Bonds of Bitterness
"The leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to try to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 'Teacher,' these men said, 'we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don't play favorites. You sincerely teach the ways of God. Now tell us - is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?' Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, 'Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you.' When they handed it to him, he asked, 'Whose picture and title are stamped on it?' 'Caesar's,' they replied. 'Well, then,' Jesus said, 'give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.' This reply completely amazed them " Mark 12:13-17 (NLT).
Bitterness is an ugly thing. It captures our heart and enslaves our minds. It drives us to do hateful things; insane things; merciless, vengeful things.
The religious leaders of Jesus' day were enslaved to bitterness and vengeance. It unfolds on every page of the sacred text from now until Jesus' crucifixion and murder, and even after. It is nasty and wicked; vicious and foul - this bitter desire for vengeance that lived so strongly in the hearts of the religious leaders who hated every breath that Jesus took.
Rewind the tape and recall how this hatred for Jesus developed. First, Jesus would not follow the man-made religious rules of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This made them angry. He refused to adopt their disdainful attitudes towards those lost in sin - instead he welcomed and ate with sinners. Third, he saw through their religious piety and exposed their love of money and power as being greater than their love for God. Of late, he drove their merchants and bankers from the Temple, publicly embarrassing them. Then he tells a story that shows the religious leaders for who they are: haters of God's prophets and men who fight God at every turn.
At every turn Jesus outwitted, outthought, out-reasoned and out-taught these religious leaders. They were made to look bad - - real bad. The people stopped following them. Instead they followed Jesus. They were drawn to his love, mercy, and powerful teaching that gave them anchors for their lives. They no longer sought the Pharisees guidance or counsel. They no longer gave them the ego-boosts they were so used to receiving. Because of Jesus, they had been left in the dust.
Slowly bitterness built up in them at their loss of power and status in the people's eyes. Slowly their dislike of Jesus built into hatred and hatred into bitter hatred, and finally they desired nothing more than to murder him on any pretense.
This is what this story in our text (above) is all about. Oh to be sure, Jesus gives them a witty and wise answer to their question designed to trap him. Had he told these religious leaders that it was wrong to pay taxes, he would have been guilty in the eyes of the Romans of inciting rebellion against Rome. If he told them that they should pay taxes, he would go against popular religious opinion that Jews should not financially subsidize pagans who worship false gods. So he was trapped. Only he wasn't. His answer left the Pharisees astonished and mute.
Some truths emerge here for us. First, when you serve Christ with your whole heart as Jesus did, the powers of darkness will come against you as no other. They will stir up people to oppose you, and send antagonizers to harass you. You can expect it.
The good news in this is that having been forewarned you are also forearmed. Knowing that opposition will arise to your efforts for God will cause you to hit your knees more frequently, search your Bible more urgently, and seek Godly counsel more consistently. When opposition comes you will be more prepared to respond to it as Jesus did - with the right words and actions at the right time moving only in God's Spirit.
Second, while most people will rejoice with your successes for God, just as most people rejoiced with Jesus' godly success, others will not. Whether it is a personal success in overcoming a spiritual stronghold in your life or a public success for God's causes - some will be turned off by you as they were turned off by Jesus.
It simply cannot be avoided. Jesus said, "A student is not greater than the teacher. A servant is not greater than the master. The student shares the teacher's fate. The servant shares the master's fate. And since I, the master of the household have been called the prince of demons, how much more will it happen to you, the members of the household! But don't be afraid.'" Matthew 10:24-25 (NLT).
Some will dislike you. Some will even become bitter towards you and seek to do you harm. It may make no sense, but clearly this mantra is borne out every day of Jesus' life: Some simply hated him and wanted him dead.
Don't expect everyone to like you. It isn't going to happen. Don't expect everyone to be as enthusiastic about God's vision or mission for your life as you are. While many will, some will not - ever.
Don't be afraid. God will give you wisdom to answer your critics and those who wish to harm you, just as he did for Jesus in the failed trap of the Pharisees and Herod's supporters. He will give you wisdom to see through the enemy's devices - only pray and ask for this wisdom and it is yours (See James 1:3).
Above all, remember what jealousy does. It makes our insides turn black with the cancer of bitterness driven by the madness of envy. The religious leaders of Jesus' day hated him because they were first jealous of him and his popularity. Soon their jealousy turned to bitter hatred and murder.
There is a tremendous lesson here. Never let someone else's success or popularity bother you. If it does than honestly admit that there is something wrong with YOU, not them. Kill the envy that rises in your heart, and refuse to allow it to turn bitter. If allowed, bitterness will only lead you to a lifestyle of vengeance and madness such as the Pharisees lived. Fight these urges by rejoicing in what God is doing through others and give them your every support. Be a thankful person, for such an attitude pleases God greatly.
You never want to be in the bonds of bitterness. It will make you a critic, a hater, and even a murderer. Undoubtedly it will also make you an opposer of God like the Pharisees became. I know, it sounds unbelievable. "This could never happen to me" we think. But no doubt the Pharisees thought the same way. So don't be fooled. It can happen, even to the strongest of Jesus' followers. So pursue thankfulness and glory in the Godly successes of others.
God exalts such a person.