Praise to King Jesus!

It has come to this.

An innocent man brutally beaten and killed. Mocked and embarrassed. Strung up to show those passing by what real power looks like.

The powerful religious leaders had quite enough of his mercy and love. It was an affront to their holiness.

The politics of the empire couldn’t stand aside and let someone else claim to be king, even if the claims were made without threat of violence or revolt.

And so Jesus was murdered by the state.

Because love in a world of hate and cruelty is too blindingly bright it hurts the eyes, and it must be snuffed out.

Because you can’t be associating with those people without sullying the good name of the respectable.

Because the poor can’t have such a staunch advocate.

Because law and order.

Because religious power.

Because human shame.

Because God loves the world. And entered into it to draw us to God’s self. And it was too much to bear.

Because God doesn’t lift a hand or fight back, given that the violence has been the problem from the beginning.

Because God does not fear the other.

Because God does not fear contamination.

Because God does not loath the unholy.

Because God welcomes everyone to the table.

Because in the Kingdom of God, sacrifice is power, and forgiveness is the way.

Because God was always going to face down evil once and for all, and the Kingdom of God has come near.

It has come to this.