A Chicago businessman had no idea he was humiliating an “icon in the community.” Outside a local US courthouse, he became angry at a seventy-nine-year-old African-American woman. After arguing with her and calling her Rosa Parks (a famous African-American civil rights activist), he slapped and spit on her. The woman, however, was a judge! The man was arrested and charged with four counts of aggravated battery and a hate crime.
As outrageous, horrible, and humiliating as the attack on the judge was, it’s still incomparable to what happened to Jesus during His passion week. In Matthew’s gospel, the Roman soldiers had no idea they were mocking God Himself. The soldiers humiliated Jesus by placing a crown of thorns on His head and draping a scarlet robe on Him—giving the Savior mock homage (Matthew 27:28-29). To add insult to injury, they spit on Christ and slapped His face (Matthew 27:30). He was dishonored, shamed, and belittled. For “the joy awaiting him,” Jesus endured mockery and the torture of the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
It’s true. The soldiers had no idea they were humiliating the Savior of the world (Luke 23:34; 1 Corinthians 2:8). We also had no idea that, because of our rebellion against God, we conspired to humiliate Jesus. With our disobedience, we “slapped” the King of glory. With our sins, we spit on the eternal Savior of the world. It was an outrage, and we deserved death and condemnation. But, because of His infinite, fathomless love for us, He didn’t charge and arrest us. He died and set us free (Ephesians 2:4-5). May we respond to His grace by turning to Him in repentance, praising Him, and receiving His forgiveness and love!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 1:8–2:10
More:
Read Isaiah 50:6 and 53:2-4 to see how Jesus’ humiliation was predicted by the prophet.
Next:
How do you feel knowing that the eternal King and Savior endured slapping, spitting, and intense suffering to set you free and give you life? What thoughts and emotions fill your heart and mind as you consider His humiliation?
don777 on January 31, 2017 at 5:18 am
OOOOHHHHH!!!! LORD PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL, i am a worm. Oh LORD I NEED A SAVOIR, EVERY DAY ALL DAY. PLEASE SAVE me FROM myself
marvin williams on January 31, 2017 at 11:11 am
don777, I bow right next to you to ask for mercy. I, too, need saving from myself. Thanks for reminding us that we should cry for mercy each day.
Gary Shultz on January 31, 2017 at 5:41 am
Hi Marvin: We have been told to remember the Lord’s death until He comes. As we read today’s post we are humbled that the Lord had to endure the ugly, extremely painful, path to His death. How can we feel, but saddened, ashamed, and unworthy, when we see Christ’s suffering. I believe this must be a part of how we see Jesus. When we step away from what we know is God’s desire for us we are reminded of the cost sin had on Christ. The only way I can move on from there is that Christ’s life was given so that we may live. So we live because of a price, and we live because the debt to death was paid, so we may live out a life for Christ. And we can live victoriously because Christ conquered death. Out of death was born much life, life in fullness, the cost brought a cause, and we became in Christ because of His death. Now we live. Thanks Marvin
marvin williams on January 31, 2017 at 11:19 am
Gary, “out of death was born much life, life in fullness….” I love the juxtaposition of death and life. It is a holy contrast, isn’t it? Now we live, indeed. Thanks for adding your voice.
gagirllive on January 31, 2017 at 6:00 am
Wow, Marvin. That’s some story. I got stuck on the fact that she was a 79 year old woman more than that she was an iconic judge! I can’t even imagine what would have provoked that businessman to attack an elderly person. But then again hatred and bigotry are without reason and logic, to say the least. Marvin, I was thinking how a slap to the face is such an affront to a person’s sense of human dignity. Its very purpose is to insult and humiliate rather than injure. Add spitting and mockery to that and it takes it to a whole new level of humiliation. I’ve never experienced any of those shameful acts, but I deserve every one of them. My Lord Jesus suffered these in my stead before He even reached Calvary! How can I begin to tell you how that makes me feel? To watch (in my mind’s eye) Jesus suffer humiliation in my place—my well-deserved place—is so very humbling. It feels like GRACE—where my brokenness meets God’s healing, my sin meets His forgiveness, and my shame and rejection meet His acceptance. It ruins me and restores me all at once. It makes me both lament and rejoice at the same time because He willingly endured it for me. I know that’s such an inadequate description of how I feel, but God knows I’m so grateful for the length and depth and width and height of His love expressed through Christ my Savoir! Hallelujah! Alright now, Marvin—you’ve started a praise-fest. 🙂 Thank you for these wonderful devos, brother. Grace and peace to you and to all who visit here today.
marvin williams on January 31, 2017 at 11:23 am
gagirllive, your praise fest is contagious. As I read your comments, I started praising God with you. When I think about the depths of my sin and my mocking the Savior, I am humbled beyond belief. My heart is desperately wicked. I certainly don’t know how bad it really is. Thanks be to God for his amazing grace toward us. Thank you, gagirllive for starting the praise party this morning.
hsnpoor on January 31, 2017 at 12:40 pm
I gotta join this party and I didn’t come empty-handed. I love Hillsong songs and this is one of my favorites. Please YouTube, enjoy and be blessed:
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD
When I Think about the Lord,
How He saved me, how He raised me,
How He filled me, with the Holy Ghost.
How He healed me, to the uttermost.
