Jesus had already endured more than the Son of God ever should’ve had to endure. He had now been sentenced to be crucified. Pilate found no fault in Jesus. He found no reason that Jesus should be put to death, but was not man enough to stand up to the crowd. Upon sentencing Jesus, He was taken away and scourged. Scourging was a horrible punishment. Scourging involved whipping. A cat of nine tales was used. There were strips of leather coming from the handle. On the ends of the strips were bone, rock and metal that tore the flesh as it hit. After he endured the beating, he was mocked. He endured all of this because of His love for you and I.
Let’s look at what He went through out of Love.
Mt. 27:27-30
Never doubt the Love of Jesus. He went through hell so that you did not have to. That is the extent of His love. He was willing to endure great suffering and mockery. He suffered:
I. The Robe of Mockery
After Jesus had been beaten, they brought Him forth to mock Him. The first form of mockery was a robe. Here we read that the guards used a scarlet robe. The color of scarlet signified royalty. Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was clothed in this robe to make fun of the fact that Jesus was the King. He had been beaten and stripped. Now, on His back this robe was placed, only to be ripped off before all was through. In all of this Christ was silent.
Is. 53:7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”
All that Christ endured and He did not utter a word. He allowed His persecutors to hurl insults and humiliate Him and He did not retaliate or speak out. How different would our world be if we would be silent in the midst of persecution and mockery?
Christ endured for you and I, He also set an example. Jesus shows us how to endure persecution. He is quiet in pain and humiliation.
A time is coming when we will suffer many things for the name of Christ. Are you ready? How will you respond?
II. The Crown of Mockery
They put a crown of thorns upon His head. These thorns were not little bitty thorns like on a rose bush. These were long, pointed ones. The thorns are believed to have been an inch to an inch and a half long. They were woven together into a crown. A king wears a crown of gold and costly jewels. Christ definitely deserved a crown full of gold and jewels. Instead, they made a crown of thorns. They placed it on His head and pressed it down w/ force. These went deep into His head and drew blood. He had blood pouring from the thorns that pressed into His head.
The disgrace that he endured. The laughter, the humiliation. He did all of that for you and I. Jesus suffered many things so that you and I did not have to.
Most of us would break under the pressure and persecution that Christ endured. We would have surrendered to their will, or spoke out against them. Christ endured.
A time is coming when the church, the Christian will be called to suffer. Mt. 24:9-10 says that you will be hated by nations, delivered to tribulation, and killed for the sake of Christ. Jesus endured the greatest persecution/humiliation, but a time is coming when we must be prepared. We must learn from His example.
Are you ready for that time? There is no need to be scared. Greater is He who is in me, than he that is in the world. There is nothing that men can do to us that can be as bad or worse than Christ endured. If we should die- as Paul said- to live is Christ, to die is gain. They can hurt us physically, but for all eternity we shall be whole, pure, and with our Lord.
Are you willing to wear the crown of mockery?
III. The Knee of Mockery
Now that the guards had put on the so-called kings wardrobe they bowed down before Him and cried, “Hail, King of the Jews.” They bowed down as to say that He was worthless and nothing. Little did the foolish ones know that they were only practicing for the future.
Scripture tells us that Every knee shall bow and Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord- Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10-11.
One day everyone will bow before Jesus and recognize that Christ truly is King. We all have two choices. We can either confess Him now and earth and enjoy eternal life with Him, or we can wait confess Him at jdgmt and be cast away.
Maybe you have never confessed Him as Lord. All that we have discussed today- He did for you. He died on the cross and rose again for you. All you have to do is confess Him as Lord. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you Will Be Saved! (Rom. 10:13)
Don’t let the thought of suffering scare you. For that is only a temporary suffering. Reward will be great in heaven. We can suffer a little on earth or for eternity if we refuse to bow before Him. The men that day had all the evidence they needed, but refused to believe. How much more evidence do you need? Don’t let pride stand in the way.
Christian- how will you endure persecution? We say we are ready, but are we?
Seek Him; study His Word; share His love
Seek- He is the only one who can bring you through such trials. Seek Him- know Him. Allow Him to transform your life. Let Him change your character and your ways into His.
Study- know His Word. A time is coming when we may not have the Scriptures. Will you know enough to get you through hard times? Learn all that you can. Teach the children. Teach your family. Teach one another.
Share- tell others about Him. Let them know what Jesus did for them out of Love. Tell them. Share about the hope that is only in Christ Jesus.
Will you bow the knee of honor before Him today?
