Jesus entered Jerusalem surrounded by voices lifted in praise and celebration, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel,” John 12:13. Not long afterwards, when Pilate was heard to say, “Here is your King!” those voices that once hailed Jesus now berated and condemned Him, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!” John 19:14-15.
The One Who grew up among us like a tender shoot, Who had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him. Nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He found Himself despised and rejected by men. A man of sorrows! Familiar with suffering! Like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised (Isaiah 53:2-3a).
For those who despise the Lord I pray; for surely, they will come face-to-face with the One Whose love flowed red from a heart that desires no one to perish, but that everyone would come to Repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Yes, they will meet the One those soldiers flogged (John 19:1) and refused to esteem. Christ Jesus was oppressed and afflicted, but He did not open His mouth. Led to the slaughter like a Lamb, yet He opened not His mouth. He was considered stricken by God! Smitten by Him and afflicted (Isaiah 53:3b,4,7). So those soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on the head (John 19:2) of Him Who did not draw back in rebellion.
The Sovereign Lord offered His back to those who beat Him! His cheeks to those who struck Him in the face, who pulled out His beard. No, He did not hide His face from the mocking and the spitting (Isaiah 50:5-6) of those who clothed Him in a purple robed saying again and again, “Hail, King of the Jews!” John 19:3.
Through the eyes of those who mocked Him, Jesus looked powerless. However, Jesus knew the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God (John 13:3).
“Because My Father helps Me, I will not be disgraced. I have set My face like flint and know I will not be put to shame. He Who vindicates Me is near,” Isaiah 50:7.
They put a staff in the right hand of Him Who was pierced for our transgressions; crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5a). They knelt before Him! Yes, they mocked Him! They took that staff and struck the One, Who took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4a), hitting Him over the head with it again and again.
They led the One Who bore the punishment that brought us peace with God (Isaiah 53:4b) to be crucified (Matthew 27:31). He Who said, “No one takes My life from Me. I lay it down of My own accord,” John 10:17-18. Though no charge could be brought against Him (John 19:4) for He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth (Isaiah 53:9).
With all His flesh was made to endure, the One Who was assigned a grave with the wicked (Isaiah 53:9b) assigned His mother to a home overflowing with faith and hope and love (John 19:26-27). Yes, for the joy set before Him Jesus endured that cross, scorning its shame and now He sits at the right hand of the throne of God.
So consider Him Who endured such opposition from sinful people, as the criminal crucified on His right wisely did. For then you will not grow weary and lose heart understanding the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2-3) will speak these same words to you, “Today you will be with Me in paradise,” Luke 23:43.
In His greatness God sent His Son to win the victory for what is true and right. To let the world see the amazing things He can do with His powerful right arm (Psalm 45:4 ERV). For we all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us turned to our own way; and the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
Love never fails! (1 Corinthians 13:8). Like those criminals who were crucified next to Jesus, their behavior was made known. Even with their death imminent, Jesus was so very willing to forgive. What an amazing thing He did to save us! People all over the world know they can trust Him! For God answers our prayers and does what is right (Psalm 65:5 ERV).
Though a physical death may not be imminent, we are spiritually dead in our sins. Our sinful desires are not cut away. But God, He gives us a share in the very life of Christ, for He forgives all our sins, and blots out the charges they can prove against us by revealing the list of His commandments we did not obey.
God takes that list of our sins and destroys it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. In this way God takes away Satan’s power to accuse us of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ’s Triumph at the cross where our sins were all taken away (Colossians 2:13-15 TLB). When we believe God did this so that His kindness would clearly show for all time to come, the amazing richness of His grace to us who belong to Christ Jesus! (Ephesians 2:7-8 ERV).
Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourself! (Philippians 4:23 Message).
The Song of the Lamb
Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy!
All nations will come and worship You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed!
Revelation 15:3-4 ESV