Jesus and the End of Religion

 

The "Good News" is proclaimed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

 

At the heart of Jesus' teaching was the arrival and dawn of God's reign ("The Kingdom of God") (Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:18-19; 17:21) which spoke directly to the Jewish hope of his time. The Palestine region was dominated by the religion of Judaism and the political control of the Roman Empire. The religious structures often legitimized oppression, including that which came from the much despised Romans. A clear distinction between the powerful and the powerless was evident. Jesus ministered at the fringes of Jewish life and religion, and proclaimed a new world order where people mattered more than oppressive institutions, traditions, and Law (Luke 18:9-14; 10:25-27; 15:11-32). There was now a new authority and ethics (Matthew 5-7), and the emergence of a time when religion would be irrelevant (John 4:20-21: 5:17; Galatians 3:28). Jesus demonstrated these values in his relationships. Ignoring distinctions and labels he ate with the non-religious (i.e. "sinners") (Matthew 11:19) and himself had the reputation of a sinner. Many times Jesus contravened the religious standards of his days (John 5:2-18; Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 7:1-23; Matthew 8:5-13; Mark 7:24-30; Mark 11:12-19).

 

Jesus wanted to reform Judaism, but soon realized that this was not possible (Matthew 9:16-17; 23:37-39). Eventually he made the trip to Jerusalem for a showdown with the religious establishment. He went so far as to predict the downfall of Jerusalem and Judaism as it was then structured (Mark 13). The religious leaders were threatened by the disgruntled masses, and now by Jesus in particular. Either Jesus must die, or the Jewish religion and nation will perish (John 11:50; Deuteronomy 13:1-5). In a radical move (certainly not in keeping with what was expected of a Messiah) Jesus himself accepted the wrath of the Romans and the Jewish elite that was typically directly against all the people who were increasingly frustrated at their oppression. Jesus allowed himself to be killed for the sake of the nation and their sins.

 

The resurrection vindicated Jesus' death. Otherwise the cross appeared to his disciples as a disaster. They were scared and they hid. Nothing less than a bombshell event could get them to carry on the work of Jesus. Suddenly Jesus' death had new meaning - it signified the death of religion (Mark 15:38; Ephesians 2:14-16; Romans 10:4; 1 Corinthians 15:17). This is because the resurrection proved that you could resist the power of religion and oppressive institutions and live to tell about it! Resurrection was the most powerful message possible of new life and freedom apart from the Law (i.e. religion). There were new understandings of God's presence, death, and how God's love and favor are now available to everyone.

 

In light of Jesus' life, death and resurrection we also need to radically re-examine the Christian religion.

 

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