Glimpses of the Journey: Journeying With Jesusنموونە

Image of God

Flattery. Trickery. And a heartfelt question posed to the religious leaders – and us.

Knowing they could not condemn anyone to death without the approval of Rome, the Pharisees tried to find some reason to deliver Him up to the rule and authority of the governor.

So what did they do? They flattered Jesus, in hopes of entrapping Him - the Word - by His words.

You see, the people resented having to pay taxes. If Jesus spoke in such a way of being "for" taxes, His influence could lessen. If he spoke "against" taxes, the leaders could report Him to the government. They believed that this was the perfect opportunity to entrap Him!

But Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter, as He always does. He told them to pay whatever the government requires – yet He adds – and give to God what is God's.

The image and inscription of ancient coins would have been understood as a property seal. The coins belonged to Caesar BECAUSE His image was on them. In His question, "Whose image does it have?" another question is implied – "Whose image is stamped upon YOU?" He was saying, "YOU have been made in the image of God. This means YOU do not belong to 'Caesar,' nor do you belong to yourselves, but you belong to God."

FB Meyer asked, "Whose image do you bear? Is there a clear-cut outline of the features of Christ, so manifest, so those who touch you are irresistibly reminded of Him, or have the features of your King, which were once clear cut, become effaced?"

As we continue our "journey with Jesus" this week, approaching the day of His crucifixion with each passing step, what a poignant question to ask ourselves; are we willing to yield our will to His and give it all for Him? Shouldn't we since He is the One who yielded His will to the Father to give it all for us? Are we willing for His image to lovingly, yet at times painfully, be ever etched upon us? This requires a closeness, a nearness, to the Savior. Or are we content to watch His journey from a distance: seeing the miracles and hearing His words, yet never truly encountering the One who gave us life through His death?