Scripture & Thought
Deuteronomy 14:2
“The Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.”
This week I read in the four Gospels of the suffering of Christ surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and wrote down the many ways He suffered shame.
The soldiers bound Him and led him away. Some spit at Him, blindfolded Him and struck Him with fists. Even the Sanhedrin spit in His face and struck Him.
Soldiers stripped Him and mocked Him as king by placing on Him a crown of thorns and a scarlet robe and putting a staff in His hand. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they scoffed. They, too, spit on Him and struck Him on the head again and again. They “all” condemned Him as worthy of death.
The chief priests, teachers of the law, the elders and Herod joined in the mockery. More insults came from the robber crucified with Him.
Yet Hebrews 12:2 tells us that for the joy set before Him Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame. To scorn the shame meant “to disdain, think little or nothing of it.”
Because of the joy, the shame meant nothing to Him. So what was the joy that caused Him to disregard the shame?
The purpose of Jesus’ life and death was to make possible a loving relationship between us and Him. Our love and communion with Him would give Him immeasurable joy! Our fellowship would be His priceless treasure. He would go through anything to gain our friendship.
Let’s please Him today by giving Him the sweet fellowship and time of loving communion He died to receive.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me with all your heart, always! May my love for You give You great joy. Please help me to stay faithful, even when things don’t go my way, or I don’t see the way as clearly as others. I know I can count on You to always be by my side, no matter what! Thank you.
Amen.