Week 2 - Jesus: Government worker?

Sacred Insight: What’s the intention?
As you read, considering the context, determine the intention behind the author’s words. Name all that apply: 1. To show us His truth, 2.To expose our human rebellion 3. To correct our mistakes, or 4. To train us to live like Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

One thing I really love about our scripture passage is that it is so full of beautiful prose that stirs the soul.

“He will be called Wonderful Counselor…Prince of Peace.”

But there’s one little phrase within our scripture that I’ve never quite understood. It’s this:

And the government will be on his shoulders

Maybe it’s what the word “government” has come to mean in today’s culture. When I think of “government”, I naturally think about the Western government divisiveness, politics, etc., but it’s also because, in the literal sense, it never made sense to me. After all, Jesus didn’t grow up to be a congressman. He was never any kind of government official and he never became an elected ruler during his time on this earth. He was a carpenter and a rogue preacher and when he was called King, it was spoken in mockery during his crucifixion.

Matthew 27:27-31
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

So why was it prophesied of Jesus that the ‘government would be on his shoulders’ if he would be a ruling King in mockery only?

Well, remember last week when we discussed the idea of zooming the camera out to see the big picture?
Same thing.
It’s so easy to take our current cultural understanding and apply it to biblical text. Unfortunately, we more often than not misinterpret the scriptures when we do that. The importance of always taking the time to understand and evaluate the context in which the Bible was written cannot be stressed enough – including the time in history and the culture in which it was written.

So in order to figure out what Isaiah meant when he promised that the government will be on Jesus’ shoulders, we need to do what we always do when the scripture feels unclear to us – dig deeper into the Bible for more information.

Colossians 2: 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Matthew 28:18-19
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

These verses help us understand that Jesus’ authority comes from God, not man. Our governments are created, instituted and run by men and women, alone. Jesus cannot be given authority by people, because his authority came from God alone. He had no interest in becoming part of our human governmental systems then or now, even as a longtime ruling king. Jesus was sent to bring the greatest, most everlasting kingdom ever created – the Kingdom of God. And he did. His presence on earth, even for the short time he was physically here, ushered in the Kingdom of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit – and along with it, his life, death and resurrection – and this changed everything for us! How many Presidents, Chancellors, Queens and Kings can say that their reign resulted in hope and eternal salvation for millions of people, for endless generations?

So, when our scripture says ‘the government will be on his shoulders’, rest assured it was not talking about the Roman government, the United States government, or any other government in any one time or place throughout history. It was talking about the government that is God’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. When you think of it like that – when you picture Jesus as the King of God’s Holy and Eternal Kingdom, our man-made seem governments are pretty puny, huh? That’s because they are. Our systems and hierarchies are fleeting, man-made, ego-driven constructions and they never last. But the kingdom of heaven lasts forever and Jesus is indeed, the Almighty King. Praise God!

What was Isaiah’s intention in writing this scripture about Jesus? Was it: 1. To show us His truth, 2.To expose our human rebellion 3. To correct our mistakes, or 4. To train us to live like Jesus?

When you hear the word “authority,” what comes to mind?

Who are some people that have authority in your life right now, and how is Jesus’ authority different from theirs?

If Jesus’ kingdom isn’t about power, politics, or control, what is it about?

What values do you see Jesus modeling that feel different from how the world usually works?

Isaiah says the government will be on Jesus’ shoulders. What do you think that tells us about how Jesus carries responsibility, leadership, and care for people?

Live It Out:

Write out our scripture in your journal. Add notes, drawings, encouragements and thoughts about its original intention and meaning.
Take a social media break. Social media these days is geared towards keeping our government in the forefront of our minds. We think, talk and argue about our government and its politics in a way that is not just unhealthy, but idolatrous. Take this week to step away from the melee and focus instead on the Kingdom of God. Where you may have spent time scrolling, spend time in the Word, in gratitude and surrounding yourself with the joy of His creation instead.