M&M Ch 10: What If Jesus Chose Plan A?

One of my favorite parts of Chapter 10 of Manna & Mercy is the cartoon where Jesus is given two options in the desert. Of course, Jesus chooses Plan B. If you’ve spent any amount of time learning about Jesus, it’s pretty obvious.

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Jesus chose Plan A? People who have been oppressed are finally free. Corrupt leaders would lose their power. Nothing would have stopped Jesus from bringing about the kind of world he wants.

Part of me wonders what would be so bad about that. If Jesus really could have taken control and fixed things, why didn't he? I suppose that's part of what Manna & Mercy wants us to wrestle with.

Jesus doesn't just seem interested in who has the power. He seems to question the whole idea that power over other people is how God's world gets built. And that's harder.

You can force someone to obey you. Can you force them to love? You can defeat an enemy. Can you force reconciliation? You can make someone share. Can you make them generous? You can punish someone for doing something wrong. Can you make them merciful?

Maybe Plan A could have changed who was on top of the pyramid. Perhaps Jesus could have gotten rid of the pyramid altogether. But… If you have to use power over people to create a world without power over people... have you really gotten rid of the pyramid?

I don't know. Let me know what you think in the comments...