Humility: On Being Bent
Bent (British Slang): morally crooked, corrupt, dishonest, especially of a person in a position of authority
Compelling crime stories, especially it seems to me, British TV crime stories, almost always involve the possibility of police corruption. Good detectives, in pursuit of a known suspect, must follow police procedure. If the perpetrator has been arrested before, the details of his or her arrest, will have been reported, logged, and catalogued by the arresting officer. Sometimes, when certain reports consistently lack necessary detail, suspicion is raised and begs the question, “Do yous think Micky O’Malley is a bent copper?!”
At the heart of the most compelling murder mysteries is the layered revelation that, while Micky O’Malley might very well be bent, nearly every person connected to the villain is suspect. The dodgy spouse or best friend, the nosy next door neighbor, and even random acquaintances. Often, not until the second or third round of interviews does the truth finally emerge.
One character admits to lying about his whereabouts on the night in question, the felon’s wife has been covering up the affair she is having with her husband’s best friend. The best friend is skimming money from the till to pay for his gambling habit. The copper in question appeared bent only because she was working undercover. In the end, only one person is charged for the crime.
But the discovery process leaves no doubt, everyone is bent.
As we take the final steps in this season of Lent, the final steps that Jesus took to Golgotha, it is very important for us to remember that every last one of us, except Jesus, is bent. The true story of the whole world hides nothing and holds nothing back. Humankind, from beginning to end, rebels and revolts, murders and cheats. The Bible, in provocative ways, introduces us to people who lust and lie, rant and rave, blame and accuse, take advantage and destroy—people just like me and you.
The Via Dolorosa: The Usual Suspects
In the hours before Jesus was nailed to the cross, he was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, mocked, beaten, and stripped by his captors, unfairly questioned, seized by the ruling Jewish council, and delivered to be crucified by Caesar’s right-hand-man. Citizens from every class, scribes and pharisees, soldiers and Centurions, a Jewish king, religious high priest, and Rome’s gentile governor feed the angry mob. Crucify him! Crucify him!
Everyone is bent.
Golgotha: Crucified
As Jesus hung in agony on the cross so did two criminals, one on his right and one on his left. As they hung, suspended above the crowd, Jesus, with labored breath, looked at the madness below and prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” One of the criminals hanging next to him, railed, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
The other rebuked him, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
Oh the irony…a common criminal, a petty thief, sees through the deception and states the truth about Jesus. The Suffering Servant, arms outstretched, is suspended against the backdrop of this bloody and vile scene.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
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.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:3–6)
This common, nameless criminal is the only person in this raucous, riotous, spitting mad throng who saw through the rage. He was the only one who knew his rightful place. In humility, he admits his wrong and with just enough breath in his lungs, he makes one request of Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus, as only Jesus can do, makes a promise, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
You see it was not the crowd, the scribes or the pharisees, Herod or Pontus Pilate that sent Jesus to the cross. It was God.
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.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:10–11).
From Bent to Broken
Everyone … everyone except Jesus … is bent. This Jesus in the face of injustice, prays that the Father would forgive those who called for his crucifixion and, in one last act of grace before he dies, Jesus promises this common criminal a place in his kingdom.
Do you know this Jesus who loves you and poured out his life for you? In humility, simply admit that you are bent and in need of the Father’s forgiveness.
If you know Jesus like I do, and as Good Friday draws near, remember the price Jesus paid for you and for me—the innocent One stood condemned in our place.
Lament over the wrongs in your life and the brokenness of this world and, in humility thank God for bearing our iniquities on the cross.
