Ebook: Kenotic Politics: The Reconfiguration of Power in Jesus’ Political Praxis

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