What will you do?
And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. Matthew:27:31
All of the people in Israel knew who Jesus was. Everyone knew He did miracles and was a teacher with the message of salvation. Of course, there were many who were jealous of Him like the religious leaders of the day. They were afraid that Jesus would become more popular and also that He would turn the Hebrew people away from the synagogue. They didn’t want to lose their fame or funding. They all knew who Jesus was and some of them even spent time in His presence, but only to look for excuses to shut Him down.
In today’s reading, Jesus was handed over to the entire unit of Roman soldiers to be beaten and mocked. Here was a group of people who again knew who Jesus was but did not know Him personally. Some of them may have seen Him before that time and surly some of these guards were there when He was arrested. However, none of them knew Him personally or spend time getting to know His heart of love for people especially those who were hurting.
The point is, this is still happening today. Most people in our country have heard the name of Jesus and maybe even that He was a person in history that was crucified. Most know that He is worshiped by Christians and even that He is the Savior of the world. Yet, many still mock Him and don’t see any need for Him in their lives personally.
Then there are those who love Him deeply. Those who spend time not only learning about Him, but also getting to know Him better each day personally by spending time talking with Him. Those who have turned to Him for help when they were going through a crisis and then begin to walk with Him daily to point their life away from destruction. Those who worship and honor Him because He is the One who paid the penalty for sin and bridged the gap that was between us and our Heavenly Father, and those who press into Him for strength and wisdom to help others who are going through struggles.
What about you? What are you doing with Jesus? Are you a mocker like those in Jesus’ day who saw His good works, but ridiculed His methods? Are you among those who believe they have no need for Jesus to be in their life? Maybe you are with those who know He has their salvation but haven’t received it yet?
Today I want to encourage you to consider what type of relationship you have with Him. Is He Lord and Savior over your life? Is He your best Friend that goes with you everywhere every day? Or is He someone you have heard of but never stepped into that intimate relationship of love that He wants to walk in with you? Decide today to accept Jesus into your life as the One who rescued you from the darkness of the world. Walk in the light of His love and His light. Step away from the mockers of the world and make the decision to step into His arms of love. Start the conversation today by praying this short prayer and keep that conversation going until you finish your course in this life.
Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen
Today’s scripture reading; Matthew 27:27-31
27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment.
28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!”
30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it.
31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.
The Daily Dose 