Bible Reading: Numbers 34-36. Mark: 10:32-52
“And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again” Mark10:34 (KJV)
“Let Christ the king of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him” Mark 15:32 (KJV). This verse of scripture was a statement of mockery made on Christ, the Son of God. From our focal scripture it is clear that Christ predicted His mockery, humiliation and suffering and type of death. No wonder the bible says in Isaiah 53:7 (KJV). “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isn’t it surprising that He who only said ‘I am he’ and the multitude of soldiers went backward and fell down, easily surrendered himself willingly to be mocked, beaten and humiliated? What a humble submission! It can only be God that can overcome the emotional torture associated with the death of Christ.
My dear reader, the salvation of man caused God quite a lot that is humanly incomprehensible. The holy Son of God was crucified in between two criminals. What a contradiction! Even the superscription of his accusation that was written, “THE KING OF THE JEWS” was intended to be a mockery of his person. These are many of the humiliation that Christ, the Son of God had to pass through to save us from destruction. Some of the mockeries and humiliations are as stated “And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, hail, king of the Jews!” Mark 15:17-18 (KJV). As if this was not painful enough the scriptures recorded, “And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their kneels worshipped him” Mark 15:19 (KJV). This is mind blowing, that the creator of the heaven and earth was spat on by the creatures He created! Being spat upon is the greatest act of disdain and disrespect. Ordinary mortals despised and shamefully entreated the Most righteous and All Powerful God, all for the purpose of paying the price of sin to free humanity. The bible recorded “And when they have mocked him … led him out to crucify him” Mark 15:20 (KJV). After the stage of mockery, the Saviour of humanity was led to Golgotha to be crucified. They took His garment and crucified Him naked.
This exchange or substitution is unprecedented, that the Creator died for His creation, the righteous was killed for the unrighteous and the just suffered for the unjust. It is no wonder the bible calls it the love of Christ which passes knowledge (Ephesians 3:19) Such is the love that pierces through the heart of men to produce genuine repentance. When Peter explained it at Pentecost the bible recorded that their hearts were pricked. The Love of God is truly unfathomable, incomprehensible and yet true.
My dear reader, I am not boring you with my description of Christ emotional suffering and the excruciating pains He went through, but it is intended to drum home the great price that was paid for your freedom, for which majority of the human race has and is still rejecting. No wonder the book of Hebrews 10:26-27 (KJV) says “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.” Please I want you to know as you read this piece that the same God that is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) was led like a lamb to the slaughter and like a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he did not utter a word. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” Hebrews 10:31(KJV). Repent now and be saved!
Prayer: Father, let the humiliation, suffering and death of Christ ever remain in my consciousness.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo