Matthew the apostle wrote how Pilate the governor asked, “Whether of the twain will you that I release unto you?” Matthew continued, “They said, Barabbas. Pilate said unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil has he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see you to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse twenty-nine of his book, Matthew wrote how the soldiers, “platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him” where we read:
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
The verse reads, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand:” Matthew began words, “and when” which means “and after the time and moment” “they had platted” or “the soldiers braided or weaved” “a crown of thorns” which means “a wreath or garland made from a bramble bush or thorny plant that was given like a prize to victors in public games”, “they put it upon his head” or “the soldiers laid the crown of thorns upon Jesus' head”, “and a reed” which refers to “a staff or rod made of the stem of a plant” “in his right hand” or “in the right hand of Jesus”. Matthew shared how the soldiers mocked Jesus as they put the “crown of thorns” on His head and put a “reed in His right hand” like a scepter.
The verse goes on to say, “and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew continued with the words, “and they bowed the knee” or “and the soldiers fell on their knees like an act of imploring aid and expressing reverence and honor” “before him” which means “in front and in the presence of Jesus”, “and mocked him” or “and played with, trifled, jeered and derided Jesus”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Hail” or “rejoice exceedingly, be glad, be well and thrive” “King of the Jews” which means “leader, prince, commander and lord of those who belong to the Jewish nation”. Matthew shared how Pilate's soldiers continued to ridicule Jesus as they mockingly “bowed” before him and “jeered” Him as the “ruler and leader” of the Jewish people.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we discover more of the torture Jesus went through on behalf of mankind. Man without God is lost, and because “sin” results in “death” which is eternal separation from God, a “Savior” was necessary. Jesus endured this taunting and mocking from His created human beings so He could bring them into a personal relationship with God. All who believe and trust in Jesus will be forgiven their sins and inherit “everlasting life” with Him. All who do not continue to be “separated” from God and will be “eternally” without any hope for “salvation”.
Next time Matthew wrote how Pilate's soldiers, “spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment