It is difficult not to be deeply affected by the cruelty and brutality displayed in today’s passage. It’s hard to read, and is even harder because we know and love Jesus, He is our Lord. And it’s harder still because we know what is coming. We know this passage is just the prelude to the most painful death imaginable.
We rejoin the story in the Roman Governor’s Hall. It’s a harrowing scene. The soldiers beat Jesus, they mock Him, they dress Him up as if He were a King. They put a robe on Him, they force a crown of thorns upon His head. They bow down in jest before him, hailing Him as if He were a King.
But we know that He is a King. He’s our King. And it is right that we worship Him, it is right that we bow down before Him, but not like this.
The Roman soldiers thought they had the power and the authority over Jesus. But they were mistaken. The power and the authority belong to Jesus and yet He was prepared to lay it down for our sake.
As I was reflecting, I was struck by the many times that I figuratively dress myself up as if I were a King. It’s so easy to pretend that we are in charge, that we’re in control. We want to prove ourselves, prove that we know best, even to God Himself.
But Jesus didn’t need to prove Himself. He knew who He was. He knew whose Son He was and therefore He was able to withstand torture, mockery and even the most dreadful death. He kept His eyes on what He knew He needed to do.
And then the soldiers led Jesus away to be crucified. They forced Simon from Cyrene to carry the cross. The events which unfold next fulfill that which was prophesied in Psalm 22, which says:
my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
Psalm 22:15 (ESV)
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
and a bit later on
They stare and gloat over me;
Psalm 22:17-18 (ESV)
they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
And then the Roman soldiers sat down. Their work there was finished. All they had to do was sit, watch and wait until all three people being crucified were dead. But Jesus’ work was not yet finished. Jesus’ incredible work of salvation was not yet done, but it soon would be.
Jesus had yet to endure the most unimaginable physical as well as mental pain. Even the two rebels being crucified next to Jesus were hurling insults at Him. Those standing by mocked Him, asking why he was not able to save Himself when he claimed to be the Son of God. And yet even at this moment of intense pain, Jesus was only ever full of love. He was only ever full of forgiveness for those who had caused Him such agony.
The plaque above Jesus’ head read ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’. It was meant to mock Jesus. It was meant to show Jesus up, it was meant to show that Jesus was so far from the royalty He claimed to be. But this could not be any further from the truth.
Jesus may not have looked like a King in human terms. In this passage, Jesus was vulnerable, naked, bruised and shamed. No one would have taken a second glance at Him hanging on the cross. And yet Jesus never took His eyes off us.
Even though we had turned our backs on Him, He turned His face towards the cross. Even though Jesus did not deserve to die, because of Him, we received life which we could never have deserved. Even though we were once far off, we have been brought near to God through the precious blood of Jesus, shed for us on the cross.
But we know the story does not finish at the cross. We know this is not the end. But let’s take a pause this week. Let’s take some time to slow down and gaze at Jesus on the cross. Let’s sit at His feet, take time to repent from our sins and experience the freedom and grace we have received through His sacrifice.
Let’s take a moment to pray:
Heavenly Father, it is hard for us to comprehend what Jesus went through on the cross for our sake. We are so unworthy of what Jesus did, and yet, because of His sacrifice, we have been made worthy. Help us this week not to rush ahead to the joy and celebration of Easter Sunday, but to sit with the pain of Good Friday. Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. In His precious and almighty name we pray,
Amen.