Day 6 // The Cross
“They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said. They spit on him and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” - Matthew 27:28-31 NIV
Being mocked is one of the most devastating things one can endure, because it threatens our deepest emotional needs to feel loved, protected, and cared for. In high school, I was the last guy to go through puberty, so I constantly got ridiculed for my high-pitched voice. This also meant that I was the skinniest and shortest kid on the soccer team, so my playing time was very limited…the only time I got to go in games was if we were winning big or losing big. Any chance I had, I was trying to prove myself.
Once during my freshman year, I was sitting on the bus waiting to go home after an away game, upset because a ball had been passed directly towards me during the game, but another kid on the team (who also didn’t get much playing time) came flying in and punted the ball over the goal. I felt like he stole my chances of ever scoring a goal.
As I sat there upset, the bus driver began taking roll to make sure everyone was on the bus, and he called out, “Austin?” In my squeaky voice, I yelled, “Here.” Then the bus driver asked, “Is that a girl back there?” Everyone on the bus erupted in laughter, and I was embarrassed in front of the entire boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. I remember feeling an unbelievable amount of anger. My face was bloodshot and for a second, I didn’t care about the consequences, I just wanted revenge. I immediately began thinking of terrible things I could say to the bus driver to get my revenge. Thankfully, before I said any of those things, I pulled myself together enough to realize that if I said what I was thinking, there would be serious ramifications… so I kept my mouth shut.
As I think about what Jesus endured leading up to His crucifixion, I think about how heartbroken Jesus must have felt as people struck, spit, and mocked Him, and yet He didn’t say anything to retaliate. There are many times in our lives where we will be wronged by others. Instead of retaliating and saying things that you will regret, think about how Jesus reacted to those who hit, spit, and mocked Him. He not only loved them, but He died for them so that we all can have everlasting life.
Jesus showed us grace when we didn’t deserve it. How often do you show grace to others?
Being mocked is one of the most devastating things one can endure, because it threatens our deepest emotional needs to feel loved, protected, and cared for. In high school, I was the last guy to go through puberty, so I constantly got ridiculed for my high-pitched voice. This also meant that I was the skinniest and shortest kid on the soccer team, so my playing time was very limited…the only time I got to go in games was if we were winning big or losing big. Any chance I had, I was trying to prove myself.
Once during my freshman year, I was sitting on the bus waiting to go home after an away game, upset because a ball had been passed directly towards me during the game, but another kid on the team (who also didn’t get much playing time) came flying in and punted the ball over the goal. I felt like he stole my chances of ever scoring a goal.
As I sat there upset, the bus driver began taking roll to make sure everyone was on the bus, and he called out, “Austin?” In my squeaky voice, I yelled, “Here.” Then the bus driver asked, “Is that a girl back there?” Everyone on the bus erupted in laughter, and I was embarrassed in front of the entire boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. I remember feeling an unbelievable amount of anger. My face was bloodshot and for a second, I didn’t care about the consequences, I just wanted revenge. I immediately began thinking of terrible things I could say to the bus driver to get my revenge. Thankfully, before I said any of those things, I pulled myself together enough to realize that if I said what I was thinking, there would be serious ramifications… so I kept my mouth shut.
As I think about what Jesus endured leading up to His crucifixion, I think about how heartbroken Jesus must have felt as people struck, spit, and mocked Him, and yet He didn’t say anything to retaliate. There are many times in our lives where we will be wronged by others. Instead of retaliating and saying things that you will regret, think about how Jesus reacted to those who hit, spit, and mocked Him. He not only loved them, but He died for them so that we all can have everlasting life.
Jesus showed us grace when we didn’t deserve it. How often do you show grace to others?
Author: Austin Michels, Videographer
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