Word@Work 196 - Mark 15:16-18
Published: Wed, 08/27/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 15:16-18 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!" (NIV)
The soldiers were not part of the judicial decision-making process. They simply had to carry out the sentence on the prisoner. Yet they too contributed their heartfelt verdict on the King of Kings. They thought the whole thing was a laugh. Jesus was a quirky figure who once held the crowd, but now could be mocked and abused with impunity. The robe represented no honour, it was just for ridicule. The crown of thorns was not in their orders, but it came from their hearts. The call of worship had no integrity: it was an unleashing of Satan's sneer from hearts that also refused to submit to the Truth.
Soldiers often defend their actions by saying, "I was just carrying out orders". But that would not be true for these men. They were sinners with an inbuilt rebellion against the King of Kings. What they did simply expressed their own state before God: they declared themselves to be God's enemies, and did whatever they could to discredit the only one who could save them. What folly.
Alas the saga is not over yet. Without a love for Jesus, apparently respectable and law abiding citizens, and society's office holders, reveal the same heart as those soldiers. You see it in the blasphemy by celebrities, the godlessness of some law making, the open verbal ridicule of Christ in the media. You hear it in playgrounds, and the drunken ridicule in university bars. Any of these characters could fit the soldiers' shoes. And those of us who love our Saviour will get caught in the cross-fire (quite an apt word, when you think about it). There will be times when the clouds have no silver lining and when the barrage comes to us, full on, for Christ's sake. So for His sake, bear it: it is part of 'taking up our cross' (cf Mark 8:34-38) and following Jesus.
Prayer: Father God, I know that the little persecution which comes to me is not personal to me, but to Jesus. Thank you for allowing me to have a glimpse of what is means to 'share in His sufferings' and so to realise the extreme lengths that Jesus chose to go to, for me. May I be faithful 'under fire' for His sake, as He was for mine. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The soldiers were not part of the judicial decision-making process. They simply had to carry out the sentence on the prisoner. Yet they too contributed their heartfelt verdict on the King of Kings. They thought the whole thing was a laugh. Jesus was a quirky figure who once held the crowd, but now could be mocked and abused with impunity. The robe represented no honour, it was just for ridicule. The crown of thorns was not in their orders, but it came from their hearts. The call of worship had no integrity: it was an unleashing of Satan's sneer from hearts that also refused to submit to the Truth.
Soldiers often defend their actions by saying, "I was just carrying out orders". But that would not be true for these men. They were sinners with an inbuilt rebellion against the King of Kings. What they did simply expressed their own state before God: they declared themselves to be God's enemies, and did whatever they could to discredit the only one who could save them. What folly.
Alas the saga is not over yet. Without a love for Jesus, apparently respectable and law abiding citizens, and society's office holders, reveal the same heart as those soldiers. You see it in the blasphemy by celebrities, the godlessness of some law making, the open verbal ridicule of Christ in the media. You hear it in playgrounds, and the drunken ridicule in university bars. Any of these characters could fit the soldiers' shoes. And those of us who love our Saviour will get caught in the cross-fire (quite an apt word, when you think about it). There will be times when the clouds have no silver lining and when the barrage comes to us, full on, for Christ's sake. So for His sake, bear it: it is part of 'taking up our cross' (cf Mark 8:34-38) and following Jesus.
Prayer: Father God, I know that the little persecution which comes to me is not personal to me, but to Jesus. Thank you for allowing me to have a glimpse of what is means to 'share in His sufferings' and so to realise the extreme lengths that Jesus chose to go to, for me. May I be faithful 'under fire' for His sake, as He was for mine. In Jesus' name, 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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