Text: Mark 14:12-25
For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Mark 14:21
If we had an illusion of any semblance of control over our would, I think we would all be quick to agree that it has been shattered. Rich, poor, politician, professional athlete, doctor, or student—everyone is being impacted by the COVID-19 virus or the reaction to the threat.
Our world is broken. Terribly broken. Despite our wonderful modern medical technologies, thousands have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and many have died. Despite our well-functioning, transparent, efficient, and fair capital markets, billions of dollars are being lost daily in the stock market. Where is the all-knowing, loving God in the midst of all this pain and suffering?
People are quick to blame God when things go wrong. Is the suffering and loss evidence that God is cruel or unfair? Has He determined what will happen, thus making free will and personal responsibility a cosmic joke?
I think we can find the answers in our text. What a paradox we see—the Son of Man will go to the cross, betrayed by a close friend, in fulfillment of prophetic Scripture; and yet Judas is fully culpable for the act and cannot escape individual responsibility for what he does. God's divine providence does not destroy our freedom. Rather, divine providence takes our freedom into account and, in the infinite wisdom of God, sets a course to fulfill God’s will.
"Whose fault is it then? It's our fault. Sin has broken our world. The pain, suffering, and death that we see are the result of that sin. Humans chose to disobey, and the suffering we see and experience is a consequence of that rebellion against our Creator. We are all sinners. It is our rebellion that broke God’s creation and brought suffering into the world. Sin must be judged. That is just and right. However, our God is not only the righteous Judge, He is also a God of love. Even before the foundation of the world, God had a plan"1:
Mark 14:24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Jesus took the judgment we deserved for our sins. "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed"(Isaiah 53:5).
COVID-19 and the groaning world around us is an ever-present reminder of the horrible price of sin. Praise God for Jesus and for hope in Him! Things may not always work out the way we wish for them to work out in this life, but I promise you based upon the truth of Scripture, and specifically Revelation 21:4-5, that it all will work out in the end for those who humbly turn to Jesus!
Revelation 21:4-5 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
1Tommy Mitchell, MD, speaker for Answers in Genesis
