Like Jesus, Promote God’s Kingdom as the Real Solution

1-2. Why did Jesus not involve himself in political controversies? (1 Peter 2:21)

MANY today feel insecure because government policies are constantly changing. Even some of Jehovah’s people may fear losing their job; suffering cruel, unjust treatment; or becoming victims of war. Do you worry that political changes might make life hard for you and your family? If so, what can you do?

² In the face of political instability, all Christians should imitate Jesus, our model. (Read 1 Peter 2:21.) Like many today, he lived amid political turmoil and social injustices. In that world of political uncertainty, he promoted God’s heavenly Kingdom as the solution. He taught his followers to do the same. (Matt. 4:23; 6:33; 10:7) Accordingly, he did not take sides in the political controversies of that world.

3. (a) What does it mean to be politically neutral? (b) What will be discussed in this article?

³ In imitation of Jesus, we promote God’s Kingdom as the only solution to all problems on earth. To be consistent with that stand, we must remain neutral with regard to politics. This means that we do not take sides in the world’s political issues. To help us imitate Jesus closely in this respect, this article will discuss what he did when he had the opportunity to (1) take part in politics, (2) fight against his enemies, and (3) engage in political conversations.

JESUS REFUSED POLITICAL POWER

4. While Jesus was on earth, what was the political climate in Israel?

⁴ Did Jesus have opportunities to become a political leader on earth? He certainly did. And that was at a time when the political climate in Israel​—the land of Jesus’ ministry—​was highly unstable. Many Jews were eager to find a leader who would fight to free them from Roman oppression. Previously, a number of self-proclaimed “messiahs” had led them into revolts against Rome. (Acts 5:37) Some of these false messiahs resorted to violence. All of them failed. But the Jews expected that when the real Messiah arrived​—the Messiah of Bible prophecy—​he would break the yoke of Rome and establish an independent kingdom in Israel.

5. What were many of Jesus’ disciples hoping he would do?

⁵ Even those who associated closely with Jesus hoped that he would deliver them from Roman rule. Recall that John the Baptist asked Jesus: “Are you the Coming One, or are we to expect a different one?” (Matt. 11:2, 3) John may have wanted to know whether Jesus would soon fulfill the Jews’ hope of deliverance from Rome. Also, two disciples who met the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus said that they had hoped that Jesus would deliver Israel. (Luke 24:21) Soon thereafter, Jesus’ apostles asked him: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”​—Acts 1:6.

6. What did Jesus do when the people of Galilee wanted to make him king? (See also picture.)

⁶ It is not surprising that the Jews in Galilee wanted to make Jesus their king. They saw that he was an outstanding leader of people; he could cure the sick; and he had just performed a miracle that fed some 5,000 hungry men, besides women and young children. (John 6:8-11) Did Jesus grasp this opportunity for political power? The apostle John’s account tells us: “Jesus, knowing that they were about to come and seize him to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain all alone.”​—John 6:14, 15.

7. Why did Jesus not allow the people to make him king?

⁷ Why did Jesus not accept a political position that people thought would enable him to bring much-needed relief to mankind? Because he supported God’s Kingdom as the real solution. He knew that even if some human rulers were well-meaning, they could never bring lasting relief. (Ps. 146:3) He also knew that although Jehovah allows human governments to exist, it is Satan who gives them their authority. (Luke 4:5, 6; John 12:31; Rev. 13:2) Thus, Jesus remained no part of the world. (John 17:14) He did not seek or accept political office; nor did he teach his followers to do so. Instead, he taught them to pray: “Father, . . . let your Kingdom come.”​—Matt. 6:9, 10.

8. What did Jesus tell Pilate about God’s Kingdom?

⁸ Shortly before his death, Jesus made his politically neutral position clear to the Roman authorities. Roman Governor Pontius Pilate asked him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered: “My Kingdom is no part of this world.”a (John 18:33, 36) That Kingdom was a heavenly one. Furthermore, it was not involved in any way with the world’s political system. Therefore, Jesus never took sides in political issues.

9. How can we be like Jesus with regard to political matters?

⁹ Like Jesus, Christians today remain neutral as to the world’s politics. We respect the governments under which we live and endeavor to be good citizens. We obey the laws of the land and pay our taxes. (Rom. 13:1, 7; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13, 14) But we promote God’s Kingdom as the rightful and real solution to mankind’s problems. Because that Kingdom has not yet taken control of earth’s affairs, people everywhere suffer unjust treatment and other hardships. (Eccl. 4:1; Heb. 10:36) But as followers of Jesus, we do not seek relief through political measures. We do not try to influence the decisions of a government by holding office or by voting for political candidates. (John 15:19; 17:16) If we were to become involved in the world’s political controversies, we would in effect be rejecting Jehovah’s Kingdom as the real solution.

