Jesus Reproached by the Soldiers
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
3/29/2015 PM
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Text:
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Matthew 27:27-31
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Psalters: |
176, 120, 343, 12 |
- The scourging.
- Jesus was scourged: being stripped, hands tied around a pole, beaten with a whip with lead in tips.
- This was done by the on-duty Roman soldiers, who purposely gathered all those who were off-duty, to join them in the sport.
- For the soldiers it was an opportunity for sport with physical torture and bodily hurt.
- Worse than the physical abuse was the cruel verbal mocking salutes, “Hail, King of the Jews!
- They gave Jesus the appearance of a king: a purple robe, a crown and a scepter.
- The soldiers, representing the kingdom of this world, despise Christ’s kingship, considering it folly and entirely worthless.
- This reproach hit deeply because Jesus was/is really King (Ps. 2:6-8).
- He is King, but His kingdom is spiritual (not earthly), and He obtains it only by righteousness.
- But this kind of king and kingdom means nothing to the soldiers who recognize only earthly, physical might.
- King Jesus bore the reproach, giving His back to them, testifying in this way that He is the Servant of Jehovah.
- First, no one could have heaped this reproach on Him without His will.
- Second, see that His suffering is voluntary, completely an act of His will, arising out of love and obedience to His Father.
- He bears reproach as the Servant of Jehovah, and for the sake of God and God’s righteousness.
- This is a mighty royal deed!
- This condemns the world in the judgment of God.
- Finally, Christ bore the reproach because He put all His confidence in the Father.
- Jesus endured the suffering, despising the shame in order that we might be delivered from eternal torments.