Are you afraid of challenge? Are there situations in which you anticipate it? How do you feel when someone puts you on the spot? Today’s reflection considers how Jesus responded in just such a moment - and wonders how we might try to apply such wisdom in our conversations.
Thanks to Stephen Elliott Photography for the image of the Surprise View at Hathersage
Those of us who practice a religion or faith may have been challenged about that. Sometimes it happens unexpectedly - over a meal or when out enjoying a walk. We might have a moment of panic, fearing saying the wrong thing, and prevaricate for fear of being caught out, being predictable or appearing pious.
Has this happened to you? Either with reference to your faith or something else important to you?
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How did you respond in the moment?
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How did you feel at the time - and later?
An example of Jesus’ being put on the spot can be found in the gospel according to Mark, Chapter 12 and verses 13–17.
Notice that the Chief Priests, scribes and elders don’t confront Jesus themselves but send ‘some Pharisees and some Herodians’ to try and catch him out. They begin their attack by buttering him up:
“Master, we know you are an honest man, that you are not afraid of anyone because a man’s rank means nothing to you, and that you teach the way of God in all honesty.”
Then they try to put him on the spot in public, with a contentious question:
“Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay, yes or no?”
Jesus is not fooled. Instead of giving a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as demanded, he sees the hypocrisy at the root of the question. He seems to know that he himself represents a challenge to the status quo – to his interrogators’ power and status – and that they contrive against him. He responds with his own question:
“Why do you set this trap for me?”
This response invites us look beneath awkward questions, to their root. One possibility might be that the person challenging us wants to assert their point of view to bolster their own sense of security…
Jesus’ questioners sought to catch him out by making him choose between material and spiritual realities. Our own culture often encourages us into polarising conversations, too.
We don’t know if Jesus answered immediately. We might in similar situations need to pause, take a step back, before prayerfully responding. Cynicism can be rooted in deep-seated, existential fear. We might try to respond with love to the Other who sets such traps, recognising that we are all beloved.
Next, Jesus grounds the situation. He receives something that is of value from his ‘enemies’ - an item also recognisable to all present. A coin. Then he asks another question, about this item:
“Whose head is this? Whose name?”
The denarius is imprinted with Caesar’s head and so might represent material or worldly power and status. Jesus now surprises his questioners with a great answer to their original question:
“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.”
How do you feel about Jesus, having considered this encounter in some depth?
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Knowing how to respond authentically can be tricky.
Perhaps, instead of being fearful, we might prayerfully or hopefully prepare for difficult encounters, asking for the right words and a demeanour that truly makes a difference?
We might seek out spiritual companions to share, even to rehearse, with.
Jesus’ response in this situation had a profound impact on the Pharisees and Herodians who tried to catch him unawares:
“This reply took them completely by surprise.”
Can you picture the scene? What expressions are on the faces of the Pharisees and Herodians? How do the onlookers respond? What conversations happen later, as the events are recounted?
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Jesus gives here a masterclass in speaking the truth with clarity and love. When we are put on the spot - perhaps over our beliefs - we can try to follow his example. Instead of being defensive or fearful, we can smile, pause, perhaps respond with an open question.
We might take our companions - and even ourselves – somewhere beautiful and memorable by surprise.