Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Mark:15:16-20
kjv@Mark:15:16 @ And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
kjv@Mark:15:17 @ And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
kjv@Mark:15:18 @ And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
kjv@Mark:15:19 @ And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
kjv@Mark:15:20 @ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
Today's notes:
Context:
- Before - willing to content the people
- After - Himself He cannot save
Key Concepts:
What is God's righteousness observed doing?:
- Putting Jesus not only to the abuse of the Jews, but also that of the Romans
What does this tell us about God's righteousness?:
- Everyone seems to have their role down pat. How many times have these soldiers abused their inmates? How many other political figures? How many other religious types? How many other natives of the foreign land they possess? How many other criminals? If not these particular men howmany like them? And if these Romans, how many other Romans like them? If these soldiers, how many other soldiers? And if in Jerusalem how many other places around the world and how other many times? It is said that Jesus was tempted in every way similar to all men; the abuse of His captors can be added to this long long list. No not all prisoners come with the fame and national stir attached as did Jesus, but these men seem well practiced at this and established enough to kick it up a few notches into championship level. Not all men are as innocent as Jesus either. No man or woman however, no matter what they have wrongly done or not done, should be allowed to suffer the indignities of their jailers, because it makes men like this even more so.
- These men had to know about Jesus, had to know about the healings, the miracles. How could they so easily do this? The over turning of the money tables at the temple, wouldn't think that any one who was a thorn in the side of the Jews would be the least bit intriguing and admirable by these men? The problem is the extreme danger that Jesus has put these Romans in. If riots were to break out because of this they would be the first on the front lines attempting to hold until the other troops could be brought in.
- Sorry to say that the world is not healthy place. We have Old Testament references to God being sickened by what HE sees and knows to occur here. HE is sorrowful, even at times to the point of being sorrow to have made and continued this world. HIS holiness is repulsed and angered to extreme and warranted wrath. HIS heart is wrenched over what HIS faithful must endure. For HIS name sake and the sake of those few who believe and trust their lives to HIM judgment upon this world must swiftly come, but there is also HIS mercy that demands time for those who still might to come. So then HIS offer. So then HIS encouragement to those who would believe. So then Son Jesus to the Cross. So then the Cross and beyond.
How is man reacting?:
- Man continues to look at this as his judgment upon Jesus instead of God's judgment upon sin. Each man feels obliged personally to add a little bit more upon what already seems to have coming to Him. God feels obliged to get through to the end of this so as to properly deal with sin in a much preferred merciful towards men way. Man cannot yet see this for their own sinfulness.
Notes:
Pilate can attempt to wash his hands of the nasty business of pronouncing judgment, but he cannot wash his hands of the treatment of his charges upon Jesus in the tween. Much like he was played by the chief priests and religious class of Jerusalem, he is likely played daily by those to who serve him (rather serve themselves through him) and those who seek his political weight. Men do not get to this position in some forsaken territorial province ruling his own with a tight fist, they get to rule this hell hole by giving his own what they want.
All of this as bad as it is getting on a human scale is not the punishment of God upon mankind and therefore cannot be what Jesus is suffering from God in substitution for man. Man can do this upon man all that he wants and it will not at any point equal what God mercifully for us has transferred upon HIS Son. Jesus is suffering without it being said something much bigger meant for us as a whole. It is the penalty for all our sin not the out pouring of a few sinful actions by a few sinful men upon Him that we have to keep our focus on. I would venture to guess that this is where our Lord's focus is at this moment as well.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- I am dead certain that our mis-comprehensions about God's righteousness and how it must righteously be executed has lead us to immeasurable false conclusions as to what is going on here ahead of the cross. And if so prior then how much more so after His death and resurrection? Mis-comprehension lessens the reliability of our image of Christ and therefore that truer image's ability to transform us into the type of servants that He needs us to be. In this specific case it effects our appreciation of what Jesus is having to suffer for each of us individually and each of us as a whole. It alters the depth of devotion and dependence upon His rule and reign. In other cases it unknowingly makes God's righteousness to theoretically behave unrighteously.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Mark:15:16-20
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Mark:15:16-20 rwp@Mark:15:16-20 mhcc@Mark:15:16-20
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index
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