Abiding in Easterనమూనా

ABIDING IN EASTER - LENT DEVOTIONAL by BRYAN CRAIG

DAY 43

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him.And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:27-31 ESV

If you love Jesus, this scene in His Easter journey should jolt you to sadness. It is so hard to read the words of what happened to our Lord. Mel Gibson wanted to honor Jesus by depicting His sacrifice for us in the most realistic way possible in his film, “The Passion of The Christ.” It is very difficult to watch, but even that is just a movie and cannot come close to grasping the evil indignity done to Jesus as we, His very creation, mocked Him and beat Him and spit on Him. Oh, I cannot fathom the pain He felt, not just the physical pain, but the heartbreak of mankind’s rejection. It does not make sense. Why? Why would God allow Jesus to suffer in this way, for us? There is only one way to describe it. LOVE.

APPLICATION:

Think of the worst injustice that you’ve ever experienced. Think of any sin you’ve ever committed or are committing today. Think about how you feel when someone innocent is punished publicly. Think about Jesus. Spend some time in prayer, talking to Him about the pain He endured for you.