It is Saturday of the Passover week, and many of the enemies of Jesus are feeling smug. Annas, Caiaphas, and their inner circle are sitting fat and happy on this Sabbath day. Why?
- They swore they would not allow Jesus to be their king.
- They swore they would not submit to his leadership, authority, “bonds” or “cords.”
- They put together an international coalition — Jews and Romans worked together.
- They raged against Jesus.
- They took counsel together.
- They plotted plotted Jesus’ demise.
- They were determined to rid themselves of the one called by John, “Anointed One.”
- They pulled off their plan; it worked out faster and better than they imagined.
- Jesus was betrayed.
- Jesus was humiliated.
- Jesus was sentenced.
- Jesus was publicly paraded and crucified; a clear message was given on that hill.
- His disciples were nowhere to be found.
- His ministry or kingdom momentum was at a stand-still.
- Jesus was rotting in a borrowed, well-guarded, tomb.
- Jesus was no longer a threat to their position, power, popularity, and profit.
Finally, they can get back to life as usual. Finally, they are free to forget Jesus, enjoy the favor of Rome, make much of their religious traditions, and bask in the notoriety of being the “kings and rulers” of Jerusalem.
However, not all those who participated in the ambush of Jesus are coldly content. Some are troubled. Some cannot get over what they just witnessed.
We can imagine one such man getting up on this Saturday Sabbath and reading the scroll of David. For some reason he makes his way to reading the second Psalm. This is what he hears:
The Question
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? (Psalm 2:1)
The Situation
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” (Psalm 2:2-3)
The Father’s Present Posture
He who sits in the heavens laughs. (Psalm 2:4a)
The Father, Son, and Spirit know what is getting ready to happen tomorrow — on Easter Sunday. They also know that which is getting ready to happen over the upcoming centuries. The “fun” is just beginning. The future is bright for Christ and his kingdom!
The Father’s Ongoing Posture
The Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:4-6)
Notice, how the Father is angry, but hold his anger. Instead, he speaks to them. He preaches to them of his fury and his King. Jesus is destined to sit on his holy hill.
The Son’s Present Posture
I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalm 2:7-9)
The Anointed Son speaks and reminds all of the unbreakable promise given to him by his Heavenly Father. He is the Begotten Son. He will have an international, multi-ethnic kingdom that spreads across the entire planet. And his enemies, they will be terminated.
The Unfathomable and Gracious Invitation
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:10-12)
It is not too late. Deserved termination can be avoided. Kings and rulers who have rebelled, denounced, covenanted against, plotted, and crucified the Anointed One, they can repent and be blessed by the angry, long-suffering, merciful, and gracious God. Insolent rebels do do not have to perish. They do not have to suffer the wrath of the Father and the Son. All they must do is “kiss the Son.”
This religious and rank anti-Christ, he was internally crushed. He was one who boldly yelled, “Give us Barabbas!.” His voice was heard crying, “Crucify him; crucify him!” Arrogantly and foolishly he had screamed, “May his blood be on me and all my children.” Then, with cold, apathetic, flippancy he was one who had lined the streets to see the bloody and beaten Jesus pass. He had joined in with the audience — mocking, jeering, and wagging their tongues.
However, he had noticed the poise of the prophet. He had heard him utter forth words of prayer from the cross and heard him grant undeserved forgiveness to those standing below and hanging beside. Then the skies darkened and the earth shook. Jesus then gave up his own life — in his own way and own timing, and at the same time the temple veil was ripped in two from the top to the bottom.
He could not deny this.
He could not shake this.
If only he could repent and fall before the Lord. If only he could kiss the Son, he could receive undeserved mercy and unfathomable grace. If only he and his children could escape wrath and receive blessing. If only Jesus were alive, but it’s Saturday, and Jesus is defeated, dead, and decaying.
Or is he? Sunday’s coming!
Unfathomable Grace 