By: Hannah Guthrie, Grade 12
Passage: Matthew 27:27 to 31
“… and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:29
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt alone? Or felt the hate and mockery of others around you? Have you wondered what you should do when you faced with such challenges? The answer is to turn to God. Jesus, as we read in this account, is our ultimate example.
In Ma6hew 27:29, Jesus is about to be sent out to be crucified because he claims he is the Messiah. At the headquarters where the Roman officials reside, Jesus is mocked, laughed at, judged, and humiliated by Roman soldiers. Jesus’ humiliation is in stark contrast to what a king “deserves.” How Jesus deals with it shows us the true nature of God.
The suffering and rejection Jesus endured emphasizes his willingness to endure humiliation for the sake of humanity. The soldiers mock him physically but also spiritually. We need to realize that it isn’t just a couple of soldiers who mock him and later crucify him – as humans, it is all of us. As sinners, we have failed God’s command to love, fear and trust him. Metaphorically, our sins put Jesus on the cross.
When we face challenges in our lives, especially constant judgment or humiliation from others for following Jesus, we are called to turn to God and put our trust in the work that Jesus did at the cross. Let us strive to live like Jesus by showing his character of grace, love, and selflessness. We may not be perfect and selfless like he is, but with his strength and through faith in Jesus, we can learn to walk in his ways and treat others, even those who oppose God, with love and forgiveness.
In short, we should recognize Jesus’ love and grace amidst the humiliaMon he faced as an example of how we should act when we face challenges.
Don’t be like the Roman soldiers, be like Jesus.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that we use Easter as a Mme of reflection for what Jesus did. He faced humiliation and mockery at the hands of the Roman soldiers: physically and spiritually. Despite the humiliation that he knew he would face, Jesus chose to love us and die for us. He showed his perfect nature – what a true king looks like.
I pray that we use Jesus’ example in our own lives. That, by recognizing our sin, we can turn to God for salvation in Jesus and when we face challenges and humiliation, learn to walk in his light and imitate his love, selflessness, grace, and forgiveness.
Amen