JESUS DID NOT RESORT TO VIOLENCE

10. Why were the chief priests and the Pharisees determined to kill Jesus?

¹⁰ Human politics are closely associated with war and other violent conflicts. Jesus, however, taught his disciples to avoid violence. For example, consider what occurred during the events that led to his death. The chief priests and the Pharisees were planning to kill him. Why? They viewed Jesus as a political and religious rival who threatened their status. They said: “If we let him go on this way, [the Jews] will all put faith in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”​—John 11:48-50, 53.

11. Why did Jesus have his apostles carry swords on the night of his arrest?

¹¹ Jesus was aware that his enemies were plotting against him. So during his final meal with the apostles, he asked them to get some swords. When they replied: “Here are two swords,” Jesus said: “It is enough.” (Luke 22:36-38) Enough? Were two swords really enough to fight against the “large crowd” who came later that night to arrest Jesus, equipped “with swords and clubs”? (Matt. 26:47) Clearly not! But two swords were enough for Jesus to use as an object lesson. What lesson did he have in mind?

12. After Peter used his sword, what did Jesus say? (See also picture.)

¹² Jesus wanted to teach his followers that they should not resort to violence when persecuted. The apostles could have learned that lesson simply by observing what Jesus did when the mob came to arrest him. Jesus did not fight; nor did he direct his apostles to use the two swords they had. However, as matters turned out, impulsive Peter used his sword to strike a slave of the high priest. So Jesus stated plainly: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matt. 26:51, 52) Clearly, then, Jesus would not approve of the disciples’ participating in a violent political conflict against Rome or any other nation.

13. Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to participate in violent conflicts? (John 13:35; 17:11, 20-23)

¹³ Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses imitate Jesus’ example and follow his direction. We do not fight in or lend support to the world’s violent conflicts. If we did, we would be disregarding Jesus’ counsel against violence. Additionally, we would destroy the love and unity that Jesus said would characterize his true followers. (Read John 13:35; 17:11, 20-23.) And joining in such conflicts would also mean taking sides in political matters. As mentioned earlier, we remain politically neutral primarily because we promote God’s Kingdom.

JESUS DID NOT DEBATE POLITICAL ISSUES

14-15. Why was taxation a political issue in Jesus’ day, and how did Jesus’ enemies attempt to trap him? (Matthew 22:19-21)

¹⁴ On one occasion, Jesus’ enemies tried to get him to take sides with regard to taxes. Taxation was a hot political issue in Jesus’ time. Subjects of Rome felt that the government required too many taxes.b The Jews especially resented the head tax because the coin used to pay it had the emperor’s image on it, which reminded them of their subjection to Rome. With that in mind, disciples of the Pharisees along with party followers of Herod asked Jesus where he stood on the matter.

¹⁵ Actually, Jesus’ enemies were setting a trap. How so? They framed their inquiry in the form of a simple yes-or-no question: “Is it right to pay head tax to Caesar or not?” (Matt. 22:15-17, ftn.) If Jesus had said it was right, the people might have misunderstood and turned on him. If he had said it was not right, he might have been accused of sedition against Rome. Jesus, however, carefully framed his reply so as to avoid involving himself in this political controversy.​—Read Matthew 22:19-21.

16. What must we avoid when we see or experience gross injustices? (See also picture and the box “Remain Neutral From the Heart.”)

¹⁶ We can be sure that Jesus empathized with those who were unjustly burdened by heavy taxation. (Matt. 9:36) But as a promoter of God’s Kingdom, he refused to take sides, even in his speech. As Christ’s disciples, we follow his example. Even when we see or experience gross injustices, we know that Jehovah is aware of the situation and that his Kingdom is the real solution. Therefore, in imitation of Jesus, we must avoid getting involved in conversations about political issues.​—Luke 6:45.

17. Why is it important that we promote only God’s Kingdom?

¹⁷ How important it is that we promote only God’s Kingdom as the real solution to mankind’s difficulties! Jehovah has made it clear that this world’s rulers, even those with the best of intentions, cannot end mankind’s troubles. (Eccl. 8:9; Jer. 10:23) As a result, people in the world continue to be like a sea that tosses and turns and knows no peace. (Isa. 17:12; 57:20, 21) But Jehovah’s heavenly government ruled by Christ will bring in true peace, justice, and unending happiness. Meanwhile, it must warm the heart of our heavenly Father to see his people wholeheartedly promoting, not any particular government of this world, but the superior Kingdom ruled by his Son, Jesus Christ.​—Zeph. 3:17.

18. What challenges might Christians face, and what will we consider in the following article?

¹⁸ At times, however, maintaining our neutrality is particularly difficult. Some governments may pressure us to take sides by joining a political organization or by participating in their wars. They might even threaten us with imprisonment if we do not change our stand. How can we prepare now for such tests of our neutrality? That will be the topic of our next article.