John Howard Yoder's The Politics Of Jesus

John Howard Yoder’s book, “The Politics of Jesus,” is clearly not about politics, as we know it in America today. There are no Republican, Democratic, Tea Party, or Libertarian messages here. Rather, Yoder’s politics of Jesus centers on our interactions with those around us and how we, as Christians, should take a passive attitude whenever possible. Yoder provides the reader an understanding of Jesus and His public life to highlight the importance of social ethics to Jesus. In addition, Yoder puts forth the case that Jesus’ teaching of how Christians should lead their lives is still relevant to today’s society. As Hauerwas states, “Christian ethical behavior cannot be simply to assume a loving attitude; it must adhere to and locate the self

By this, Yoder means that the story of Jesus ends with the cross because it was the fulfillment of His life and of His mission. Jesus was bringing to His followers the message of new social and political relationships. Jesus’ death on the cross was His punishment for threatening society by leading a radically new way of life and by creating a new kind of society. Jesus accepted the cross as His fate and never faltered from that acceptance. Jesus warns his disciples not to follow Him without recognizing the risk, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple… And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Luke 14:25-33). We often hear people talking about “the cross that they have to bear” but the cross of Jesus is not an illness, a bad family situation, or a loss of money. The cross that Yoder speaks of is socio-political. It pertains to the interaction of social and political factors and the repercussion resulting from conflicts with the ruling institutions of

Subordination means the acceptance of an existing order that takes on new meaning when done with willingness and purpose. Revolutionary means radical and ground- breaking. Subordination is a revolutionary behavior that we can use to deal with a worldly system that is based on materialistic things. A path to the cross provides the greatest example of revolutionary subordination. Jesus himself accepted subordination so that we could have a strong example to follow. Revolutionary subordination, in the context of the life of Jesus, is anchored in Jesus’ path to the cross, His challenge to status quo, and His acceptance of subordination (Yoder 186). Following His example, a person can be enabled to accept a subordinate position in society without resentment. At the same time, a person in position of power is called to give up all use of that power. In Luke Ch 22, “The King of the Gentiles lauded over them, and those in authority are benefactors…greatest must become the least, the leader should be the one who serves” (Luke 22:25-27). Jesus calls us to live up to our relationships with those around us and not necessarily live up to our positions in life. Subordinates are moral agents who can take control of the opportunity to make moral decisions and not just let fate make that choice. (Yoder