Introduction

I’m amazed, sometimes, how ideas for articles come to me. Recently, I was listening to someone, leading the Lord’s Supper, give a talk on the trial of Jesus. The verses used were standard for the setting, yet my brain heard a verse, I’d heard hundreds of times, and it clicked in a slightly different way.

Before Pilate, the Second Time

During his final trial, Jesus came before Pontius Pilate a second time. Pilate was looking to release one prisoner as was custom for the Passover (Jn. 18:39). It was either Jesus or a murderer named Barabbas.

In the midst of the heated exchange between the governor and the mob, Pilate has Jesus flogged, then presented him once again to the people, Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:14-15)

The Jews acknowledged Caesar as their king instead of God! Now why does this sound familiar?

Give us a King!

Going back to the Old Testament, the Israelites spent generations under various judges. As each judge died, the Israelites would pull out their idols and play the harlot once again. God got fed up with them, raised an army from the nations round about to go against His people, then raise a judge to deliver His people, and the Israelites would put away their idols, worshipping the one and true God. Then the process would begin again. The final verse, in the book of Judges, states, In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)

In 1 Samuel 8, the children of Israel demanded to have a king rule over them. Samuel appointed judges over them but they were not walking according to God’s word (vs. 3). To them, this was the ‘final straw’. The elders came to Samuel, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (vs. 5)

Samuel was not happy about this request and turned to God for guidance. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day-with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods-so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” (vs. 7-9)

As you can see, the Israelites wanted a king like all the other nations. They had forgotten that it was God that ruled over them. He was the one who had raised up the judges and delivered His people. He had made Israel His chosen people, leading them by the hand, out of Egypt. Yet, they had forgotten all of that. They’d rather have a human being reign over them and be like all of the nations around them.

Hating Family, the Righteous Way

Although the Pharisees hated the idea of being subservient to Caesar, and the Roman Empire, they’d much rather kowtow to him than to acknowledge this Jesus who calls himself God.

Although hate is an ugly word, there is such a thing as “righteous” hate. Jesus said as much in the New Testament.

He said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26) This seems to be an odd statement by our Lord and the atheists pounce on this verse and declare, “You see, how can anyone believe in someone that tells you to hate everyone?”

A similar passage is found in Mt. 10:37 in which Jesus says, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)

Simply put, God, and His Son, must come first. You cannot allow family to dissuade you from doing the Will of the Father (Mt. 7:21). Even Jesus, himself, put his own physical family second, Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:47-50)

Here’s an example from my own life. I once invited someone to worship with me and they said that they would go except they had family coming into town. I replied, “Bring them along, everyone needs to hear the gospel.” Their reply was along the lines of, “We’re going to be too busy.” You see, here is the perfect example. This person was more concerned for their family then they were their own soul.

Finally, the question is asked, “Why should I put God above all else?” The answer is simple! He is the creator of this world and us. He gave us a place to live (Earth), an atmosphere to breath, animals (as food) to sustain us, and others to interact with on a daily basis. With all that He has done for us, why wouldn’t we put Him above all else?

Conclusion

I’ve heard people say, “I don’t know where God fits in my life.” It’s easy, if God isn’t first in your life, then Satan automatically becomes first. Regardless of whether you state your family or spouse comes first, if God isn’t first, He isn’t in your life at all. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24) Follow Jesus today!