October 16 - A Great Multitude

Luke 23:26-31

And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. (Luke 23:27 ESV)

I used to always have this image of Jesus being crucified as a rejected messiah who was only finally revered after his resurrection from death. But Luke's telling of the crucifixion scene is remarkably different than how I had always imagined it.

Jesus was rejected, but it was by religious people. There was a mob at his farce of a trial, but they were hand picked pretenders with no credibility, no evidence, and no case. As Jesus was led away to his death a throng of people, a great multitude, followed him mourning for the horrors to come.

Jesus was always followed. He gathered people to himself like no other. People were drawn to his life-giving spirit and humble authority. He was fun. He was earnest. He was loved.

October 15 - Crown of Thorns

Mark 15:16-20

And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. (Mark 15:17 ESV) </blockquote>

Shortly after my third birthday I was playing in the front yard of the small house my parents rented. As I pushed this small toy truck along at a three-year-old's pace I ran straight through a large rose bush. To this day I still bare the scar on my arm from the deep cut. Because thorns hurt. They cut. And they cut deep.

Christ's cruel tormentors took sadistic pleasure in fashioning their instrument of agony out of thorns and thrusting it upon his brow. I can only truly imagine how horrible it must have been as the sharp points gouged his skin and scraped along the thin covering of the human skull.

Though he was crowned in mockery and brutality—Jesus was a king. Jesus is a King. He is The King. And in him, you and I find adoption into royalty. We find a calling away that lifts us above our own inadequacies, insecurities, and frailties. Jesus bore that crown of thorns so that we might wear a crown of peace.

October 14 - Scarlet Robes

Matthew 27: 27-31

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, (Matthew 27:28 ESV)

Have you ever been horribly embarrassed by something? Have you ever felt like all of your problems or insecurities were put on display by someone else? Those kinds of situations can be both heart breaking and deeply shameful.

Jesus was perfectly sinless. He had nothing to hide, no skeletons in his closet, and yet his persecutors still attempted to shame him. They plucked his beard, which was a cultural sign of masculinity. They mocked, beat, and disrobed him—replacing his clothes with garments meant to mock his royalty. They were out to not only kill him, but they were trying to destroy his image.

Jesus claim to divinity reaches across history as unique. Not because he is the only man to ever claim to be God, but because he is the only man ever to actually be God. To those trying to kill him and undermine his message, it won't be done. Try as you might to wrap him in scarlet robes, and parade him through a gauntlet of brutality and cruelty—Jesus is the Son of God. He is God-with-us. Any attempt to mock his royalty only serves to illuminate it.

October 13 - He Has Borne

Isaiah 53:4-6, Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6 ESV)

Scourging was a horribly grotesque punishment. It was so barbaric and brutal that many actually died as a result. Yet Jesus endured.

Just as the prophet Isaiah foretold nearly three millennia ago, Jesus was harmed beyond human recognition. I find it comforting to know that as difficult as life may sometimes be, it is not outside of the reach of the comfort of Christ. He was our substitution. He was our replacement.

He has borne our sorrows, anguish, and calamities. He knows the depths of our troubled souls. He has entered into the pit of Hell and returned victorious—brandishing eternal life and salvation for all who would enter his tender care.

October 12 - Insurrection & Murder

Luke 23:18-25

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. (Luke 23:25 ESV)

Barabbas was a known murderer. He had led an attempt at a full blown uprising. Usually that type of activity was met with swift and brutal retribution in the Roman world. However, for some reason Barabbas had been left on prison to rot. When it would have came time for him to have faced justice, Jesus was there to take his place.

Jesus took his place! Barabbas deserved justice. He deserved the full extent of the law, but he didn't face it because Jesus took his punishment.

You and I face our own punishment. We have sinned, we deserve an end that often reflects a lifetime of selfishness and immorality. But Jesus didn't die for your morality. He died to make you family. Why? Because he is more interested in the criminal than the crime. He took the place of a murder.

Regardless of background, moral slant, and failures—Jesus stands in for you. Barabbas' freedom was purchased by the death of Christ. So is ours.

October 11 - Prophecy: Mocking God

Promise: Isaiah 50:6Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6 ESV)

In about 700 B.C. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be mocked, beaten, spit upon, and that his beard would be plucked out. In the early hours of his arrest—all the way until the moment of his final breath—he endured ridicule, scorn, brutality, and disrespect from Jews and Romans alike. The Spirit of God spoke through the prophet Isaiah concerning these things, and then experienced the actual event itself as the Son of God.

