God in the Hands of Angry Sinners, Part 2

In today’s reading from Mark 15, we continue to see what it looks like when God is in the hands of angry sinners.  As I’ve considered what this means, I realized something – the trial and crucifixion of Jesus was the only time that I can think of when God willingly gave himself over to people and effectively said, “Do with me what you want.” We continue to see the depravity of the human heart when left to our own devices.  We continue to see the depth of our sin.  We continue to see the wickedness of hearts and minds that have not been redeemed by Jesus.

On Facebook today, Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA wrote something that I think cuts to the heart of the matter here in Mark 15: "Don't decide based on your best interest or whatever is easiest.  Always ask, 'What would be most glorifying to God?'  If you ask the right question, you get the right answer."  

All throughout the Passion Narrative in each of the four Gospels, and here in Mark 15, we see people making decisions about Jesus based on their own best interest and what seems easiest to them.  The Jews have decided that Jesus is a threat to religious power and control. The Romans have decided that Jesus is a threat to their political power and control. We see it in v.v. 9&10, when Mark says of the charade that was Jesus’ trial, “’Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.”  In their own self interest, they decided that the easiest thing to do would be to kill Jesus. 

In v.v. 11-15, the chief priests convinced Pilate to hand over the true criminal, Barabbas, for release and to crucify Jesus.  The wickedness continues through the mocking of Jesus by the Roman soldiers, right through the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

Are we still really so vain and foolish to think it’s a good idea to make God into what we want Him to be, instead of humbly submitting to the glory, majesty, holiness and mercy of God and becoming instead what He wants us to be?  Because we see the results of what happens when we live for our own self-interest and what’s easiest.   We see the results of what happens when we try to fashion God into something we want Him to be.  When we try to control God, the only thing that’s revealed is the wickedness and depravity of our own hearts and minds. 

Following Jesus, and submitting to his will and living for God’s glory isn’t easy.  It isn’t comfortable.  It isn’t popular.  Jesus said it himself in Matthew 7:13&14 - “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Asking what is most glorifying to God, and actually living it out, is a narrow road.  But it’s a road that leads to life.  Perhaps one of the most striking things about the Passion narrative is this: Even in the midst of our depravity and wickedness, even in the midst of our rejection of the Giver of Life, God is still in control.  God is still at work loving us and desiring reconciliation with us.  This is what the cross is about – the glory of God’s triumphant love and power poured out for the forgiveness of our sins, even in the midst of the worst wickedness we can muster.