When I was still a young believer, a popular theme among Christian youth was that of Jesus being a rebel. What was highlighted in the gospel stories is how Jesus stood up to the authorities of his day. He spoke out against the ills of the leaders. He denounced false worship, even overturning the tables of the moneychangers at the temple grounds. For a young person seeking to assert oneself, the idea of rebellion was quite attractive.
Yet the emphasis on this seemingly subversive character of the ministry of Jesus is a problematic proposition. For it presents a false picture of the mission of Jesus. It conceptualizes Jesus from the perspective of a “victim” seeking release and recompense.
But the truth is, the fundamental character of Jesus’ mission is not rebellion but obedience. If Jesus had any conflict or confrontation with earthly authorities, it was only when such authorities proved to be subversive to the one true authority—namely, God himself. Jesus was not about disregarding or rebelling against authority; he was all about submitting to the right authority. Jesus was not a rebel; he was an obedient Son. When the religious leaders challenged his actions, he simply pointed to the One who sent him: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does…. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5.19, 30 NIV). Jesus also declared, “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8.28–29 NIV). And in his final hours with his disciples, he prayed to the Father: “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17.4 NIV).
The apostle Paul picks up on this truth when he describes Jesus’ ministry in this way: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross” (Philippians 2.8 NIV)!
As followers of Jesus, we define ourselves not by any kind of cause—and certainly not by what we are against. Rather, we find our life’s meaning and mission in a Person and our complete submission to his authority. As Christian thinker Os Guinness once wrote: “First and foremost we are called to Someone, not to something or to somewhere.” Christian discipleship is all about obedience and submission.
—Keith Y. Jainga