Following Judah's Lion

Bearing the Image of Christ

Mk.12:13-17 - And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
17And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

This portion of Scripture has been widely used to support paying taxes even by believers. Of course that is true, however there are more profound insights that go deeper than a dissertation on taxes. As is His custom, Jesus takes trick questions and uses them to teach important and even sacred spiritual truths.

In response to the question about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus inquires as to whose image is engraved upon the coin. Of course it was Caesar himself. Then Jesus answered by saying, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's”. Most everyone understands that Jesus endorsed paying taxes by this teaching, but how many people inquire as to what things are God’s? The coin had the image of Caesar imprinted upon it and therefore it belonged to Caesar. But what belongs to God?

What bears the image of God? Not coins or money, and not trees and oceans, but we are made in His image. Yes, it is we ourselves that belong to God. Completely. And when we are born again we have been bought with a price and we no longer are our own. We belong to Him whose image has been engraved upon us. The coin is of value as long as it bears the image of Caesar, and we are only valuable because the Spirit has miraculously imprinted us with the image of Christ.

Gal.6:16-18 - And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

What is Paul saying here? Does he mean physical marks? No, Paul is reaching deep into this sacred mystery which not only forgives and cleanses us, but indeed leaves us impressed with the image of our Lord and Master through the infinite power of the Holy Spirit. That God can and would impress His image upon sinners is almost beyond belief. Who among us would allow Charles Manson to have plastic surgery in order to look like you or me? Just the thought is repulsive. But God’s redemption empowered by God’s love was willing to identify with us and we with Him in a glorious mystery. And He was able to do that without violating one ounce of His holiness, and in fact the Scriptures tell us that “all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God“. So the fallen rebels are imprinted with the divine image and even that will eternally glorify Him!

You may remove your shoes as we take a step into a colossal reality that soars above what we can comprehend. Not only are we imprinted with God’s image, we will one day stand before the Sacred Lamb and we WILL BE LIKE HIM! I can barely type these words as I am being filled with emotion. To say I don’t deserve it is to minimize it since I have no earthly business expecting such things. I find in myself no good thing except Christ. Oh does it not sound like some dream or some fairy tale, and to the unbeliever it is sheer nonsense. But to us who have come to know and love the Lord Jesus and bear His image, to us it is our very life. We have invested everything in Him, and we have no future but Him!

This world cannot offer life. Our true life is hid with God in Christ awaiting our entrance into the expanse of God’s glorious throne room. Men toil for more coins and paper with men’s images upon them, but we as followers of the Christ find our life and fulfillment in Him alone. And when Jesus says that we are to give to God the things that are God’s, just what are those things? Jesus is referring to those thing which bear His image. We are to give ourselves wholly to Him as living sacrifices! It is not a chore but an immeasurable privilege.

So let men argue over taxes and morals and politics and success and all sorts of earthly endeavors. But let us be “looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith”. And let us ask, yea beg, the Holy Spirit to press down upon Christ’s image in such a way that all of us is destroyed and all of Him comes shining forth in a fallen and darkened world.

Let everything be done to His Majesties glory!!