Conspiracy!

Conspiracy is defined as a secret plan by a group, or the action of plotting. We all conspire at different times in our lives, and most of the time it’s pretty harmless. Take for example, the conspiracy of our three older grandsons who conspired to help our youngest grandson, Reese, get taller!

Imagine, if you can, being the youngest of four grandsons. Everyone is older, so naturally everyone is taller, but you don’t like being the smallest of the lot and you lament about your situation. Enter Drew, Cooper and Mason who dreamed up a little conspiracy to help Reese and have a little fun themselves.

Randy has an inversion table in the basement which helps with back pain. Basically, you strap yourself into the device and hang upside down for a few minutes a day. The method separates your vertebrae and helps with pain.

The boys convinced Reese that if he hung there for most of the day, he would emerge three maybe even four inches taller. They enlisted the adults to help in the conspiracy. Everytime Reese came up and walked amongst us, we would remark on how much taller he seemed! He actually left that day confident that he had grown! It was a good conspiracy.

Some conspiracies are harmless, but others can be devastating. Jesus was certainly no stranger to conspiracies, and ultimately endured crucifixion because of them. Matthew says the Pharisees went out and held a council against him about how they might destroy him. It continues to say that later They assembled together the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people in the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. The aim of these people was to make Pilate believe that Jesus was the leader of a conspiracy against the emperor.

During this year of Covid pandemic, we have heard many “conspiracy theories” making the rounds in social media, the news, and word of mouth. Pursuing and sharing these conspiracy theories eventually results in a disconnect with the word and ministry of Jesus. He would want us to concentrate more on saving the hungry, saving the church, and saving the country rather than spreading fear, suspicion and doom.

Political intrigue and conspiracy theories absolutely existed in the time of Jesus. Jesus and His disciples were surrounded by secret plots within the government and society. Jesus certainly did not direct his followers to political passivism. On the contrary, both He and the New Testament scripture seek to motivate the disciples of Jesus to political action: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

Jesus did want us to take action against the injustices happening in the world by corrupt government, officials, and other powers, but it wasn’t through the whisperings of conspiracy. His example and His instruction was one thing – pray.

Judas, his own disciple ended up being involved in the most memorable conspiracy theory, the one to betray Jesus. Some people think Judas did it for money. Some think it was because Jesus rebuked him in the House of Simon the Leper when Judas objected to the woman pouring ointment on Jesus’ feet. Whatever the reason, he conspired with the chief priests and others by kissing Jesus on the cheek signaling to them that He was the man that they wanted.

As much as we all like to think that we would never be part of a conspiracy against Jesus, we know the sad truth. In this world of today, any time we kiss Christ in outward devotion yet inwardly sell Him for the world’s silver, we are no better than Judas. We are part of the worst conspiracy. The good news is that we only have to cry out for His grace, and He will supply it.