while we were yet sinners...

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:9-10 ESV)

I read Psalm 22 tonight and it was kinda milling around in my head a bit... My thoughts wandered to the idea of God the Father willingly crushing his Son, his perfect Son whom he had enjoyed for eternity, all for a pack of good for nothing God-hating sinners. It's truly an incredible thing. I have kids, and they're by no means perfect - actually lots of times very frustrating. But I definitely don't entertain the thought of crushing them. Especially not on behalf of someone who hates me (of which, unfortunately, I'm sure there are a few). And those kids are both little sinners who whine and cry about the dumbest stuff, I love em, but some days they push it.

God the Father spent eternity being perfectly infinitely happy with Jesus before creating the world. And then he created the first man, who promptly failed to lead his wife and plunged all of humanity into death and darkness. God of course knew that this was going to happen and already planned to send his Son, his perfect Son, to die on a cross to redeem some of these wretched miserable humans. And he crushed him. Devastating punishment on the perfect Lamb of God to atone for the sins of a bunch of rebels who don't even think they need atonement. Incredible. I can't do it justice with words. So here I sit in awe of the wonderful mercy of God Most High. Moments like these make everything else seem to fade just a bit. In the light of eternity my day to day cares and tasks seem so pale.

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8 ESV)

God the Father crushed God the Son for sinners. I'm ashamed that that doesn't affect me more than it does.

God's priorities...

Then he (Jesus) began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you." (Matthew 11:20-24 ESV)

Here we have Jesus telling people that the judgement will be less for those in Sodom and Gomorrah than for those who saw Jesus' works and heard the gospel and did not repent. So what's the deal with Sodom? Here's an excerpt from the story of Lot in Genesis. Lot lived in Sodom, and a couple of angels (who have come to tell him that God is going to destroy Sodom) are staying at his house. This is what the men of Sodom get up to:

'But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them."' (Genesis 19:4-5 ESV)

For those curious as to what "that we may know them" refers to I direct you to the account of Adam and Eve.

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD." (Genesis 4:1 ESV)

The men of Sodom are planning on raping Lot's guests.

So here we have Jesus telling the cities he's visited that the judgement will be easier for Sodom than for them. Shocking stuff.

God is more angry about the rejection of the saving work of Christ than he is about rape.

Flee the wrath to come. Repent.

P.S.

Now of course it should also be noted that God also wiped out Sodom with fire and brimstone, so I'm not downplaying the seriously evil abhorrent nature of rape. The point stands, however.