IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT ALL OF US MUST DEAL WITH SIN ON A DAILY BASIS. WHAT PROBABLY SCARES US THE MOST IS NOT THAT WE CONFRONT AND DEAL WITH THE SINS OF THE WORLD, BUT HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THOSE DARK SINS THAT LOITER IN THE DEEP RECESSES OF OUR HEARTS.
PSALM 36:1, “SIN LURKS DEEP IN THE HEARTS OF THE WICKED, FOREVER URGING THEM ON TO EVIL DEEDS.” JEREMIAH 17:9, “THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOUT ALL THINGS AND BEYHOND CURE. WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT?”
ALTHOUGH WE ARE CHRISTIANS AND HAVE SOUGHT TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE, THERE ARE THOSE TIMES IN LIFE THAT FROM WITHIN THE DEEPEST RECESSES OF OUR SOUL, WE EXPERIENCE THE SURGING POWER OF SIN LEAP FROM WITHIN.
FOR EXAMPLE, A SUDDEN RUSH OF ANGER THAT MAKES US WANT TO SCREAM OUT PROFANITY. THAT OVERWHELMING SENSE OF HATRED THAT MAKES US SUDDENLY WISH THE VILEST FORM OF ILL-WILL UPON A FRIEND OR ENEMY. AN INCRIMINATING DESIRE TO STRIKE BACK WHEN WE ARE WRONGED OR SLANDERED.
THERE IS WITHIN US THAT DORMENT BEAST CALLED SIN THAT CAN, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, ARISE FROM ITS SLEEP, ATTACK WITH A VENGEANCE, AND CAUSES US TO PAUSE AND SAY MOMENTS LATER, “WHERE ON EARTH DID THAT COME FROM?” “WHY DID I DO THAT?” THAT’S NOT ME! THAT’S NOT WHO I AM!”
IT IS THE BEAST OF SIN THAT CAUSED EVEN PAUL TO EXCLAIM IN ROMANS 7:15-16, “I DON’T UNDERSTAND MYSELF AT ALL, FOR I REALLY WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT I DON’T DO IT. INSTEAD, I DO THE VERY THING I HATE. I KNOW PERFECTLY WELL THAT WHAT I AM DOING IS WRONG, AND MY BAD CONSCIENCE SHOWS THAT I AGREE THAT THE LAW IS GOOD. BUT I CAN’T HELP MYSELF, BECAUSE IT IS SIN INSDIE ME THAT MAKES ME DO THESE EVIL THINGS.”
LIKE FRESH MEAT TO A HUNGRY LION, NOTHING CAN BE MORE FRIGHTENING TO US THAN WHEN OUR HUMAN NATURE PICKS UP THE SCENT OF SIN AND BEGINS TO SALIVATE AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEED IT PASSIONS.
NOWHERE WAS THIS EVIL BEAST OF SINFULNESS MORE RAW AND UNTAMED THAN ON THE DAY CHRIST DIED. THE DISCIPLES WERE FIRST FAST ASLEEP, THEN FAST ON FOOT. JUDAS HAD ONCE FOLLOWED CLOSE TO JESUS AND THEN CAME EVEN CLOSER TO HIM FOR A KISS OF BETRAYAL.
HEROD WANTED A SHOW AND GAINED A CONVICTED CRIMINAL NAMED BARABBAS. PILATE WANTED OUT, GAVE IN, AND THEN WASHED HIS HANDS. THEN THERE WERE THE SOLDIERS. THEIR THIRST WAS NOT FOR THE LIVING WATER THAT JESUS COULD PROVIDE, BUT FOR THE BLOOD HE COULD SPILL FOR THEIR ENJOYMENT.
IRONICALLY, WE CANNOT FAULT THE SOLDIERS FOR SCOURGING JESUS AND TAKING HIM TO HIS CRUCIFIXION. THEY WERE SOLIDERS AND THEY WERE JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS LIKE ANY GOOD SOLDIER WOULD DO.
BUT, THERE IS A FAULT AT HAND. THERE IS A BREAKDOWN IN THEIR PROTOCOL. THEY WERE SIMPLY TO TAKE THIS NAZARENE TO GALGOTHA AND EXECUTE HIM.
SO IT IS RATHER HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE LOYAL SOLDIERS WOULD DIVERT FROM THEIR GIVEN ORDERS TO TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO ADD EVEN MORE PUNISHMENT TO CHRIST’S SENTENCE OF DEATH.
