Being a Non-Conformist

Mark 10:13-14: "Later they (the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders) sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, 'Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.'"


As Jesus quickly approached the end of His earthly ministry, He knew that He was completing the work to which the Father had called Him [namely His death and resurrection] (John 17:4). Those in political and religious authority in Jerusalem had kindled a vehement hatred for Jesus, seeking ways to arrest Him (Mark 12:12) and ultimately kill Him (Mark 11:18). Their motivation to destroy Jesus was fueled by their fear that Jesus' questioning of their sinful ways was eroding the esteem and the power that they enjoyed among the community.


Still, Jesus was not willing to go along with the community that praised these "leaders" who saturated their souls with pride; instead, He would warn the people to watch out for these men, because in their arrogance, they "liked to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets." When Jesus announced that these hypocrites and vipers would be punished severely for their sins, He in effect was throwing down the gauntlet that challenged the customs of a nation that exalted men consumed with personal adulation and domination (see Matthew 23). These leaders would not tolerate such perceived insurrection.


In response to Jesus' questioning of their authority and respect, these elders, noblemen, and priests sent a delegation of Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in an attempt to get Him to say something against the Roman government and thus be subject to prosecution by the Roman Procurator, Pilate. In their platitudinous exchange with Jesus, these delegates ascribed to Jesus the position of "teacher of integrity." They also recognized that Jesus was a man who was not swayed by the "impressive status" of men; instead, He "taught the way of God in accordance with the truth."


The irony in this attestation by these leaders was the truth in the declaration. The delegation and their elders knew the truth. They knew that Jesus was getting to the heart of their sin by His unwillingness to play along with the societal rules that exalted their status. These leaders knew that they had acquired their positions of power and prestige through unholy means; the problem was that these leaders loved their status. They loved it so much that they would destroy anyone who would attempt to challenge it.


What is noteworthy is the fact that the Herodians and the Pharisees would form an alliance in order to destroy Jesus. The worldly Herodians, who enjoyed the luxuries of their affluence would have been despised by the ascetic Pharisees, who thrived on the recognition that they received from their strict religious practices. Seldom, if ever, would these two groups have gotten together unless it was to attack one another. But now, they shared a common enemy in Jesus . . . the One who would not play along with the cultural mores of the time. These two groups shared a common perception that Jesus was a threat to their power and prestige; and for this reason, they agreed that He must be destroyed.


As we look at this episode, we must see in Jesus a non-conformist, who would not succumb to the normative patterns of a people, if it countered the way and truth of God. Jesus knew that the swollen pride and arrogance of these men was a demonstration of defiance against the glory of the One True Lord. He knew that these religious leaders would desire their own lordship above all others; and for this reason, they needed to be labelled as such.

As we continue to be light reflectors of the Lord (Proverbs 4:18), we must remember that we must walk in righteousness and obedience to God, even though that path might not be popular. Just because a societal pattern is overwhelmingly accepted, it does not necessarily mean that it is right. Let us be driven by principle and not the need for acceptance. Even though we may have to endure persecution, let us continue to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).