Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Muhammad Ali Complex

In memory, rather mournful celebration, of the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I spent today reading the accounts of the Betrayal, Prayer, False Trial, Crucifixion and Burial of the Messiah throughout the Gospels.

There were a couple occasions where I got a little choked up. The King, Creator and Sustainer of everything that everything that ever was, everything that is and everything that ever will be gruesomely died a shameful and painful death to bear the sin of those who have hated him, of whom I am included.

"So forever will I tell, In three hours, Christ suffered more than any sinner ever will in hell."*

Betrayed, torn, beaten, mocked, stripped, blasphemed, falsely tried, ridiculed, hated and left to die the horrific death of the Cross. He knew that was coming: "And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!'"
Basically, "Guys, my blood will be shed as I drink the Cup of the Wrath of God. Not only that, but it will be made possible since one of you, my twelve closest friends, are going to betray me."
And what was their reaction?
"It's not me!"
"Well, Peter, I'll tell you for sure it's not me!"
"Woah, Thomas, don't give me that look, it's not me! Nobody loves Jesus more than me!"
"Hey, hey John... what are you getting at. My mom already talked to him about making me one of the greatest!"
"Hey Jesus, I'll drink the cup with you."
"Sit down Peter. You bark's bigger than your bite. Besides, I'm going to be the greatest!"

I call it the Muhammad Ali Complex: "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was." Sinful arrogance.

AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED!!! This makes the second time in Luke that Christ prophesied of His death and they just turn to arguing about who's going to be the greatest!!! (Luke 9:44-46)

Momentarily, I was appalled. In the shadow of the most selfless act that ever was and ever will be, in the presence of the most Humble Servant ever, they were filled with pride and arrogance. Don't they know this is The Last Supper??? Don't they get it that Jesus is going to be crucified??? Then, it dawned on me. We do the same thing, if not worse. We've got the 20-20 hindsight view of the Work of Jesus Christ and we do the exact same thing!!!

We love the limelight. We love to show off our Spiritual Gifts as if they are produced by us in the first place! We argue and bicker about who will be the greatest among men. We paint amazing facades to cover our broken reality just to make think people think we are sweet!

Apart from Jesus Christ, WE ARE NOTHING!!!!!! Again, apart from Jesus Christ, WE ARE LESS THAN NOTHING!!!!!!

How dare we assume our works are anything more than menstrual rags (Isaiah 64:6) and feces (Philippians 3:8) before God! "Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God."(Hebrews 11:6) The only thing that makes me righteous is the Work of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection!!! My works become a sweet smelling savor before God because it is the Holy Spirit doing it through me!

Let us not only be thankful but also humbled as we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Messiah. And, as Jesus Christ served and suffered for others, let us serve one another in true, Spirit-worked humility.




* This is from one of the most theologically packed musicians I have ever heard, Shai Linne.

The Cross (3 Hours) by Shai Linne

Verse 1
There’s something you gotta see, journey with me
It’s approximately 30 A.D.
In the land of Israel- the city of Jerusalem
But on the outside there’s screams and loud cries
Through faith, this scene can be seen without eyes
The mean shout lies and seem to sound wise
As we inch through the crowd, we need to be cautious
A Roman execution, men on three crosses
But all the focus is on the one in the center
The gate closes behind you- no one can enter
The sight you behold is so odd, you’re stunned
The man hanging on the cross is God the Son
12 noon, it’s pitch-black because the sunshine’s lacking
Your minds can’t fathom this divine transaction
As slowly the sound becomes mostly drowned
You realize that you’re standing on holy ground

Bridge

So forever will I tell
In three hours, Christ suffered more than any sinner ever will in hell (4x)

Chorus
It’s where we see Your holiness- at the cross
We see that You’re controlling this- at the cross
We see how You feel about sin- at the cross
Your unfathomable love for men- at the cross
It’s where we see Your sovereignty- at the cross
We see our idolatry- at the cross
We know that there’s a judgment day- from the cross
May we never take our eyes away- from the cross

Verse 2

We’re now in the realm of the sublime and profound
With God at the helm it’s about to go down
The Father’s wrath precise will blast and slice
The priceless Master Christ as a sacrifice
Willingly, He’s under the curse
To be treated as if the Son was the worst scum of the earth
The scene is the craziest
Jesus being treated as if He is the shadiest atheist
How is it the Messiah is in the fiery pit
As if He was a wicked liar with twisted desires?
The One who’s sinless and just
Punished as if He was promiscuous and mischievous with vicious lust
The source of all godly pleasure
Tormented as if He was a foul investor or child molestor
How could He be bruised like He was a goodie two-shoes
who doesn’t think that she needs the good news?
He’s perfect in love and wisdom
But He’s suffering as if He constructed the corrupt justice system
We should mourn at the backdrop
Jesus torn like He’s on the corner with crack rock with porn on His laptop
What is this, kid? His gifts are infinite
But He’s hit with licks for religious hypocrites
He’s the Light, but being treated like
He’s the seedy type who likes to beat His wife
He’s treated like a rapist, treated like a slanderer
Treated like a racist or maybe a philanderer
Jesus being penalized like He had sin inside
Filled with inner pride while committing genocide
I could write for a billion years and still can’t name
All of the sins placed on the Lamb slain
But know this: the main thing the cross demonstrated
The glory and the holiness of God vindicated.

1 comment:

D.I.D.A.C.T.I.C. said...

Just want to point out that that bridge comes from another theologically-dense rapper, Timothy Brindle, and his song The Humility of Christ.