Reflection by Seana Scott
Enjoy this guest post by Seana Scott, content creator, writer, speaker, and friend.
When Jesus talked about his kingdom, people laughed at him. Eyes rolled. Anger seethed. The religious crowd wanted him killed because they thought Jesus “MADE HIMSELF out to be the Son of God” (John 19:7) and MADE HIMSELF out to be a king (v.12, emphasis mine).
Honestly, if Jesus were really becoming a self-made God-king, then opposing him followed God’s Law. Blasphemy was indeed punishable by death (Lev. 24:16).
But the religious crowds ignored the predictions, the prophesies fulfilled from the Old Testament (19:36–37). They hid their soul-eyes from seeing that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Kings.
So, the people mocked him. Beat him. And paraded his broken body through the streets like a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Jesus allowed them to inflict injury. The God-over-all could have silenced them in a moment.
But he offered himself to the shame, the nakedness, the slashes of hatred and the spits of contempt. And when he submitted himself to the torturous death, the kind of death assigned to a law-breaker (when Jesus fulfills the Law)…he OFFERED UP his spirit (John 19:30, emphasis mine).
Jesus offered his life—it was not taken. He submitted himself to the suffocating, naked display of his humanity in order to clothe us with his eternal righteousness.
Even today, this is hard to see.
It’s hard to see Jesus for who he is in a culture that tells us it’s close-minded, foolish, even stupid to believe that the carpenter from Nazareth is the Creator and Savior of the world.
But as we take a moment to breathe in the reality of Jesus as the Son of God and King of Kings—when we breathe in that reality—then other’s judgements dim.
And once again we are willing to look the fool to an onlooking world. And follow.
REFLECT:
How have you felt embarrassed or mocked in your faith?
Take a few moments to imagine you are right there with Romans guards and offended religious officials as they mocked, whipped, and spit on Jesus.
How does that image help you endure those who think you are crazy for following Jesus?
Pray about your thoughts.
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