Matthew 27 - The Day They Spit On God!
Verses for the Day
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Commentary
There are a lot of verses I could have picked out from this chapter chronicling the last day of Jesus' life. But what stood out to me the most is how they treated Jesus. When you consider that Jesus is God, it is almost unbelievable and shocking the things they did and said to him. We see the remarkable restraint of Jesus. At any time he could have called down the angels from heaven and turned these guys into dust.
These are the Roman soldiers who played a different role than the Jewish leaders in Jesus' death. Note their fear of Jesus, as a whole company of soldiers is gathered around Jesus, when normally it would only be four. It is possible they knew about the signs and miracles Jesus performed. They also thought the disciples would try to rescue him. But the forlorn and defeated disciples were nowhere to be found. There was really no group of people that posed any threat to rescue Jesus from his impending crucifixion.
The soldiers' actions were a coordinated "anti-coronation" intended to brutally mock Jesus' claim of authority. By using symbols of royalty—a crown, a robe, and a formal salutation—they were ridiculing the idea that a beaten, powerless man could be a king. - Colorado Christian University
They put a purple robe on him the color of royalty. They were sarcastically mocking him as a pretender vying for the throne.
The crown of thorns was put on him unlike the crown of god put on a real king. It was sharp and painful and drew blood.
The specific thorn-bushes of this region have long, hard, sharp thorns. This was a crown that cut, pierced, and bloodied the head of the King who wore it. - David Guzik
The staff was another symbol of the humiliation inflicted on the Son of God. This was actually a fake scepter, made of a reed. It was more of a fragile stalk than a sturdy rod. We know it must have had some strength in it, because they beat him over the head with it, driving the crown of thorns deeper into his head.
Finally, they mocked him saying, "Hail Jesus King of the Jews". Little did they know they were speaking the truth. One day when Jesus comes back in great and promised glory, they will see a king like no other. This was taken from their ode to their king when they said, "Hail King Caesar". It was definitely meant to humiliate the Jews as if to say, "Is this the best king you've got!"
If all that was not enough, they spit on him and hit repeatedly in the face. Think about it. They spit on God! And Jesus did not utter a word. If someone spit in my face, I doubt I would have been able to exhibit that type of self control. And here's the thing. Jesus did all this for you and me.
Application for Life
What do you think about when you sincerely consider the treatment Jesus, the Son of God, underwent at the hands of evil men?
Do you think any other religion would portray their leader like this?
If this did not really happen, who would have made up such a fanciful story?
Prayer of the Day
Jesus, thank you for enduring the mocking, ridicule, and humiliation at the hands of men. Thank you that you did this all for me, as you went to the cross to save me from my sin. Help me to live my life as a response to the great sacrifice you made for me. When I am tempted to complain about how people treat me, remind me of how they treated you!"
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