From time immemorial, our race has gotten along pretty well. We’re told that biological life evolves, that man is the current epitome of eons of natural selection; that we are an accidental product with no design and no purpose or destiny beyond our momentary existence. You and I, as chance has dictated, reap the benefit of enjoying whatever pleasures and pursuits we fancy as we fulfill our meaningless role in this accidental universe. Lucky us. No fear. No accountability. No point. Eat, drink, and die.

But some doubt the hedonists’ mantra, and begin to ask foolish questions. “What if there’s more?” “What if there was a planner; wouldn’t there also be a purpose?” “Should pleasure and selfish pursuit be our only goal?”

There have always been small groups of party-poopers; naysayers who condemn the revelry and stifle our mindless existence with talk of God, and purpose, and design, and future. And, of course, where there’s an audience, there are capitalists, ready to sell prayers and potions to salve the fears and consciences of hesitant revelers. For every serious believer, there may be scores of charlatans – who are simply hedonists whose particular pleasure is mockery with personal gain.

Sorting the real believers from the pretenders who capitalize on fear and doubt can be difficult and dangerous. But why bother?

Those who really threaten our selfish pursuits are those who enjoy power. For their short span of biological life, their guilty pleasure of choice is the domination of others; the ultimate ecstasy is the dominion of all! So, for the race’s self preservation, we align ourselves with others to foil the efforts of the most powerful, to maintain some semblance of autonomy, to guarantee some freedom for the mutual pursuit of our favored pleasure. Small alignments might be called communities or villages, while larger ones might be nations or continents. But whatever our alignment, its primary purpose is to guarantee our personal pleasures and restrict the imposition of the pleasure of others upon us.

So our aimless existence rolls on. And we do as we please, as permitted within our particular community.

Into such a world came one who professed to be the very son of God.

The larger political alignment was the Roman Empire. And pleasure – the pleasures of the powerful, and the pleasures of the individual – were closely guarded. The uptight religious folks – genuine and charlatan alike – in the smaller community of Israel, were tolerated by Rome even while Israel pursued its own peculiar pleasures – its religion – under the power-elite of its own but smaller community. Subject to the continued tolerance of Rome, of course.But this delicate balance of power required great care, if Israel was to enjoy its modicum of independence.

If there really was a God, and especially if that God showed up on earth, everyone’s pursuit of personal pleasures and selfish agendas would certainly be at risk. Such a threat was not to be contemplated; could never be tolerated.

And it wasn’t.

Late one evening, all these forces converged. The God-man was called to account. Jesus had made audacious claims. Rome’s political power was threatened, Israel’s religious elite were challenged, and the peace and order of common people was undermined.

At the sham trial, Rome’s local authority, Pilate, asked Jesus, “Don’t you know I have power to crucify you, and power to release you?” Jesus replied, “You could have no power at all unless it was given you from above.” (John 19:10,11) When asked by Israel’s religious rulers, “Are you the Messiah, the son of God?” Jesus answered, “I am.” (Mark 14:61,62) Outside the gate, protecting their own interests, the crowds are yelling, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:21)

The audacity of Jesus! The threat to Rome, to Israel, to the people; the challenge to political, religious, and personal power, must be STOPPED!

And it was.

They killed him. Put his dead body in a grave. Rome protected its power. Israel maintained the status quo. The people were safe. Life can go on.

The accidental world can continue its meaningless existence. We’re safe to pursue our pleasures. We knew there really was no god all along. Life and purpose and joy and goodness almost won. But we killed it. Yeah. Victory is ours.

Be sure to read the sequel, coming here, next week.