An email circulated years ago that evolved into a popular Christian metaphor. It tells the store of a drawbridge keeper who faced the choice between locking the bridge (saving a train of people and killing he son who had wondered onto the bridge) or not locking the bridge (killing the people but saving his son). Many likened this to the choice God made when he sent Jesus to earth. You can read the full story here if you’ve never heard it.
I understand that all metaphors have certain limitations. They give wight to certain qualities and diminish others. But this metaphor sends some very dangerous signals.
If you’ve often thought about Jesus’ death this way…well, maybe you shouldn’t. Here’s why:
The drawbridge keeper (man in the story) has exactly two decisions and no control to change the situation. God, on the other hand, isn’t a man. He can make whatever decision he wants, whenever he wants. Nothing isn’t in his control (or, rather, everything is in his control).
What God/Jesus did is a beautiful thing. But too often I fall into the trap of believing that God had to do it that way. I too often believe that God had no other choice: Send Jesus to die or be forever separated from his people. But he didn’t have two choices. He could have simply forgiven our sins (if you are now finding yourself saying “No, someone had to atone for it” then please remember: He is God and can do whatever he wants).
I have a problem accepting this. If Jesus didn’t have to send his son, then why did he?
Ehhhhh…*scratches head with blank stare*
Yea. That’s all I’ve got.
But here’s what I do know: God didn’t have to, but he did. God didn’t choose to sacrifice his son because he had to choose between Jesus and us. He did it because he knew it was the best way not just to save us but to reconcile his relationship with us.
That, to me, is incredibly cool. And humbling. That God was not required to die for me. But he did.
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