January 21 - “We have a law!”
“We have a law!” I hear phrases like this often these days—usually to explain why Christians can't (or won't) challenge laws that cause human suffering. After all, we're supposed to “be subject to governing authorities” (Rom 13:1), right? But does that biblical command really mean “If it's the law, it's the law,” and therefore “all good Christians” must comply without question?
The appeal “We have a law!” was often used against Jesus. “We have a law about the Sabbath!” “We have a law about ritual purity!” “We have a law about associating with the wicked!”
Now, that same language is used to condemn Jesus to death.
The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God”(John 19:7).
What happens when our laws oppress the innocent and even condemn them to death?1 How are we “good Christians” to respond to such laws? Should we obey? Should we assert Caesar’s right to bear the sword and the Christian’s duty to submit to governing authorities, regardless of the impact on human dignity, flourishing, and life?
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
To insist “We have a law!” while humans suffer and die because of that law is to align with those who condemned Jesus to death. It is to align with Caesar, Pilate, and the empires from this world in opposition to the kingdom of God that Jesus was establishing through his death and resurrection. It is to loudly and clearly declare, when faced with the true King who sacrifices himself so that others might live, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15).
Please note that “innocent” here is in no way defined by compliance with civil laws.
I could barely get through the beginning parts of this chapter where the people appeal to political leadership (rather than God) to get their way to crucify a man they believed was a threat to their way of life. I’m reminded that Gamaliel in the book of Acts tells the Sanhedrin if the followers of Jesus were of God, nothing could stop them!
I found myself disheartened that the Jews told Pilate, “We have no king but Caesar!” because I’m witnessing similar sentiments in our country today.
By and large, it's not always as easy as knowing that a law requiring the crucifixion of the Son of God is bad and does not command obedience, particularly when the law has been weaponized first by one side then the other. Sometimes the same law (FACE act)