DISCIPLING THE POWERFUL

Lesson 9 for March 1, 2014

How should a Christian relate to the authorities?

How did Jesus preach to the powerful? How did the powerful respond to Jesus’

preaching? Powerful people who accepted the

Gospel. Powerful people who rejected the

Gospel. How did the Church preach to the powerful?

We’ll study Jesus and the apostles’ example on how to relate to powerful people.“Powerful people” stands for people who have political, civil or religious authority over other people.Kings, members of the Sanhedrin, praetors and consuls were powerful people in Jesus time.Kings, presidents, senators, representatives and judges may be powerful people in our time.

HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN RELATE TO THE AUTHORITIES?“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves…Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:1-2, 7)

Every Christian must respect and obey the government and those who represent it, unless they order something against God’s commandments.God rises up people to positions of authority. Those people will have to report how they used that authority to God.“Our work is not to make a raid on the Government but to prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord… Let Seventh-day Adventists do nothing that will mark them as lawless and disobedient.” (EGW, Evangelism, cp. 7, pg. 173)

HOW DID JESUS PREACH TO THE POWERFUL?

Jesus always sought to be redemptive. He was seeking the salvation of all people, even of those powerful and influential people who would eventually condemn Him to death.Jesus tried to persuade the Pharisees, the Sadducees (a priestly sect) and the Herodians when talking to them: He led them to study the Scriptures

(Mr. 2:24-26) He reminded them the importance

of compassion (Mt. 12:7) He called them to awake their

conscience, decency and kindness (Mt. 12:11-12)

He performed miracles before them (Mr. 3:1-6)

“Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43)

Some of the Jewish rulers accepted Jesus; for example, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.Even a Roman centurion also declared that he believed in Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)

1. He sent some Jewish elders to Jesus, so He would heal his servant.

2. He sent some friends when Jesus set off for his home, to tell Him he was not worthy of hosting Him.

3. He finally came before Jesus, and Jesus was amazed at his faith.

HOW DID THE POWERFUL RESPOND TO JESUS’ PREACHING?POWERFUL PEOPLE WHO ACCEPTED THE GOSPEL

This story should encourage us to evangelize among people in powerful positions. How many twenty-first century centurions are there?

May their faith inspire and strengthen ours.

HOW DID THE POWERFUL RESPOND TO JESUS’ PREACHING?POWERFUL PEOPLE WHO REJECTED THE GOSPEL

CAIAPHAS: “For a moment the divinity of Christ flashed through His guise of humanity. The high priest quailed before the penetrating eyes of the Saviour. That look seemed to read his hidden thoughts, and burn into his heart. Never in afterlife did he forget that searching glance of the persecuted Son of God” (DA, cp. 75, pg. 707)

PILATE: “Pilate had a desire to know the truth. His mind was confused. He eagerly grasped the words of the Saviour, and his heart was stirred with a great longing to know what it really was, and how he could obtain it. “What is truth?” he inquired. But he did not wait for an answer” (DA, cp. 77, pg. 727)

HEROD: “Christ might have spoken words to Herod that would have pierced the ears of the hardened king. He might have stricken him with fear and trembling by laying before him the full iniquity of his life, and the horror of his approaching doom. But Christ’s silence was the severest rebuke that He could have given. Herod had rejected the truth spoken to him by the greatest of the prophets, and no other message was he to receive” (DA, cp. 77, pg. 730)

It may seem that Jesus’ work among the powerful was not fruitful. Nevertheless, many priests and Pharisees accepted the message and converted to Christianism later (Acts 6:7)

HOW DID THE CHURCH PREACH TO THE POWERFUL?

The church spread the Gospel even among Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22)Some of the powerful almost believed. For example, governor Felix (Acts 24:24-25) and king Agrippa (Acts 26:28)Others openly accepted the Gospel. For example, proconsul Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:12)The Christians testified before the powerful whenever possible. Sometimes they did so while being accused in court (Acts 4:9-12; 23:6), or while performing miracles (Acts 28:8-9), or while being helped by angels (Acts 8:26-39; Acts 10)

“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:17-18)

“You know not to what position you may be called in the future. God may use you as He used Daniel, to take the knowledge of the truth to the mighty of the earth. It rests with you to say whether you will have skill and knowledge to do this work. God can give you skill in all your learning. He can help you to adapt yourself to the line of study you take up. Make it your first interest to gather up right, noble, uplifting principles. God desires you to witness for Him”

E.G.W. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, cp. 81, pg. 554)