Read Matthew 27:27-32
What This Person Did To Me Was Horrible!
This passage was hard to read. At some point, during Jesus’s trial, he was taken into the Praetorium (a special room in the governor’s building). The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into this room and surrounded him. At this time, Jesus was humiliated, mocked, and violated.
1. They stripped him. 2. Pretended he was a king and put a Scarlet robe on him, a crown of thorns, and gave him a reed to hold onto. At this time they bowed before him and said, “Hail King of the Jews.”
3. They spit on him. 4. Took the Reed from his hand and began to beat him over the head. 5. Then they put his garments back on him and led him away to be crucified.
I hate this. I hate the thought of this. Imagine watching this happen to your family member or loved one. You couldn’t bear to watch it. You would be in agony. Imagine it happening to yourself. Imagine being stripped and beaten and mocked. You’d want it to stop.
Now think of Jesus going through all this. His love kept him focused so that he was able to give up his life for us. He persevered through it. He did not let hate or resentment overpower him.
Have you been hurt or violated in some way? Our natural response is revenge or to hurt the person. To hate them. To resent them. God wants to come alongside us and heal our broken spirit and hearts. He wants to set us free from the bondage of hate and resentment.
Let’s be honest for a second. How many times do we offend God each day with things that we say, that we shouldn’t. Or things that we do that are offensive to the Spirit of the Living God? But his compassion continues to strive for us, to love us, to offer forgiveness. He’s asking us to do the same. To those who hurt us, choose love, compassion, and forgiveness. If Hate or Resentment is what is in your heart, then please, surrender it to the Lord and say help me. Take this hate and resentment away from me. Give me healing through your Holy Spirit so that I could love and forgive the person who sinned against me just as you love and offer forgiveness when I sin against you.
