wilful wrongdoing

Note 1: Isaiah probably completed his book in Jerusalem around BC 680. Without any doubt the book was in existence well before the birth of Jesus Christ around BC 0. Nevertheless, Isaiah wrote about the Messiah, the Christ, who was to come. Here the “He” referred to the Messiah and describes him as the Suffering Servant of the LORD God.

Note 2: In writing about the fact that the Suffering Servant of the LORD God, Isaiah used a Hebrew word translated as “transgressions” – a word which means “wilful wrongdoing” or “wilful disobedience” or “rebellion”. The Suffering Servant is not suffering for his own wilful disobedience but for “ours”. His punishment, Isaiah states, has “brought us peace”.

Wilful wrongdoing? What do you think?  Wrongdoing as failure is often dismissed today as no more than a pity. Wrongdoing as moral defect leaves it arguable that what cannot be helped cannot be blameworthy. But willful wrongdoing (“transgressions”) is the thing most people cannot overlook – especially in others. It seems that God cannot overlook it either.

I sin willfully because I want to. “We do not want this man to reign over us” was the phrase used by Jesus to describe the wilful rejection (by tenants) of a non-resident landlord. But even when I wilfully do wrong I still want to escape liability for those deeds and failures.

One Jersey legal firm is attempting to escape liability for willful failure and even willful wrongdoing. It requires all its clients to sign an Agreement containing this clause: We shall have no liability to you ... for any ... loss or damage ... suffered or incurred by you ... whether or not any such loss was foreseeable to us arising from ... the delivery of any legal services by us.

The firm is thus able to foresee a loss arising to that client, even a loss arising from the firm’s own legal advice, and willfully do nothing about it at all, without being liable to pay compensation to that client. And this notwithstanding the substantial hourly fees payable by clients to the firm.

The firm is bound by the Code of Conduct issued by the Law Society of Jersey. Does that Society also endorse the principle, for practicing lawyers, of “no liability even for willful wrongdoing or failure"?

Wilful (in fact, all) wrongdoing remains a very serious matter. How can I expect to be forgiven (especially by the LORD God above) – or granted exculpation - concerning my own deliberate and conscious transgressions?  The involvement of my will in the deed or in the failure is fatal.

Many in Isaiah’s day relied on animal sacrifices – where an animal paid the price for my wrongdoing, as my substitute. Could animal sacrifice cover willful wrongdoing? Well, no – because only a consenting will can substitute for a rebellious will. An animal doesn’t willfully die at all.

That’s why Isaiah’s description of the Suffering Servant – the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross - is so very telling. But he was pierced for our transgressions [Note 2 above]; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. But did he willingly consent?

Well, yes. Let Isaiah explain: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. He did consent. He willfully consented. He consented to pay the price for wilful wrongdoing – for transgressions – mine in particular.

No fees are payable – they’re useless in the courts above. The rebellious merely have to return to Jesus the LORD, the Suffering Servant.