"My Kingdom Is No Part of This World - "RETURN YOUR SWORD TO ITS PLACE"

 In Jesus' time, religious leaders often supported political groups.  For example, the book Daily Life in Palestine at the Time of Christ says that the Jews were divided into religious groups that were similar to political parties.  So Jesus warned his disciples: "Keep your eyes open; look out for the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." (Mark 8:15) When Jesus mentioned Herod, he was probably referring to the part followers of Herod.  The other group, the Pharisees, wanted the Jews  to become independent from the Roman Empire.  According to Matthew's account, Jesus also warned his disciples agaisnt the Sadducees.  The Sadducees wanted Rome to continue ruling becaue this allowed them to have powerful positions. Jesus warned  his disciples to avoid the "leaven," or the teachings, of these three groups.  (Matthew 16:6, 12)  And it is interesting that Jesus gave this warning soon after people wanted to make him king. 

When religions take sides in political issues, it often leads to violence.  Jesus taught his disciples to remain completely neutral.  That is one reason why the chief priests and the Parisees wanted to kill Jesus.  They were afraid that the peple would listen to him and stop following them. If that happened, they would lose their religious and political power.  They said:  "If we let him go on this way, they put faith in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." (John 11:48)  So High Priest Caiaphas organized a plan to kill Jesus. - JOHN 11:49-5; 18:14. 

Caiaphas waited until it was nighttime and then sent soldiers t arrest Jesus.  But Jesus knew about the plan to kill him.  So during his last meal with the apostles, he told them to get some sword.  Two swords would be enough to teach them and important lesson.  (Luke 18:10)   But Jesus told Peter: "Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:52, 53)  What powerful lesson did Jesus teach his disciples?  That they must be no part of this world. This is what Jesus had prayed for earlier that night.  (Read John 17:16.) Only God has the right to fight injustice.

Next time:"My Kingdom Is No Part of this World" - "RETURN YOUR SWORD TO ITS PLACE" - CONCLUSION

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