Mark 15:16-20
“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.“
Mark 15:16-20 NIV
You know as well as I do that the world in which we live doesn’t promote self control as a virtue. Instead, the world promotes self indulgence. The world tells us that we need to look after ourselves, and even spoil ourselves. We need to throw off restraint in various areas of our lives, whether it comes to our intake of food or alcohol, or perhaps sex. Self control is something we can do without, it just spoils our fun. That’s what the world loudly preaches at us through every means available.
The Bible teaches us something different. The Scriptures encourage Christians to be self controlled, to reign over our desires, rather than letting our desires reign over us.
This is part of what it means to share in the anointing of Christ as a King, we fight against our evil desires and resist them. Yet how often do we fail? How often do we listen to the lies of the world?
We so easily give in to the inclinations of the left overs of our sinful nature. The Father of lies entices us to cast off restraint, give in, and stop fighting. Instead of ruling over ourselves in Christ, we let ourselves be ruled by sin.
As we read about how Jesus was mocked and tortured it should grieve us. It’s grievous to consider the Son of God being mocked, beaten and spit upon. But at the same time, we shouldn’t read this passage without considering our own hearts. How each of us, in our own ways, have failed to see Jesus as the true King and have mocked His authority in our lives.
And yet, there’s still more here.
Because not only do we see how the Romans mock Jesus, we see that Jesus allowed it to go on. He permitted those men to treat Him in shameful ways because this was God’s plan. This was the means through which He was able to rescue us from our shame and save us from the consequences of our sins.
What a sad and sobering commentary. Jesus was not a person in the minds of His sadistic persecutors, but a toy for them to use to amuse themselves. Mockery, derision, and brutality were their purposes in the crucifixion journey.
They did their job well and were now ready to get Him to the destination of their savagery. We must never doubt Jesus’ love for us. He didn't die a quick and quiet death for us. He was repeatedly abused, insulted, ridiculed, mocked, and belittled.
Not only was He doing this to be our Savior, but also to be our example. He practiced what He taught, turn the other cheek, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Now He asks us to be willing to follow in His steps if it is necessary. We are called to be redemptive even in the face of abuse and scorn.
Jesus was placed in this position of shame because He identified with the lowly of those who loved God, women, the sick, Gentiles and sinners.
Because of this position, He experienced the shame for all His people. The leaders of His people placed Him there because Jesus allowed Himself to be vulnerable before them. They threw Jesus to their enemies so that He might take on all of their shame for them.
We all will experience shame at times, but it is rare for us to accept shame that isn't ours. And if we don't have to take mocking or pain, then we will step back quickly and say. Hey this isn't about us.
We don't want to be vulnerable. We certainly don't want to take someone else's mocking or pain.
But that's why Jesus was in this position, specifically. To accept that which He did not deserve, at the hands of those who found Him politically expedient.
I hate to say this, but this is at times what Jesus calls us to do as well. To accept the shame and pain that is not ours, but we take it on because we want to help others get relief. If we can accept this, head held high and strong knowing that God will give us release from all this pain, all the better!!!
Father, thank You for this day and please use us to be a redemptive influence wherever we find ourselves. Lord, pour out Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord, even if we find ourselves in hostile and unfair circumstances, please help us live up to Your example. Lord, we see so clearly how You have become the crisis of history, the great divide that separates the true from the false, the good from the bad, the loving from the unloving. Lord, You tell us who we are, and what we are. Lord, You are over all heaven and earth, over all things, before whom every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that You are the Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Lord use us to be the touch of Your love to all today.Father, we love You. Amen !
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