Whose Image, Anyway?

On coins, kingdoms, and the people who bear God’s face

It really is kind of a genius answer. It’s genius because it’s both not what they expected and true. Caesar made this money coin. Go ahead…give it to him.

This same guy who says this has already multiplied resources of food, water into wine, and an abundance of a catch of fish. What does he need money for?

It’s also a genius answer because it speaks right to the heart of what Jesus has already been demonstrating and teaching about the Kingdom of God. The blessings and wealth of the Kingdom know no money. It’s not that it’s an escape from using money within the cultural and political contexts of the world, but that the Kingdom-focused need not let such things dominate, cultivate, or control.

Remember that other time a tax is brought up to Jesus? This one was a bit different as it was a religious, Jewish tax rather than an empire, Roman tax, but Jesus sees to Peter paying it anyway. Go and catch a fish and you’ll find what you need. And he did.

It seems like such positioning requires a particular and strong faith. Jesus is up for it.

But this is also about imaging. Jesus’ question is, Whose image and inscription is on it? It’s Caesar’s image, so give Caesar’s image back to him. The continued - if subtle - brilliance of what Jesus says is Jesus effectively, Give Caesar his image, but give God God’s image, which implies: yourself.

We bear the image of God, should we choose to live into it.

Luke 20:20-26

The legal experts and chief priests were watching Jesus closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to trap him in his words so they could hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are correct in what you say and teach. You don’t show favoritism but teach God’s way as it really is. Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Since Jesus recognized their deception, he said to them, “Show me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

He said to them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They couldn’t trap him in his words in front of the people. Astonished by his answer, they were speechless.

Psalm 24:1-6

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,
the world and its inhabitants too.
Because God is the one who established it on the seas;
God set it firmly on the waters.

Who can ascend the Lord’s mountain?
Who can stand in his holy sanctuary?
Only the one with clean hands and a pure heart;
the one who hasn’t made false promises,
the one who hasn’t sworn dishonestly.
That kind of person receives blessings from the Lord
and righteousness from the God who saves.
And that’s how things are
with the generation that seeks him—
that seeks the face of Jacob’s God.

Prayer

God,

Honestly, when I hear people say it, I struggle with the phrase, “God is in control.” I mean, I get it - you are in control. Christ has established his reign. Victory over death through sacrifice and death is. I believe that. I live my life as though it’s true. I choose to do that. I want to live - and am trying to live - as though all Christ said and did was and is true. He has conquered the world, indeed.

But that’s not what people usually mean when they say that you are in control, is it? Usually it’s said as a cliché to comfort a difficult situation or something or someone they don’t like.

Because you’re not in control of everything, right? You’re not in control of that army in Darfur. You’re not in control of the government, and frankly, there’s nothing we can do to change that. You’re not in control of anyone’s heart or actions who want no part of your righteousness, right?

I’m sure I’m over-theologizing this, God. But I guess what I’m feeling is that I think it’s a cheap faith thing to simply declare that you’re in control of everything because it’s ignorant to what actually needs to happen.

Jesus was not in control of Caesar and he didn’t seek to be. He wasn’t in control of Pilate and didn’t even try to change his mind when he had the invitation to do so. I’m not even sure he wanted to change the religious leaders’ minds. …did he?

I don’t know. Maybe I’m over-thinking it. And why do I have to be such a know-it-all in response to those people who use the phrase. Maybe their faith is greater than mine. Truly.

Maybe it’s that you’re not in control of everything, but that you are in command of the particular story that says, because of Jesus, all will be victorious in your righteousness. And I want to live as a part of that story.

I want to live each day as though you are in control. In control of me, at least. So do it, God - take control of my life as I try to steward things according to your loving justice. So help me, God.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.