Made in God’s image
by Pastor Fraser Pearce
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Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:17).
Read Mark 12:13–27
Today is Reformation Day. At the heart of the Reformation is the message that we are right with God, not because of anything we could do, but because he has given us his Son who has paid our debt, washed us clean and brought us back to God. As we trust in Christ, we receive the freedom to live as sons and daughters in God’s family rather than slaves of a harsh taskmaster.
In his ministry, Jesus faced times when he was tested by people who wanted to justify themselves – who wanted to be sure of their own rightness by trapping him in some way. In today’s reading, we hear of people who want to trip Jesus up on the question of paying tax to the Roman authorities. They ask a question about whether it is right to pay tax to the emperor – a pagan man who oppressed God’s people with his imperial power. Jesus’ opponents want to make Jesus seem either too willing to go along with corrupt earthly power (and so lose his influence over the people) or too willing to take a revolutionary stance against the authorities (and so face the brutal legal consequences).
Jesus shows that he is right with God in the wisdom of his reply. First, he gets his opponents to show him a coin (which they are carrying – he is not). Then, he asks them whose image and inscription are on the coin. Of course, it is the image and inscription of Caesar, the emperor, so Jesus says that the coin should be given to Caesar. But then he says that what belongs to God should be given to God.
What belongs to God? You do. You are made in God’s image. What’s more, you have been bought by God not with gold or silver but with the precious blood of Christ. Your Lord Jesus willingly gave himself to his Father, and in Christ, you have been given to the Father, who will keep you as his treasured possession.
Father, thank you that I am made in your image. Thank you that your name was inscribed on me in holy baptism. Since I belong to you, please give me your Spirit so I may live wisely. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Fraser Pearce grew up in Sydney and has served as a pastor in Melbourne, Bendigo and Adelaide. He is married to Margaret, and they have four children ranging in age from 15 to 23. Fraser enjoys being with family and friends, listening to (and playing) music and reading.
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