Jesus summoned (verse 1) and sent (verse 5) twelve men to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven has come near,” (verse 6). You have likely noticed among these men were some political opponents. Theirs was not a shouting, insulting kind of opposition. Theirs was a “take up your sword” kind of opposition. 

Matthew was a tax collector, a government employee considered a traitor to his people. He worked for the occupying government, which oppressed the people. 

Simon the Zealot was from a group that wanted to violently overthrow the occupying government. It would not have been out of character for his clan if Matthew didn’t wake up some morning because his throat had been cut. 

How in the world could these two men walk together, work together, and not wound one another? 

If you have ever sat through a children’s Sunday School class, you know the answer is “Jesus.”

Jesus is bigger than political differences. Jesus is better than anything government could provide for us or that we could procure for ourselves. Jesus is bigger than labels slapped upon us by our adversaries, and he’s bigger than the groups we most naturally ally ourselves with. 

Occupying governments, and all other governments as well, are temporary. Zealots come, and zealots go. Their issues rise and fall in predictable manner. Jesus is Jesus now and forever. He never changes. He is good all the time, and as the song says, all the time he is good.

Worship Jesus. Follow Jesus. Go where Jesus sends you. Say the words he places in your mind and in your mouth. 

Never exalt anything to the level of Jesus. No political party, no single issue, no preference, no matter how powerful. 

At the name of Jesus, everything under heaven bows. 

Can we live like this in our day? If Matthew the Tax Collector and Simon the Zealot could come together regarding Jesus, we can come together regarding Jesus with those in other political parties and those whose issues drive us nuts. Ultimate truth and meaning always rise above politics and preferences. If they don’t, then we’ve made idols out of those passing personalities and temporary issues. 

When we come together to Jesus, we lay aside anything else that separates us. We begin to see one another and our issues from his perspective. Everything becomes clearer through his lenses. 

Come to Jesus, and bring your friends and your political opposition. See Jesus for who he is so we can see politics and issues for what they are. 

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I will help others see political opposites and current issues from the perspective of Jesus.

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Our Father, open our eyes so that we may see politicians and issues from your perspective. Deliver us from the tendency to make politics more important than it is. Free us from captivity to issues that demand more attention than is healthy or warranted. Empower us to lead everyone to you for clarity and meaning in this troubled age. Amen.