MDB 57: John 13

Open theist John Sanders landed a great title for his book, The God Who Risks. Unfortunately, his definition of "risk" isn't compatible with the orthodox doctrine of God. For Sanders, God risks because he waits to see how we will respond to him; in fact, he's not quite sure how we'll respond to him. And, he himself forbid, God doesn't force us to respond to him. He hopes for the best possible outcome--for us to love him in return--but more often than not, he ends up hurt, frustrated, and even surprised. He is the God who risks.

Well, to the title's credit, Scripture does portray a God who risks, but that risk doesn't contradict what Scripture also says about God's sovereign providence. How can a sovereign deity take real risks? Contra Sanders, the risk isn't rooted in the risk-taker's ignorance of the future (whether or not it "exists"); rather, the risk occurs in the act of exposure itself. The triune God risks precisely because he exposed his transcendent majesty--through the incarnation--to ignominy. He didn't have to (just like he didn't have to create). No one forced his hand. 

Instead, God the Son, who always shared in the mutually indwelling love of the Godhead, of his own free will, did not consider his royal status, which was his by right, something to be clung to tenaciously (Phil 2:6). Rather, he became a servant and pitched his tent among us (v. 7; see Jn 1:14), washing the very feet of those who called him, rightly, "Lord and Master" (Jn 13:1-20).

And this is risky, not because God didn't know the outcome (his Son, after all, was chosen for this before the creation of the world, 1 Pet 1:20; see also Rev 13:8), but because relationships are by nature risky, even the ones God initiates. They always run the risk of having the mutual love that's supposed to be at the center of them trampled on. The strange and wonderful thing is, God sent his Son to be trampled on for us. Of course, God knew this would happen. Jesus knew as well (Jn 13:31-35). He knew Peter would deny him (vv. 36-38), just as he knew Judas would betray him (vv. 21-30). But he still washed his disciples' feet, risking his dignity and status before them (vv. 4-13), challenging them (and us) to do what he did (v. 14-17), to risk shame and disgrace for the cause of his kingdom.