“Then the soldiers bowed before Jesus and made fun of him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews’.  They spat on Jesus.” (Matthew 27:29-30)

The soldiers’ assignment was simple: Take the Nazarene to the hill and kill him. But they had another idea. They wanted to have some fun first. Strong, rested, armed soldiers encircled an exhausted, nearly dead, Galilean carpenter and beat up on him. The scourging was commanded. The crucifixion was ordered. But who would draw pleasure out of spitting on a half-dead man?

Spitting isn’t intended to hurt the body, it can’t. Spitting is intended to degrade the soul, and it does. What were the soldiers doing? Were they not elevating themselves at the expense of another? They felt big by making Christ look small.

Ever done that? Maybe you’ve never spit on anyone, but have you gossiped? Slandered? Have you ever raised your hand in anger or rolled your eyes in arrogance? Have you ever blasted your high beams in someone’s rearview mirror? Ever made someone feel bad so you would feel good?

That’s what the soldiers did to Jesus. When you and I do the same, we do it to Jesus too. “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me” (Matthew 25:40 NLT). How we treat others is how we treat Jesus.

“Oh, Max, I don’t like to hear that” you protest. Believe me, I don’t like to say it. But we must face the fact that there is something beastly within each and every one of us.

Something beastly that makes us do things that surprise even us. Haven’t you surprised yourself? Haven’t you reflected on an act and wondered, ‘What got into me?’

The Bible has a three-letter answer for that question: S-I-N.

Allow the spit of the soldiers to symbolize the filth in our hearts. And then observe what Jesus does with our filth. He carries it to the cross.

Through the prophet he said, “I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting”  Isaiah 50:6 NIV). Mingled with his blood and sweat was the essence of our sin.

God could have deemed otherwise. In God’s plan, Jesus was offered wine for his throat, so why not a towel for his face? Simon carried the cross of Jesus, but he didn’t mop the cheek of Jesus. Angels were a prayer away. Couldn’t they have taken the spittle away?

They could have, but Jesus never commanded them to. For some reason, the One who chose the nails also chose the saliva. Along with the spear and the sponge of man, he bore the spit of man.

by Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: He Choose the Nails
Copyright [W Publishing 1998, 2001] Max Lucado

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://www.maxlucado.com/about/

FURTHER READING

The Easter Story – the story of Christ’s death and resurrection

Jesus’ Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?

Who’s Got the Body?   A short, documented examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.  By Rusty Wright

Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter by Dr. James L. Wilson

At the Foot of the Cross – Powerful Poem

The post He Bore It All appeared first on Thoughts About God.

This was the last week of Lent, also called Passion Week, and I have been reading and reflecting on the last days of Christ and His crucifixion.

I will be forever grateful for Christ’s willingness to go through the agony of carrying our sins (the sins of more than six billion people), and to suffer extreme physical pain — the torture of being whipped and nailed to the cross — and rejection and loneliness. When I think about the love He has for each one of us, I want to prostrate myself on the floor before Him and worship Him.

He went through all of this because we are sinful. However, we can be healed and experience His immense love. We can experience His power, grace, and wisdom every moment of the day and every day of our lives.

Let’s take a look at parts of verses 3 and 5 of Isaiah chapter 53 and reflect on His suffering.

Verse 3: “He was hated and rejected by people.” I find it much easier to be rejected by people who don’t know me, but when I am rejected by relatives or a friend I thought was loyal to me, that really hurts. We know that Christ experienced this, as His disciples all left Him. He too was rejected.

Verse 3: “He experienced much pain and sorrow.” I would venture to say that you have experienced some deep sorrow in your life.  Because of Lou Gehrig’s disease, every muscle in my strong brother’s body deteriorated until all he could do was blink his eyes. Watching him struggle to eat and trying to make us understand what he was trying to say was one of the most sorrowful situations I have ever experienced. He had gone from using canes, to a walker, to a scooter, and finally to a wheelchair. It was sorrowful.

Jesus was with him every moment of every day, strengthening him and us and giving us courage. He has experienced every sorrow we have and ever will go through.

Verse 5: “He was wounded for the wrong things WE did. He was crushed for the evil things we did. The punishment which made us well, was given to Him, And we are healed because of His wounds.”

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  The Easter Story – the story of Christ’s death and resurrection

•  Jesus’ Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?

•  Who’s Got the Body?   A short, documented examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.  By Rusty Wright

•  Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter by Dr. James L. Wilson

•  At the Foot of the Cross – Powerful Poem

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The post Christ Crucified appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.” 1 Corinthians 15:43 (NLT)

In the death of Jesus we were forgiven and in His resurrection we are given new life. He breathes new life into us, freeing us from our guilt and shame and giving us abundant peace, love, and strength. It is through the resurrection of Jesus that God has opened the door for us to dwell intimately in His healing presence.

I was a broken man, bound by chains of depression, alcohol, gambling, and feelings of worthlessness. But the risen Lord helped me overcome all of that when I opened up and became brutally honest with Him, giving him my burdens and laying everything at His feet. Then I was truly filled with His peace and rest. He has become my anchor and the solid ground upon which I stand.

Through trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice for us, our old life, with all of its cracks and scars, is buried with Him. We’ve been raised into a brand new life for His glory and by His grace. We continue on, recognizing our weaknesses so that we are raised in His strength.

We can say along with Paul: “The life you see me living is not ‘mine,’ but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20b MSG)

Jesus says His purpose is to bring us life (John 10:10). In His death and resurrection He has fulfilled this purpose. Let the Father continue to raise you from your brokenness into His glory and from your weakness into His strength. Rest in the near and intimate presence of God and let Him breathe new life into you today.

Heavenly Father, take these broken parts of me, I lay them at your feet Lord. I surrender everything to You. Heal my shame and free me from fear. May they be buried forever. Fill me today powerfully with Your Spirit; raise me into new life by Your grace and mercy. I chose to come into your presence and be intimate with You.

A Thought: What parts of your life do you need to let God bury so that He may create new life in you? Take these parts to Him in prayer right now. Lay them at the cross.

by Daniel Forster
used be permission

Related Reading

Beauty out of Brokenness

From Brokenness to Holiness

Brokenness and Glory

The post Raised in Glory appeared first on Thoughts About God.