Sunday Bible Thoughts [February 9, 2025]

What is Greatness?

Sunday Bible Thoughts

The Bible was not written in a vacuum. When we read the text, it is necessary to understand the world through which it was written. Context helps us to comprehend the text.

The New Testament is anchored within the Roman world. You cannot understand what the New Testament authors are trying to say without understanding the Roman Empire and Roman iconography. Phrases like "Jesus is Lord" or "There is no name by which men might be saved, but by the name of Jesus" or "King of Kings and Lord of Lord" or "the Gospel" were part of the Roman lexicon. If you look through the NT, you'll see constant references to Rome. The authors are working to make a point, Jesus > Caesar.

The narrative of Empire is always that some are better than others. Whether we're talking about people, races, genders, cultures, or worldviews, Empires say, "Our way is best." and "We're better than you." and "You will conform to us." Their proof is found in their strength and their ability to lord themselves over their conquered people. Greatness was one's ability to rise up and reveal their strength over others.

This is where the New Testament is most radical. Jesus goes out of his way to include the weak and sick. He goes out of his way to include the excluded. He goes to the awful Greeks and shows God's love. He makes a despised Samaritan the hero of a story. He clowns religious folks for their hypocrisy. He calls out the powerful people. Jesus and the apostles do not act as if they are interested in strength or lording power over others.

Mark's Gospel is built on a mystery. Throughout the story, people keep asking, "Who is this man?" as Jesus does crazy things, a question Jesus refuses to answer. In Chapter 15, the mystery is revealed. As Jesus dies on the cross, the Centurian standing nearby reveals Jesus' identity, "Surely this man was the Son of God." (Mark 15:39) It is death on the cross that reveals who Jesus is. This is where context matters.

Mark 15's depiction of Jesus' crucifixion follows the same pattern as the coronation of Caesar. From being crowned by the Praetorian guard to being paraded through Rome with his 2nd and 3rd in command, to being installed on "Head Hill", to Caesar drinking wine, to a sacrifice happening there is a strong correlation between what happened to Jesus and the crowing of a Roman Caesar.

Also, death by crucifixion was reserved for would-be insurrectionists. Think Spartacus. The Romans would crucify people who attempted to overthrow their power. Remember, "We're strong. You're weak" was their official position. The act of crucifying someone did not kill them, it only revealed the body's weakness, eventually your arms and diaphragm would weaken to the point where you could not breathe. Crucifixion revealed a person's weakness; the guards were merely there to make sure other people did not help the condemned. Jesus is proclaimed 'God' when his weakness is revealed, not his strength; this is good news.

Greatness - at least in the Bible - is not found in strength. Instead, it is found in weakness. The way of Jesus is not the way of the Empire. When Christians identify with Empire and its understanding of greatness, they are missing the Good News of Jesus.

Grace + Peace,

Dan