Have you ever mocked someone or bullied someone? I remember all-too-well what it was like to be on the receiving end of both. It can be horrible. Jesus received both in brutal fashion. As grounded as he was in his identity I can't imagine the words having a very lasting affect on him, except that he must have felt compassion for the ignorance of those who were to unknowingly visit atrocities upon God Himself.

God will not be diminished by the verbal jabs of a blind mob. But our words can deeply affect others. If there is one part of my life that God has truly been working on in the last several months it is a push to be more encouraging and positive in my speech. Because after all, shouldn't I treat others how I would treat Jesus?

October 10 - His Blood Be

Matthew 27:24-26

And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25 ESV)

Pilate washed his hands as a symbolic gesture. A sign that he had given Jesus over to the mob, but did not recognize or understand their desire to see him crucified. He wanted no blame.

The mob took the blame. They knew according to their laws and traditions that they would be held responsible for Jesus' death. They accepted the notion that his blood would be on them—without even understanding that that was the whole point.

Jesus' blood was the permanent replacement for the Old Covenant's sacrifices. It is through the spilled blood of Christ that our sins are forgiven. It is the faithful acceptance of his work that salvation takes place. Yes, God, please let his blood be on us and on our children.

October 9 - King & Country

John 19: 12-16

They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15 ESV)

Who is your king? We all have one. For the Jews of Jesus' day they identified their king as Caesar simply out of spite. But who is our king? For many of us, our king is the person we see in the mirror every day.

And the question is a question of kingdom. What do you pronounce ownership over? Do you owe allegiance to yourself? There are a lot of good questions stirred up by the example of a bunch of super religious Pharisees rejecting God himself as their king to proclaim false homage to a pagan dictator and conqueror they showed no true love for.

The reality is that under Caesar the corruption of the Jewish Temple greatly benefited the religious bureaucracy. With Jesus as king they would lose their power base while seeing equality, fairness, and justice brought to the common people.

Just to be clear, Jesus is King. In fact, he is the King of all kings. It's not a matter of who actually is the king, rather it is a question of who we each proclaim as our king. Self-worship and humanism are the order of the day. Placing our pride upon the thrones of our own choosing are the trend. But acknowledging Jesus as your true King, and stepping into his Kingdom is the better future.

October 8 - Authority

John 19:6-11

So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” (John 19:10 ESV)

Pilate was continually flabbergasted by Jesus. He just didn't know how to take a man that wouldn't stand up for himself in the face of potentially horrific agony. His view on authority reveals a great deal about how we often see ourselves as well.

Pilate stated plainly that he was in a position of authority over Jesus. An untrue statement. Jesus' authority was and is unsurpassable by any man.

What kind of authority do we recognize in our lives? What position of authority do we view Jesus as having? Have we truly made him our Lord, or do we just like the savior part? What are we gonna do about it?

October 7 - Hell to the King

John 19:1-5

They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. (John 19:3 ESV)

One of the most demeaning aspects of the horrors visited upon Christ during his final hours before was the relentless mockery and brutality. The actions of ignorant cowards playing with powers beyond their comprehension, common soldiers employed as thugs by the religious elite brutalized Christ again and again. Their sarcastic jeers tearing through his compassionate heart like a scourge would rend his flesh. It was horror added upon horror.

Who would treat a king in such a way? But of course, they didn't really believe him to be a king. He was something they couldn't understand. However, they refused to acknowledge the possibility that he was the Son of God, in much the same way that modern skeptics refuse to acknowledge even the possibility of the supernatural.

The violence committed upon Christ was vulgar, excruciating, and barbaric. It was undeserved hell. Atrocities that would probably make us wretch to see in person. He did not deserve it. Yet he took it. He took it, so that what you and I deserve, actual hell, we do not have to experience.

October 6 - Satisfy the Crowd

Mark 15:6-15

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Mark 15:15 ESV)

Peer pressure stinks. No one likes feeling the speculative weight of a mob settling over them. Rarely are the expectations of culture and society easy to manage. The Romans did it by shaping the culture of their conquered lands to reflect their own—and it was wildly successful.

For Pilate, as he scrambled for some reason to release the innocent Jesus, and avoid a riotous uprising, the pressure became too much. The cost was too much. Pilate gave in to the crowd. Jesus would be crucified to appease the bloodlust of the fickle mob—while the murderous brigand Barabbas went free.

