The death of Jesus on the cross is utterly confounding; affronting our sensibilities of justice. How can this bloody mess of a man be our conquering king? How can this victimized, brutalized plebeian be our savior? But he is. Wholly and completely. And the universe bows to him.

This was not what was expected. 400 years of the silence of God was endured for greater things than this! Surely the journey of the Children of God would climax with triumph at last and with victory over their oppressors. Where is their conquering king? Where is their righteous reckoning?

And what of us today? We wait and long for things to be made right. This isn’t how it is supposed to be. Death and sorrow, hate and betrayal are defining characteristics of our day and age. Where is our righteous reckoning?

Just like the Jews of the Old Testament, we look toward the return of the King with hopes that the Lion of Judah will stride in with his judgments and pronounce to all those deserving of wrath their sentence. The putting of all things to rights is what we are eager to see. But why do we think our story will be different from the Jews’ story? Why do we think the second coming of Jesus will be a fiery, wrath-filled, venge-fest where old scores are finally settled once and for all? Isn’t that the same hope the Jews had? Weren’t they disappointed?