Have you ever gotten on a roll and wished you could stop? Done it, but I am sure you have seen it. Maybe you have never For some people it happens near the end of a really bad fight with your spouse. The words just fly out, and you hardly know where they are coming from. You just keep yelling and insulting like there is no tomorrow.
It can also happen after having a few too many drinks. Up on the table, singing like it actually sounds good, and pretty soon an article of clothing starts swirling around like a propeller. If there is one sober person in the crowd, they are either taking a video with their cell phone or wondering if they should step in and stop you, or maybe a little of both. Perhaps after the video is taken!
Sometime you are in the middle of doing what you don’t want to do, like Romans seven speaks about. You know the thing you are doing is not what you really want to do, but here you are doing it anyway. You just wish you could stop it. The thing you are doing is contrary to your character. It really isn’t what you want to do. But here you are doing it again.
We see news about public figures who get themselves caught up in some pretty humiliating situations. Often men get caught having an affair. Marriage ruined and political career down the toilet. Their public role has, or should I say had, a certain code of conduct that was connected to it. You weren’t supposed to act like that. They aren’t supposed to embarrass their constituents with their behavior. If they are going to act that way, they should be smart enough not to get caught.
The religious leaders find themselves getting ready to do something that is against their stated character, the character that is connected to their roles in society. They are plotting to kill Jesus. I thought that was against one of the Big Ten! They must be some of the original member of the “ends justify the means” society. You can use corrupt methods as long as you get to a good outcome, or so the rationalization goes.
These leaders are threatened, really threatened by the things Jesus is saying and doing. They know that if Jesus is successful, their place in society will disappear. They are acting out of fear. And fear can drive someone to do some pretty strange things, things that are very out of character. They are afraid of what Jesus could do to them, and they are afraid of the crowd. Fear has backed them into a corner.
They become driven to do evil, all the while thinking they are doing good. They set their course and it seems as if there is no turning back. It would cost too much to turn back. So they keep traveling toward this contradiction.
The Arnold Journey 