Collisions, collusions and cooperation

by Hugh Jenkins

Considering, and in a sense participating in, the events that led up to Jesus’ crucifixion (which has been the recent experience in Holy Week for many of us), I kept noticing how two powers collided. Inevitably, they ran into each other because they were both affected by Jesus and fundamentally disagreed with one another. Their worldviews were vastly different. These are the Jewish and Roman systems.

Jewish leadership held some power. They had moral authority and a particular place within the Roman world because of their monotheism, and the high priest and the Sanhedrin wielded influence. Of course, this power was at times subjugated by the Roman Empire’s control, as expressed in the office of the procurator (Pontius Pilate at that time); the tax collection system; the army; and methods in the “justice” system, which included executing problematic people on crosses.

We may wonder what the Roman garrison’s viewpoint was when “a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people” (Matthew 26:47) headed out of town towards the Mount of Olives. They surely became highly alert and ready for probable trouble. We may feel slightly sorry for Pilate because he gets an early morning wakeup involving a highly charged and intricate Jewish question, in which the death penalty is demanded for a Jew by the Jewish leaders. We may feel like we listen in on Jesus’ trials and notice how Jewish leaders gang up on one of their own and then need the Romans to collude with them to get the death penalty.

Then we witness a cruel paradox: the one who is not acknowledged to be Messiah by the Jewish authorities is presented as king of the Jews to the Roman governor. Yet, “King of the Jews” presents Jesus as Messiah, while simultaneously presenting him as an upstart against Rome.

The Jewish leaders collude with those who oppress them. Rather than colliding because of their different viewpoints, the powers in Judea collude: Jew and Gentile, Jerusalem and Rome. If we look widely enough to include powers and principalities that include evil spiritual forces, prejudiced group thinking, degenerated religious systems and unhelpful cultural patterns, we view a web of collusion.

The strange reality is that Jesus’ crucifixion came about because of cooperation between very unlikely partners. The parallels to current world events and interpersonal relationships are evident. From wars to suspect tenders, we see strange partners. The collusion causes trouble. All this is part of systems similar to those that had a bearing on Jesus’ death.

The unlikely cooperations readily lead to collisions, though. Those brought together by a common enemy or making money may butt into each other.

Our call is not only to cooperate with those who are like us or with whom we have a common foe. We need better motives than collusion. I share two attitudes that I have been seeking to foster in recent years that help me and may help others.

The first is to seek to understand viewpoints with which I majorly differ. When I tried to understand why Russia had invaded Ukraine, I got a wider perspective without agreeing with the invasion. I also tried to put myself in Ukrainian shoes. It is not possible to look in depth at all issues that come to our attention, but we will grow if we aim to understand different viewpoints and the motivations behind them.

As Jesus brought a new viewpoint on many matters, and ended up on a cross because many refused to look with new inner eyes, we will probably be more open to Jesus by being willing to seek to understand those who differ from us.

The second is to seek to respond to others with love, including those with whom I disagree greatly. Love isn’t usually soft in such situations. Rather, I find that considering what is most loving in a situation helps me enormously. It continues to be a simple (in the midst of many complexities) and helpful challenge.

In all our differences, we can readily collide, collude or cooperate. If we follow Jesus, we will especially love!