When I Think about the Lord,
How He picked me up and turned me around,
How He placed my feet on solid ground
Chrous*
It makes me wanna shout,
Hallelujah,
Thank you JESUS,
LORD, your worthy, of all the glory, and all the honor,
And all the praise… (Repeat*)
Thank you, Jesus! If I had 10,000 tongues, I couldn’t praise you enough! You loved me to life and I love you to death!!
samgaskill on January 31, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Amen! Thank-you Kim! God bless you always with a song in your heart!! I know you have a voice to sing them!!
gagirllive on January 31, 2017 at 1:54 pm
I know this song well….and love it! Thanks for bringing this to the party today, beloved. 🙂
godlove on January 31, 2017 at 7:35 am
Marvin, you have laid a finger on one of the most painful aspects of my walk in the faith. Each time it occurs to me that, due to my disobedience and sins, I am literally conspiring to humiliate Jesus, “slapping” and “spitting” on Christ our King and Saviour, it just re-emphasises the fact that I don’t deserve anything from Him. It’s worse that I sin even after I am supposed to have been saved from my past sins, and Jesus has already told me “Go and sin no more.” This makes me all the more contrite but all the more thankful as well that even as imperfect as I am, yet He still loves me and through His infinite love and mercy He wants me to become perfect just as He is perfect. I pray that the Holy Spirit may continue working in me and continue transforming me everyday.
marvin williams on January 31, 2017 at 11:26 am
godlove, I love your transparency and authenticity. Your comment here is both tender and strong. I cry out to God with you to be holy and mature. Let’s keep pushing through quitting points by the power of the Spirit. Grace and peace.
samgaskill on January 31, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Hi friend, I admire your willingness to humble yourself before our Holy God. I am reminded of Psalm 32:1-2 “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit”. How incredible is it to be a child of God Almighty! Our sins not counted…….. but remembered no more! Yet all of us sometimes feel that burden of our sin; not wanting to ever disappoint such a loving God, sometimes even falling prey to guilt. When I begin to feel burdened by my own lack, I need reminding that I am still growing up; not in my parents household, but now in the family of God. Everyday, my Father is with me, teaching and guiding and pruning me as needed. Everyday I am loved as much as the day before regardless of my behavior. In the family of God, I am learning and growing from my mistakes because God is faithful not to leave me in my miserable condition but to pick me up, dust me off and sit me on His knee (in my mind). He’ll talk with me, sometimes saying what I like and sometimes not . . . . . but always speaking in love. Somehow this earthly picture of a good parent relating to a child helps me in understanding life as a child of God; who can only love with perfection and will always provide for our most pressing need; Spiritual maturity. I won’t be fully grown until Heaven where sin is no more. I am comforted by the thought that I am being watched over, disciplined and never without God’s hand to guide me, correct me or strengthen me. We are so blessed to remember that God is faithful to complete the good work He began in each of us. What an Amazing Father!! God bless you and bless us all as we grow up in His family, daily being transformed into the image of Jesus and daily seeking and being supplied with a renewing of our minds! It is a huge blessing to talk with others in God’s family about such matters. Thank you!!
godlove on February 1, 2017 at 1:52 am
I like your picture of a growing up in God’s family as a child of God our Father. May He continue to watch over and strengthen us, but also teach us and discipline us as we ought to be, being His true children. Thank you, too, for sharing. Stay blessed.
Tom Felten on January 31, 2017 at 11:18 am
Marvin, I recall, as a young man, choosing not to engage in certain activities (sinful or questionable), out of respect and love for my earthly father. It time, the Holy Spirit redirected my conscience to pursue the right choices out of love and reverence for my heavenly Father. Rules and fear will never ultimately lead us to live in ways that honor God and bless others, but love for Him and the power of the indwelling Spirit can!
marvin williams on January 31, 2017 at 11:31 am
Tom, you are spot on. I was so legalistic in my approach to my heavenly Father. If I didn’t do certain things, then he would be pleased with me. It took the Holy Spirit to remind me that there is no law that governs and produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Tom, I want to keep on being led by the Holy Spirit, so that I will not fulfill the evil cravings of my sinful nature. Thanks for your encouraging reminder. Grace and peace.
hsnpoor on January 31, 2017 at 12:42 pm
Amen!
samgaskill on January 31, 2017 at 1:19 pm
The thoughts and emotions that fill my heart as I read and reflect on today’s message echoes that of georgia-girl; both lamenting and rejoicing over the sacrifice and suffering made on my behalf, born of a “Love” that seemingly has no end. Today’s message also brought me to a place of freedom. Freedom to joyfully surrender the things The Holy Spirit brought to my mind. Those things that keep me focused on self. I find myself encouraged and grateful to forgive generously, to put the needs of another before my own, and to be able to release any wounding in my heart with a knowing that God’s mercy, justice and grace is sufficient. There is a joy awaiting us as well……. when we offer up to God’s will what we do not understand about our world. We may look joyfully ahead as we meekly go about the business of loving and serving one another with grateful hearts knowing we ourselves have been welcomed into the family of God, flawed and imperfect, made righteous only in Christ. Makes me cry with grateful tears to think upon God’s love focused on our world even while pushed away. Thank you for this post today and all the helpful comments. May the mercy of God, His love and grace always be enough! with a joyful heart, Mary
gagirllive on January 31, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Yes and Amen! Wonderful to hear from you today, Mary! 🙂
Monica Brands on January 31, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Thanks for this powerful message, Marvin.