THE SOLDIERS HAD ANOTHER IDEA. A SINISTER IDEA. AN IDEA THAT COULD ONLY COME FROM THE BEAST OF SIN FROM WITHIN. DESPITE THE FACT THAT JESUS HAD ALREADY BEEN BEATEN WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE, THEY FELT THERE NEEDED TO BE MORE. THEY FIRST HAD TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN.
BEFORE HEADING OUT TO THE HILL, THEY FIRST STOP IN THE COURTYARD OF THE GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE TO ABUSE JESUS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY WITH THE VILEST FORMS OF INSULT. COMBINING LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS HUMOR WITH CRASS AND SARCASTIC SALUTATIONS, THEY ADULATE THIS “KING OF THE JEWS” WITH THEIR SPITTAL AND THEIR FISTS.
THEY GO ONE STEP FURTHER AS ONE SOLDIER REMOVES HIS CAPE AND DRAPES IT AROUND THE SHOULDERS OF JESUS. ANOTHER FORMS A CROWN OF THORNS A PLACES IT UPON CHRIST’S HEAD. YET ANOTHER HUMOROUSLY QUESTIONS HOW A “KING” COULD RULE WITHOUT HIS SCEPTOR AND QUICKLY FORCES A LARGE WOODEN REED INTO JESUS’ HANDS.
WHAT A SITE TO BEHOLD IT WAS INDEED. THERE IN THE COURTYARD BEFORE A BATALLION OF NEARLY 600 SOLDIERS, JESUS IS FORCED TO HIS FEET AND MADE TO STAND AMONGST THE SPLATTERING OF HIS OWN BLOOD TO DRINK IN THE DEAFENING ROAR OF APPROVAL AS THE CROWD EGGS-ON THE ABUSERS TO INCREASE THEIR PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION.
MADE TO LOOK LIKE A CLOWN-PRINCE OF A DEBACLED AND CAPTURED KINGDOM, JESUS IS FORCED TO STAND BLEEDING, BRUISED, SWOLLEN AND ALL DRESSED UP IN ROBE, CROWN, AND SCEPTER FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF OTHERS.
BUT, THAT WASN’T ENOUGH AS A CROWD-FUELED SOLDIER YANKS THE WOODEN REED FROM JESUS’ HANDS AND WHOLLOPS HIM UPSIDE THE HEAD. OTHER SOLDIERS WHO HAVE TIRED OF THE MOCKERY STRIP JESUS OF HIS “ROYAL CLOTHES” AND BEGIN TO LOAD THE CROSSBEAM ON HIS SHOULDERS TO BEGIN THE MARCH TOWARDS EXECUTION.
WHY WOULD THE SOLDIERS SPIT, HIT, AND SLANDER A MAN WHO WAS ALREADY HALF-DEAD? WHAT BENEFIT IS THERE IN DEGRADING SOMEONE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE? WHY MUST ONE HUMAN BEING ELEVATE THEMSELVES AT THE EXPENSE OF ANOTHER. DO YOU THINK IT MADE THE SOLDIERS FEEL BIG BY MAKING CHRIST LOOK SMALL?
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS, BUT I AM SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER. WHAT SIMMERED IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SOLDIERS’ HEARTS IS THE SAME CESSPOOL OF HUMANNESS IN OUR OWN. IT IS THAT UGLY THREE-LETTER-WORD: S-I-N!
WE ARE SINNERS AND PRONE TO BE DRAWN TO SINFUL THINGS. IT IS NOT THAT WE CAN’T DO GOOD. WE DO. IT’S JUST THAT WE CAN’T KEEP FROM DOING BAD.
THOUGH MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE, WE HAVE FALLEN. WE’RE CORRUPT AT THE CORE. THE VERY CENTER OF OUR BEING IS SELFISH AND PERVERSE. EVEN KING DAVID ADMITTED TO THAT IN PSALM 51:5, WHEN HE EXCLAIMED, “I WAS BORN A SINNER – YES, FROM THE MOMENT MY MOTHER CONCEIVED ME.” CAN ANY ONE OF US SAY ANY LESS THAN DAVID?
BUT, WE MUSTN’T BEAT OURSELVES UP OVER THIS FACT WHICH WE COULD NOT PREVENT THAT WHICH WAS ALREADY INHERITED AT OUR BIRTH. THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT DEPRAVITY IS A UNIVERSAL CONDITION.
