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From the beginning of His public ministry, “the Man who would not be king” becomes a dominant theme in the life of Jesus. Remember the temptation story? Before He began to preach and teach, Jesus went into the desert to reflect on the mission He was about to undertake. He was living in a time of political turmoil. There was a need for a strong king. This is what the people were dreaming about and hoping for and praying for. And the temptation that came to Jesus was to be that king …

First, came the appeal to use economic power. “Command these stones to turn into bread,” the Devil said. In other words, “Feed your hungry people and they will do whatever you say.” This temptation was not about hunger, really. It had to do with the possibility of kingship.

Secondly, the devil appealed to the use of Jesus’ charismatic power to impress the people. “Dazzle the people by jumping off the pinnacle of…