Jesus and Rulers

What Jesus had to say about the political rulers of his day:

1. Being told by some Pharisees that Herod was seeking to kill him, Jesus answered, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem."

The fox was a metaphor for meanness, cunning and craftiness. From this passage one could assume that Jesus had no respect for Herod and in fact, viewed him as a crafty and cruel leader. Even though Jesus called Herod a fox (which was a capital offence) he wanted to move on to avoid being caught and taken prisoner outside of Jerusalem.

2. Jesus avoided Jerusalem and Judea preaching mostly in Galilee where it was safer for him. In John 7 his brothers mock him by challenging him to go into Jerusalem to get more attention, knowing that the Jewish leaders sought to kill him there. Galilee was a safer place even though Herod Antipas was there and he had John the Baptist killed.

3. Although Jesus rarely spoke directly to or about the Roman rulers, he regularly spoke out against the religious rulers of Jerusalem. This is surprising, because John the Baptist (his own cousin) was beheaded by Herod Antipas and Jesus grew up under Herod's cruel rule. It is also surprising because John was so vocal about Herod Antipas.

4. Jesus believed that Rome's representatives were given their power by God Himself (John 19:11).

5. Although rulers were sometimes major players in his parables (such as the ruler in Luke 19 who goes to a far country (Rome) to receive a kingdom), the rulers in these parables were given neither positive nor negative attributes. The foci of these parables wers not on the rulers, but rather on the servants.