Thinking back across my life I can recall many of my own moments when I sought to satisfy the crowd. Stupid decisions, hurtful things, and regrettable memories were made under the pressure exerted from outside sources. Because the mob can be ruthless, their judgment can be merciless, and it takes a strength that comes from something bigger and better than myself to resist.

As I have matured this has nearly became a non-issue. I am my own man. I don't feel the need to impress or be impressed. I have freedom and security from all of that, but only because I found it in Jesus. I don't have to fear the mob all because Pilate wished to satisfy the crowd.

October 5 - Envy Jesus

Matthew 27: 15-23

For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. (Matthew 27:18 ESV) </blockquote>

Pilate was not a believer. By all accounts he was a stern and sometimes ruthless governor. Yet even he could see that the mob which had handed Jesus over to be killed was pushing for something unjust. And his observations led him to declare that envy was the underlying cause.

Just exactly what were the religious people envious of? Jesus had no money. He had no prestigious titles. He was not a man of remarkable appearance. He had nothing at all by which men so often measure worth and value.

What Jesus had was kindness. He had the Spirit of God. He had unwavering commitment to his cause. He had the power of God working through him. He also had the ear of the people.

His miraculous deeds had granted him a special place on the public eye. His selflessness had promoted him to a level of notoriety that set the religious cadre in a big fuss. They didn't like it. They did like him. And they didn't like the way he messed with their stuff. And for all that disliking they still couldn't help but envy Jesus.

October 4 - What Is Truth?

John 18:28-40

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. (John 18:38 ESV)

What is truth? That philosophical pursuit has been the chief question for many thinkers across history. What makes something true? What makes something untrue? And what the implications for either?

Pilate was faced with the truth of Jesus' identity. A truth each of us must also face. Pilate had the added complication of a volatile geopolitically charged climate. You and I must merely answer the question of the truth of Christ for ourselves.

We're not told of Pilate's answer. We don't know what he determined truth to be. However, he did state that he found Jesus to be not guilty of the charges leveled against him. He found him undeserving of the death penalty. And then, in action both contradictory and concessional—he turned Jesus over to be crucified as an appeasement for the Jewish mob.

Pilate's own mixed wonderings about truth led to his perplexing actions. And it is a reality in which we share. Our view of truth will shape our actions. What we believe in forms the context and motivation for all of our most meaningful behavior. So, it might be a good time to go look in the mirror and ask the person staring back, "What is truth?"

October 3 - Not A Secret

John 18:19-24

Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. (John 18:20 ESV) </blockquote>

Christianity is not a mystery. It isn't a secret. There aren't any special mysterious rituals or incantations. And it isn't something that some elite few are attempting to keep for themselves.

Jesus taught publicly and openly. He lived a public life. He died a public death. He didn't start an upstart mystery religion in the back of his parents' home.

Jesus wanted his message to be public. He wanted it to be prominent. He still does. The message of the Hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is life-altering. It changes people. It is not a secret!

October 2 - Antipas' Anticipation

Luke 23:6-16

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. (Luke 23:8 ESV)

The Herodian Dynasty was a puppet government established to keep the Jews in check during Roman rule. Herod Antipas was the king during the time of Jesus' public ministry. And, having heard much about the mysterious Galilean teacher, Herod was very interested in seeing Jesus for himself.

Herod even asked the right questions. Was Jesus a king? Did Jesus have the power perform the supernatural? The tragic truth of Herod's investigation lies in the reality that he asked all of the right questions without any of the right motivations. Herod was not interested in finding God. Herod was concerned with finding out if this self-proclaimed "Son of God" could help Herod. Much like the Pharisees and scribes before, Herod wanted to see a sign. He wanted a magic trick. He wanted proof laid before his eyes that Jesus' claims were legit.

I have talked with a number of people in recent years who's views are eerily similar to Herod Antipas'. They are interested in Jesus as a kind of intellectual discovery. They want to know if he can prove himself to them. I believe he can, and often does, but typically only when one is willing to remove their pride and look at the world with some humility and objectivity.

It is pretty safe to say that Herod's anticipation ended with disappointment. But Jesus is only disappointing to those who refuse to see him for who he is.

October 1 - Prophecy: Accusation

Promise: Isaiah 53:7-9Fulfillment: Matthew 27:12

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7 ESV)

But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. (Matthew 27:12 ESV)

Around 700 B.C. the prophet Isaiah wrote that, though hated and rejected, Jesus would not defend himself. Matthew, when recording his Gospel account, made note of that very thing. Jesus did not attempt to defend himself before the gathering of murderous charlatans.

