Binding the Hands of God

The account of the life and work of Jesus is full of “impossible” events—events that are impossible for mere mortals. There are also many great ironies that, if contemplated, boggle the mind and thrill the soul. And one of the great ironies of the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is that these “impossible” events and highly ironic events and statements are often provided couched in casual presentation. There are no markers or hints from the authors when these things are presented. They simply state them and move on as if what was stated was just a normal event or statement. (I find this one of the amazing proofs of the genuineness and authenticity of these books, but that is a point for another time.)

One incredible irony is found in Matthew 27:2. The holy writ simply states, “And when they had bound [Jesus], they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.”

Did you see it there? Perhaps we are too familiar with the events of the crucifixion to notice it. Consider the One this verse is about and you will see the irony.

Jesus is the creator of all that exists. John 1:3 says that “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:9 that God, the Father, created all things “through Jesus Christ”. 

Jesus is eternal. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word with with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 reveals that this “Word” came to earth and put on flesh. That, of course, is Jesus. When the beginning happened, Jesus was already there.

The writer of Hebrews stated in Hebrews 1:12 that Jesus is eternal. “Like a cloak You will fold them [the heavens, verse 10] up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and your years will not fail.”

From these passages we can also see that Jesus is extremely powerful. In fact, He proved this many times in His earthly life. He was able to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and control the waves of the sea. In every way He showed Himself to be superior to His creation.

A man of such magnificence, such power, and such authority was bound and delivered to a governor. The King of Kings was ushered into the presence of a governor for trial. The Perfect Creator and Judge faced the judgment of an imperfect man of His own creation.

Can a man bind God’s hands? These men certainly did. What powerful irony! It should make us take note. As God said to the Jews in Malachi’s days, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?” (Malachi 1:6). But how is it possible? The only possible way they bound the hands of Jesus was because He ALLOWED it to happen. It was part of His will.

Let us not think for a moment that we cannot do the same thing today and bind the hands of Jesus! 

• We bind the hands of Jesus when we refuse to repent of sins (Isaiah 59:1-2).

• We bind the hands of Jesus when we choose to keep silent and not teach others.

• We bind the hands of Jesus when we refuse to support the church financially and actively.

• We bind the hands of Jesus when we know good things to do but do not do them.

How can those things be part of God’s plan? How can God allow us to bind His hands in that way? Because His plan was for His treasures to be placed in earthen vessels. If the Gospel is to spread into the world, it will be spread through the mouth and work of His children. There is no “Plan B”. Think about it: Do you hinder the progress of the Gospel or help it?