The cross was a full scale rebellion against the deranged ways of the world. Those words seem strange as I type them.
Along with so many others, I love a good film about rebelling against an oppressive system. Those movies glamorize the courage that it would take to stand up to a corrupt system that governs the world and the movies show (to some degree) that a cost is always paid to express that courage. I can enjoy the "rebellion" from a safe seat in my living room.
The real "rebellion" is never safe and never trendy. There is sweat (and blood) that is spent in real change that brings lasting hope.
What was it in Jesus where he knew he was subverting the desires (however twisted) and power structures of the people he lived among, but was not arrogant? In fact, Jesus' "rebellion" was an overflow of his humility... his "made himself nothing"-ness. (see Philippians 2)
To really, truly love is to subvert in a way that pierces the heart of sin and points to a better Way. It has to start with my own treasured selfishness.
Jesus' life and his death subvert the world's selfish, destructive, and ignorant desires that become actions that become institutionalized. The world hated him, misunderstood him and forgot about the authentic "him." We still do. But his subversion was never selfish. He was never trying to be a "hero" in order to gain the affections of mankind by his power to have courage. His "rebellion" was never, even for a moment, an attempt to make his life worth living in his own mind. His defiance was filed by humility. His courage to stand up to injustice found its source in untainted love.
It was an act of love to his Father and an act of love to a world that wants to hate him. The love that led Jesus to the cross humbly subverts my puny, self absorbed desires and awakens in me that same kind of loving rebellion that drives me to fight against the oppressive system built by my own sin...even if that system (for now) is just inside me.
[Father, teach us to grieve. Teach us too love with so much depth that we want better for the people around us than the selfish desires that we all cling to. Please break our hearts and open our eyes. Please give us such an overwhelming amount of your grace that we have the courage to turn our back on world ways and trust you...even if it means to lovingly and humbly, reject the ways that seem so much like "common sense."]
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