Our Rebel Leader

Our Rebel Leader

Read: Mark 14:43-51

“Am I leading a rebellion?”

Mark 14:48

“Anyone who witnesses to the grace of God revealed in Christ is undertaking a direct assault against Satan’s dominion.”

—Thomas Cosmades

IN WORD The scene is almost ludicrous. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is surrounded by a hostile, armed crowd. He has been walking weaponless throughout the streets of Jerusalem with compassion in His voice and healing in His wings, but compassion and healing are a little too suspicious for powerful people. So they come, burning with anger and betrayal.

The Son of God apparently knows about sarcasm: “Am I leading a rebellion . . . that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?” But the question is more loaded than the sarcasm on the surface would indicate. He is leading a rebellion. He is leading a rebellion against the human rebellion, which was instigated by the angelic rebellion. He is leading a rebellion against the ways of this world and against all the enemies of the kingdom of God. He is leading a rebellion against the culture of hate, anger, and enmity and against the culture of lust, greed, and idolatry. There is a war behind the scenes of this battle. The commander of this traitorous world is now being cast out (John 12:31). Jesus knows exactly who has surrounded Him. On the surface, it looks like spiteful Jews under the authority of spiteful Gentiles. But Jesus has already told His disciples: “The prince of this world is coming” (John 14:30). Yes, by all means, this is a rebellion.

IN DEED As descendants of Adam and Eve, we have all been participants in a rebellion. We have committed treason against the High King of heaven. We’re not sure what we were thinking at the time, but somewhere back there we joined in. Now we have a golden opportunity to join the quashing of our former uprising. Wherever we see injustice, we can right it. Wherever we see pain, we can soothe it. Wherever we encounter the wounded, we can help them heal. The passing prince of this world is being cast out; the time has come for us to join in. Are you waist-deep in this war, or are you just passively sitting by? Join the battle. Join the rebellion wherever you can.