Desperate Jesus - I don't get it

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

My Uncle sent me a recording of his sermon from this past Sunday.  Beyond the fact that he is a gifted orator (Harold, insert cutting jokes here!), the content of his messages so often hit home.  This particular sermon was about, well – man’s total depravity.  The idea, nay – fact, that man, at the very core of being, is wicked.  But the interesting take on this concept was Harold’s focus on how desperately wicked people are.  Not just wicked – desperately wicked.

And it’s true.  Thirty minutes of the eleven o’clock news illustrates man’s wickedness every night.  A quick glance at my blog alone demonstrates the wickedness of a man who posed as a Christian for a large portion of his life (that would be me).  I’m not going to spend a lot of time here re-preaching Harold’s message, I’d probably just mess it up.  But I have been thinking about that message. 

I’ve been thinking about how desperately wicked I have been.  Oh, I’ve done some nice things in my life, but these are external works so-to-speak.  They were simply me living within social norms, treating people kinda well.  I say “kinda” because ultimately there is nothing I could have done to “be good” in the eyes of God.  I realize that.  Desperately wicked.  That phrase is crushing.

But then I started thinking today:  if we are desperately wicked, then just how desperate was Jesus?  It blows my mind to think about it.  God creates humans.  God gives one “Thou shalt not”.  Man does it anyway.  And it all goes downhill from there.

Caine kills Abel.  Lot’s daughter gets him drunk…Sodom and Gomorrah.  Floods.  Plagues.  A riot in Ephesus because some merchants are losing money due to Paul preaching Christ.  The Mongul Hoardes.  Crusades.  Hitler.  Nagasaki and Hiroshima.  9/11.  The Middle East.  America.  You.  Me. 

Good grief, there’s not been a whole lot in the history of mankind to make the Creator look at His creation and think – Hmm, I think I’ll die for them.  What!!??  Really???  I don’t really understand the Trinity (and if you do – please stop fooling yourself), but I wonder if the three-part Godhead actually discussed this?

Did the Father simply say he regretted even starting this whole thing, and maybe it would be better to just forget about it?  Did the Holy Spirit offer to move among us and see if something could be done? 

And what about Jesus…how desperately must He have loved us!  Did He say to the Father – I know you’re disgusted but please don’t do this thing.  I can fix this.  I can save 'em.  I know – I'll die for them. No more goats, lambs, bulls, feasts - no more.  I will go and live among them and let them kill me.  Whatever you need, I'll do it.  Daddy, just don't do this thing. Please.  

I can’t even continue with this line of thought. 

I know this post doesn’t make much sense.  I am not a talented enough writer to express my thoughts on this, but Harold’s sermon haunts me with the thought of how desperately Jesus must love us.