We know about the cruelty of the cross, the words spoken there about Jesus and by Jesus. Even before he got there He took on so much of the enemies hatred toward us, for us. I want us to look at two different references for today's "thought". (Warning! This is going to be a hard one to read)
"Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?” Matthew 26:67, 68
The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?” Luke 22:63,64
When I think about what Jesus went through for us, I can't help but grieve. What you have just read is the hatred the enemy had toward Jesus and the Father's great love for mankind. The stupidity of men submitting themselves to willingly to the lies of the enemy, the jealousy, envy, insecurities, and fear. These are all the things that sent Jesus to the cross from a human standpoint.
Two groups of people beat Jesus. First, the temple guards mocked him, they made fun of the way he ministered to people, how he healed and poured out His love. It was probably like one of those mean skits you see if you have seen SNL in recent years. Luke tells us they "beat" him. The word used here means to flay him, cut His skin in strips, opening up his body to begin bleeding. The second group was the religious leaders it says they began by spitting on his face. This was the highest form of disdain they could show a human. This wasn't just one or two people but most likely at least 100 men that spat on His face. The spittle would have been free flowing running down His face and as the spat on Him they then "beat" Him. This word means to literally punch with a closed fist. As they punched Him, they mocked Him and the spittle ran into the open wounds on His face and head. I know, pretty gross!
We need to understand what Jesus endured for us. Despite the pain, humiliation, and disdain the writer of Hebrews (12:2) reminds us of something important.
"looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
He was thinking of you and me as He suffered all of this. He did it willingly, thinking of the joy that because He suffered, we can have eternal life. Because He took on all of the wrath for your sin and my sin, we can have a relationship with the Father. I know this was hard to read but we need to understand that He took it all, just because He loves you!
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