God, fools and electricians

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand.  He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.  Luke 23:6-25

As we talked about home maintenance and remodeling projects one day, a friend unabashedly confessed the limit of his expertise.  “Wiring is for God, fools and electricians!” he declared.  His point was a good one: electricity is a power of its own and disrespecting it comes at great potential cost.

I find it fascinating to watch the powers in ancient Jerusalem try to deal with – or, better yet, not deal with – the arrest and trial of Jesus.  The chief priests and the elders handed him over to Pilate.  When he heard that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate eagerly handed him over to Herod.  Unamused by the silent Messiah, Herod handed him back over to Pilate.  And despite three times declaring the charges against him to be baseless, Pilate had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.

Clearly, none of them were comfortable handling him who is all power, even though he showed no resistance.  Now, we might conclude that, given the three – God, fools and electricians – it was the fools who were in charge.  But not so.  For the night before Pilate surrendered Jesus to the will of the Jews, Jesus surrendered himself to the will of the Father.  God was in charge. 

He still is.  It may appear that fools run the world – or just our world – but all of us are subject to the sovereignty of God.  His will is done, on earth as it is in heaven.  As Jesus submitted his will to that of the Father, so can we.  So must we.   

Are you facing circumstances bigger than you?  He who holds all power is bigger still.  And he loves you.  We can trust him.

“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” – Jesus, to Pilate

[See the daily reading in Luke 23:6-25.]