Word@Work 197 - Mark 15:19-20
Published: Thu, 08/28/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 15:19-20 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat 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. (NIV)
The repetition of abuse against Jesus showed that this was no accidental slip up; no unintentional (and therefore excusable) insult. Spitting was not just an objectionable habit - this was the Eastern way to show personal disgust - that the accused was lower than the low. Even the purple robe was too good for Jesus, in their eyes. There was no dignity left, no part of His body unstained with blood. His precious head was not just pierced with thorns, but also battered with poles. And then they still had to crucify Him.
No ambulance for Jesus, no stretcher to carry the Son of God to His execution. He had to walk, and initially to carry His own cross. Nobody helped Him, everybody deserted Him; and yet He was bearing all of our sins as he climbed through the narrow streets and up that weary hill. The sheer inhumanity is staggering. The perversion of justice had reached deadly proportions. And nobody cared ... except Jesus - who cared so much for you and me!
The jeweller's silver crosses that dangle as fashion accessories around pretty necks: they do no justice to the enormity of the atrocity that surpassed all others. The reality is that it was the most awful of all crimes, and yet Jesus chose to endure it because He loved ... the atheist and agnostic, the cynic and the blasphemer, the abuser and the sadist. Jesus loved those who perverted the course of justice, and those who manipulated in politics, as well as the millions of ordinary people who sin each day. He loved us all so much that He wanted to endure it all for us. What a Saviour!
Prayer: Dear Lord. These accounts of Your Passion are truly shocking; but I am so grateful that You suffered for my sake, so that I might not have to endure Your wrath against my sin. How grateful I am! For Your Name's sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The repetition of abuse against Jesus showed that this was no accidental slip up; no unintentional (and therefore excusable) insult. Spitting was not just an objectionable habit - this was the Eastern way to show personal disgust - that the accused was lower than the low. Even the purple robe was too good for Jesus, in their eyes. There was no dignity left, no part of His body unstained with blood. His precious head was not just pierced with thorns, but also battered with poles. And then they still had to crucify Him.
No ambulance for Jesus, no stretcher to carry the Son of God to His execution. He had to walk, and initially to carry His own cross. Nobody helped Him, everybody deserted Him; and yet He was bearing all of our sins as he climbed through the narrow streets and up that weary hill. The sheer inhumanity is staggering. The perversion of justice had reached deadly proportions. And nobody cared ... except Jesus - who cared so much for you and me!
The jeweller's silver crosses that dangle as fashion accessories around pretty necks: they do no justice to the enormity of the atrocity that surpassed all others. The reality is that it was the most awful of all crimes, and yet Jesus chose to endure it because He loved ... the atheist and agnostic, the cynic and the blasphemer, the abuser and the sadist. Jesus loved those who perverted the course of justice, and those who manipulated in politics, as well as the millions of ordinary people who sin each day. He loved us all so much that He wanted to endure it all for us. What a Saviour!
Prayer: Dear Lord. These accounts of Your Passion are truly shocking; but I am so grateful that You suffered for my sake, so that I might not have to endure Your wrath against my sin. How grateful I am! For Your Name's sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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