself was about to be destroyed and that a war was about to shake the nation.
Jesus’ connection with common people worried the priests. Jesus had an influence over people that they could never hope to have. But when Jesus cut into the daily profits by turning over the tables of the moneychangers in the temple, the priests concluded that Jesus had to go.
What do you suppose Jesus might say about religious leaders today? What about followers who live in comfort while our neighbors struggle to survive? What might he say about our economic systems and our increasing wealth inequity? What might he call us to see, and what might he call u s to relinquish, and would we be any more willing to give it all up than the chief priests and scribes?
Lent is a great time for reflection on our own priorities and to gain inspiration through the help of the Holy Spirit to chart a new course for the future
You can join us each Sunday in person or online by clicking the button on our website’s homepage. Click here to watch. This button takes you to our YouTube channel. You can find more information about us on our website at FlintAsburyChurch.org.
This is a reminder that we publish this newsletter called the Circuit Rider each week. You can request this publication by email. Send a request to FlintAsburyUMC@gmail.com or let us know when you send a message through our website. We post an archive of past editions on our website under Connect – choose Newsletters.
Pastor Tommy
Our series was inspired by The Reverend Jeremey Peters of Court Street United Methodist Church, Flint, Michigan in collaboration with several United Methodist Pastors serving the Flint area.
George Barna. “2024 Election Research – Report #2.” © Arizona Christian University, November 13, 2024. Retrieved from: link
Peter DeHaan. The Friends and Foes of Jesus: Discover How People in the New Testament React to God’s Good News. MI: Rock Rooster Books, 2019.