Biblical Irony
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It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is a master of irony in the English novel. It's one of the reasons I, along with countless readers, return to her books again and again. Did she detect irony in the pages of her Bible, I wonder? It’s not a quality I readily associate with Scripture, but reading Mark's gospel recently, I've noticed it a few times.
This week, I reached the account of Jesus's trial before the religious authorities of his day in Mark chapter 14. When testimonies from various hostile witnesses fail to stick, the high priest cuts to the chase and asks Jesus, ‘Are you the Messiah?’
Until this point, Jesus had remained silent but now he replies, ‘I am,’ laying claim to the holy name of God, Yahweh – ‘I am who I am.’ The high priest tears his robes, pronouncing, ‘You have heard the blasphemy,’ and the other religious leaders join him, declaring Jesus to be worthy of death.
From my perspective, as a believer, the irony is staggering - the Son of God is condemned to death for blasphemy.
Jesus could have chosen to silence his accusers with a word, but he submits, and the irony deepens. ‘Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.’ (Mark 14: 65) Fallen human beings exploit their ‘power’ and position, crowing over him, while the Son of God exhibits humility, the unlikeliest of all divine qualities.
Humility is rare, underrated and easily misunderstood in the 21st century. It’s not the cringing servility Dickens exposes in Uriah Heep, and I don’t believe it’s self-effacement either, but a true perspective on the value of each person, including oneself. Jesus loved his neighbour as himself, including, at this point, his abusers. And above all, he loved his Father. A few hours earlier Jesus had prayed in Gethsemane, ‘Not my will but yours be done.’ And here he yields to all that must follow, to fulfil his Father’s will.
Charles Wesley put it so beautifully in his hymn, ‘And Can it Be?’
He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
