the violent nature of humanity

Wednesday March 31st, Luke 22: 41 He pulled away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 "Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?" 43 At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. 44 He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.45 He got up from prayer, went back to the disciples and found them asleep, drugged by grief. 46 He said, "What business do you have sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won't give in to temptation." Why did Jesus have to die? Was it to appease an angry god? Was it to atone for our sins for all time, the perfect sacrificial offering, which is also appeasing a blood thirsty god? Was it to show the way to obedience? Or was it the only thing humanity could, and still can, understand? Perhaps it has less to do with the violent nature of god than with the violent nature of humanity. Jesus died to show us that even death has no power over us. Jesus died to show is that confronting the systems of oppression in this world is what we are called to do. Jesus died to show us the gift and hope of new life that is manifest in the here and now. Jesus died to show the brutal lengths humanity will go to maintain control. Jesus died, for you, for me, and for those who will never in their life admit that Jesus is Lord.