Against All Odds

We like stories that end well. We like stories that encourage us. We like stories that show us that there is hope for ourselves, because...

Luke 23:27-28 And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28) But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

Some people say it was the Jews that crucified Jesus. Physically that is partly true. The multitude was a mixed lot. Some were there to witness the death of this radical man, to get their revenge, but... not all.

Luke 23:48 "And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts."
Not all, and it looked like the darkest day there ever could be. The darkest hour, to those who loved the Lord.

Luke 1:46-53 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48) For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. 50) And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him. 51) He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. 52) He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree. 53 ) The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

"I've never really wanted one of those fancy cars. Something that gets me from here to there--reliably--that's all right for me. But some days, I would like to have a flashy, expensive vehicle--just to see the shade of green on the faces of those folks who have treated me mean, all these years," I tell my daughter-in-law. We both laugh.

Jesus was born into a poor family, even if he was from the tribe of Judah, and a descendant of King David. He learned to work, to laugh, to love, the way we humans do. When we think of the temptations of Christ do we ever think how it would have been. He could have had money, power, prestige...without the pain, suffering, and humiliation...without the sacrifice and the cross.

John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, 25) and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.

Money and prestige can change the outside of the person, but that doesn't change the inside of a person. Jesus knew the inside. He didn't base his opinion of a person on what he saw on the outside, or upon their possessions...or lack there of.

Luke 23:21-22 but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him. 22) And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.

Why? (Pilot asks) What evil hath he done? That was the answer in a nut shell. None, no evil had he done. He was innocent. Ironic how innocence and purity make evil people so angry.

Luke 23:29-31 For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. 30) Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31) For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

The commentators say that Jesus is the good tree, the innocent pure green tree--and he didn't deserve the punishment that he got; what would be done to the wicked sinful people that deserved punishment--the dry tree--as it were. Without going into the original language I've thought the essence of the passage was: if these things are done in the good (times) what will be done when things become hard (or difficult).

Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?... Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, who stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Many were distressed when they saw the Saviour crucified, but it wasn't just the Jews that put him on that cross, it was our sins as well that put him there. Even knowing why he had to do what he had to do, why do we think it was easy for Jesus?

He knew what he had to do...and he did it...against all odds.

John 20:28 Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.