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How can one reconcile the
political nature of Jesus with his disinclination to power? Moore's argument
comes in three stages. Part one answers the question ‘Was Jesus Political?' by
examining Jesus' words and actions that have political import. Part twoaddresses the issue ‘How was Jesus
Political?' It concentrates on Mark 10:32-45 as a real articulation of Jesus'
political praxis that is consistent throughout Jesus' ministry and teaching. Part
three, ‘Why did Jesus not openly announce his political role?' examines Jesus'
treatment of the Jewish kings of the past, particularly why Jesus, ‘meek and
mild,' could claim to surpass them in honor.
It is argued that Jesus'
disinclination to associate himself with other rulers is not a rejection of a
political role. Rather, he lived so consistently with his political praxis of
self-abnegation that these other rulers were not appropriate models for Jesus
to follow. Furthermore, the very claim to such titles was antithetical to his
political praxis which relinquished all aggrandizement to God, who alone could
exalt, abase, judge, and rule.
