Soldiers Misbehavin'
Before Jesus endured the nails, He had to face the military.
Jesus' introduction to His death was both a mocking humiliation and a physical assault.
'The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.' (Mark 15:16-20)
The Son of Man, the King of the Jews, responded with no threat and uttered no pleas. Silence in the face of their malevolence was this King's only witness.
As always Heaven's grace was collectively unappreciated that darkest Friday.
Tormented in mind, tortured in body and terrified in spirit, Jesus felt evil but refused to resist it.
(Men choose evil to resist evil. To fight evil with evil is to simply multiply evil, no wonder Jesus' lives to turn the other cheek.)
Crowned and dressed as royalty, yet derided as a pauper, pure goodness stood before these unthinking soldiers. Literally this scene was innocence personified.
God had become human but this was utterly unseen.
Evil can't recognize good, but good can recognize evil.
God had visited earth but earth had missed His visitation.
The next time Jesus visits earth none will be blind, nor will soldiers misbehave for:
He who was crowned in thorns will be crowned in glory and worshipped by all.
Today's Soul Snippet:
'Jesus' return is even more certain than tomorrow's dawn'.
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