I can't imagine being in that situation and not standing up for myself. It is an idea that is so totally foreign to my way of thinking. I find it incredibly difficult to roll over int he face of unjust accusation.

But Jesus did it. The Gospel writers make no mention of any attempt by Christ to defend himself during his trial. He endured the accusations, understanding them to be a part of God's plan in some strange way.

It will be hard for me. It's not my style. I might not be able to do it. To be honest, I'm not really sure that I want to. However, I would do well to remember Jesus' response the next time I face undue accusation. We would all do well to remember what Jesus endured before the physical brutality even began.

September 30 - You Have Said

Mark 15:1-5

And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” (Mark 15:2 ESV)

The Jewish council, called the Sanhedrin, had met secretly in the middle of the night on the heels of the Passover meal. They had sentenced Jesus secretly, and then rushed him out at dawn to Pilate, the Roman governor—seeking the death penalty.

Pilate had one question for Jesus. "Are you the king?" It was an important question that carried a lot of implications. The truth to that question had ramifications that stretched across governments, cultures, and creation itself.

Jesus never backed down from his identity. The Gospels paint a repeatedly pointed picture of Jesus the Son of God. He was the King of the Jews, and the King of Kings. So why the strange reply?

I believe that Jesus is often more concerned with who we say that he is. Now, make no mistake, he will declare himself King one day—and scripture says that when that happens every knee will bow. But Jesus wanted to know who Pilate said that he was. He often wanted to hear who people said he was. Why?

Because who you think Jesus is matters. If he is just a good moral teacher and man, well that kind of view has no far reaching eternal implications. If you believe he was the perfect Son of God, who died for your sins, then that is a different matter altogether. Jesus just wants to know who you have said he is, and what you're going to do about it.

September 29 - Jesus' Testimony

Luke 22:63-72

Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” (Luke 22:71 ESV)

Testimony is a powerful thing according to scripture. The apostle John wrote in Revelations that the Church would be made "overcomers by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony." The truth of a story carries weight when told.

Jesus didn't flinch when telling his story. Even when he was on trial and they were looking to kill him because of his words. He didn't back down. And eventually they did sentence him to death based on his own testimony.

There are a number of belief systems that try to marginalize the deity of Jesus so as to make him compatible with their defunct religion. The truth is that Jesus is compatible with any person, but not every belief system. Jesus did believe that he is the Son of God.

We do things all the time based on the words of others. We make decisions, we make plans, and we react to situations, all based on the things people say. How should we react to what Jesus had to say about his own deity?

September 28 - Peter & Jesus

Luke 22:55-62

And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62 ESV)

Jesus told Peter that he would deny him three times and Peter refused to believe it. Jesus also told Judas that he was the betrayer and Judas knew it to be true. What was the incredible difference between these two followers of Christ? I believe that the most significant difference between Judas and Peter rests in their response to their sin against Jesus.

Judas hung himself before Jesus was even crucified. He knew his guilt. And he felt trapped by it. Peter wept at the realization that he had sinned so greatly by denying Christ. The difference in these two responses is incredible. It's a point I have written about often but I believe we cannot look at it too closely. Judas regretted his actions and killed himself. Peter showed genuine remorse, and sought forgiveness.

Peter betrayed Jesus. He knew that he had done it. He felt horrible. But he also recognized that there was a way back. No, not immediately, but he did take his sin to Jesus. Jesus reminded him that he knew about it before it had even happened. He forgave him.

Peter and Jesus had a unique relationship in terms of teacher and disciple. But all Christians share a similar experience with the two. In the connection between redeemer and redeemed we are all Peter, and we all need Jesus.

September 27 - Prophecy: Haters

Promise: Isa. 53:3Fulfillment: Matt. 27:39-44

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3 ESV)

In approximately 700 B.C. the prophet Isaiah declared that the Jewish Messiah would be hated and rejected. Jesus was hated and rejected. Numerous examples of his rejections pepper the Gospel accounts.

First he was rejected by the religious elite. Eventually even the common people turned on him as he was paraded in front of them as an apparently powerless failed liberator. He did not match their preconceived ideas for what the Messiah would and should be.

I am continually amazed by the uncanny accuracy of the Old Testament prophets concerning Jesus. Again and again they nailed it. This is a testimony to the power and work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.