Day 9 – Betrayed & Mocked
In the events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion, remember again the shame he suffered for us.
Jesus endured the shame of betrayal. Imagine the laughter among the soldiers as his own three-year-long disciple, Judas Iscariot, kissed him (Matthew 26:48).
Along with this came the vulnerability and disrespect of being arrested like a common criminal. It’s a shame to be held and pushed around. Even in our day, being arrested and put into handcuffs is shaming. When arrested, most people shy away from the cameras. In shame they try to hide their faces from the public.
Then followed the shame of abandonment as his own disciples fled. Peter three times denied even knowing Christ.
At the interrogation before the High Priest, the men who were guarding Jesus mocked and insulted him. They blindfolded him. He couldn’t see to walk or brace himself and stumbled like a child. They caught him off guard with humiliating physical blows to his body. They made fun of his prophetic powers and demanded that he prophesy who hit him (Matthew 26:68; Mark 14:65).
His true identity was totally rejected. They presented him before Pilate with false charges as someone who perverted the people, another insult.
He was then beaten by soldiers. The mocking intensified the physical abuse – especially aimed at his head – a blatant insult to honor.
Soldiers struck him on the head. Slapped him. Spat on him. Forced a cruel, mocking crown upon his head. Dressed him with a scarlet robe as a king and scoffingly bowed down before him (John 19:3; Matthew 27:30).
Isaiah prophesied this about Christ’s crucifixion: “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6). Adding to all the other shaming aspects is the loss of his beard (2 Samuel 10:4).
Jesus was betrayed, mocked, mistreated, shamed. They put a cheap price on him (thirty pieces of silver). Treated him like a nobody. He endured all this and more for you and for me.
Today: “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).
~ Pastor Dave