SCRIPTURE MAKES THAT CLEAR IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AS ISAIAH 53:6, SAYS, “ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY; WE HAVE TURNED , EVERY ONE, TO HIS OWN WAY.” AND AGAIN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AS ROMANS 3:10, REMINDS US THAT, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE…ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.”
IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE A LOT MORE IN COMMON WITH THE SOLDIERS THAN WE FIRST THOUGHT. HOW? WHEN WE REALIZE THAT THE SPIT OF THE SOLDIERS SYMBOLIZE ALL THE FILTH IN OUR HEARTS WE MUST STRIVE TO TAME AND BRING UNDER SUBMISSION AND CONTROL.
BUT WAIT! THERE IS ONE MORE SOLDIER. MAYBE ONE THAT DID NOT SPIT, BUT RATHER SPOKE OUT. MARK 15:39, “WHEN THE ROMAN OFFICER WHO STOOD FACING HIM SAW HOW HE HAD DIED, HE EXCLAIMED, ‘TRULY, THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD!’”
PROBABLY THE ROMAN OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE BATTALION THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY MOCKED AND TORMENTED JESUS, IS NOW HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS AND EVEN A CHANGE OF HEART AT WHAT HE ALLOWED HIS SOLDERS TO DO WITH THIS MAN UPON THE CROSS.
MAYBE HE PUT THE SYMBOLISM TOGETHER THAT UPON THAT CROSS WAS NOT ONLY A MAN, BUT THE CONCLUSION TO HIS WICKED AND EVIL PAST. ALL THAT WAS HORRIBLE ABOUT HIS HEART WAS NAILED UPON THAT CROSS AND FORGIVEN.
MINGLED WITH HIS BLOOD, SWEAT AND AMONGST ALL THE SOLDIERS SPIT AND INFLICTED BRUISES, WAS THE ESSENCE OF HIS SIN. SOMETHING WITHIN HIS HEART BECAME BROKEN AS IF HE HAD DONE ALL THE DAMAGE SINGLE-HANDEDLY.
HE MADE AMENDS, CONFRONTED THE BEAST FROM WITHIN, AND HEAVING IT ALL UPON THE CROSS THAT TOWERED OVER HIM, HE PROCLAIMED HIS NEWFOUND FREEDOM BY SAYING, “TRULY, THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD!”
WE CAN DO THE SAME BY REALIZING ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE SPIT UPON CHRIST TO WARRANT HIS EXECUTION. TO STAND AND WATCH HIM DIE FOR OUR SINS SO THAT WE MAY EXCLAIM AS WELL, “TRULY, HE IS THE SON OF GOD.”
STAND, AS THE ROMAN OFFICER, AND CONSUME ALL THAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR YOU AND HAS BECOME FOR YOU. JUST FOR US, JESUS BEGAN HIS MINISTRY BY BEING HUNGRY, YET HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. JESUS ENDED HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY BY BEING THIRSTY, YET HE IS THE LIVING WATER.
JESUS WAS WEARY, YET HE IS OUR REST. JESUS PAID TRIBUTE, YET HE IS THE KING. JESUS WAS ACCUSED OF HAVING A DEMON, YET HE CAST OUT DEMONS. JESUS WEPT, YET HE WIPES AWAY OUR TEARS.
JESUS WAS SOLD FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, YET HE REDEEMED THE WORLD. JESUS WAS BROUGHT AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, YET HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD. JESUS DIED, YET BY HIS DEATH HE DESTROYED THE POWER OF DEATH.
JESUS LOVED US ENOUGH TO BECOME ONE OF US. ALL OF THIS FROM THE ONE WHO WAS SHOWERED WITH THE SINS OF SPITTLE AND BRUISED AND BATTERED WITH ABOMINATIONS. HE DID SO WILLINGLY FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SHOWING THE WORLD JUST HOW MUCH HE LOVES US.
ISAIAH 50:6, “I GIVE MY BACK TO THOSE WHO BEAT ME AND MY CHEEKS TO THOSE WHO PULL OUT MY BEARD. I DO NOT HIDE FROM SHAME, FOR THEY MOCK ME AND SPIT IN MY FACE.”
MAY WE LIVE EVER MORE HOLY SO THAT THE BEAST OF SIN IS NOT AROUSED TO BRING OUT THE WORST IN US. RATHER, ALLOW WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE ON THE CROSS TO BE THE DEATH OF OUR SINS SO THAT THE BEST IN US IS AWAKENED INTO A NEWNESS OF LIFE THAT PLEASING, WORSHIPFUL, AND HOLY UNTO GOD. AMEN.
