In repentance for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah in attempting to cover his tracks, King David cried out to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” Psalms 51:4 (NIV)
“Against you, you only…” How so? What about Bathsheba? What about Uriah? Hey David, what about all your trusting family and friends and a nation that looked to you for godly leadership? Did you not also sin terribly against them by what you did?
Perhaps David was getting a faint glimpse of the reality Jesus spoke of when he said: “‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”(Matthew 25:40 (ESV))
But let’s first ask the question: when is someone or some aspect of creation being sinned against?
I think we could say that it is when what is done contravenes the purposes of God for what or who is affected by the action.
Since the Fall, we could say that some aspects of creation are here for the sole purpose of our getting rid of them such as wildlife when it becomes a menace, destructive rodents, plants, or insects. God’s purpose is also fulfilled when we do all necessary killing for food. “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” (Genesis 9:3 (NIV)) Then I think there is also a place in God’s purpose for mercy killing to alleviate animal suffering.
But whenever anything is done that contravenes God’s purpose for the life in question, here’s what I think happens: Jesus identifies himself with whatever it is, so much so, that what is done is being done to him.
If we are willing to see it, this is what I think we’ll see. Our sin broke the purpose of God for what we victimized, which is to say that, to some degree, we shed its blood — we took away its life.
And this gives rise to a shocking paradox: Jesus, in identification with what we victimized, says to us through our victim’s suffering, “this is my body, broken for you. This is my blood, shed for you.”
Wait a minute. I know what I did, but “for YOU”?
His reply, in effect is: “Yes, for you. What you did, you actually did to me. This very body you broke and blood you shed is me giving my life for you — for your salvation, the salvation of you having your pride so shattered that it can never rise again.”
Let it be said once and for all: Christ crucified is the final and only hope for us and all fallen humanity. There simply is no other god who has done nor can do what it takes to save us from our damning pride. But even so, there is no room for despair. All that we have victimized will be redeemed for Jesus rose from the dead and the day is coming when he will wipe away all our tears at what he calls “the renewal of all things.” (Matthew 19:28)
