Monday 8/25/2025 Devotional
28/08/25 11:25
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands.
John 19:1-3
Most of the Roman soldiers deployed to Judea hated the locals. Living for years at a time in Condition Yellow, constantly on your guard, never knowing whom you can trust, will do that to you. These people thought they were so special: “God’s chosen people,” they called themselves, as though that justified their behavior.
Now a prisoner had been brought to them, one known among the locals as the “King of the Jews,” the “Messiah,” the “Annointed One.” The Governor ordered that He be flogged, hoping to appease the local authorities by properly humiliating Him.
Wouldn’t this be fun? The entire batallion turned out. They started with the Roman Empire’s brutal trade-mark flogging, and when He was bleeding and barely able to stand, some one yelled, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they all laughed. Somebody else shouted, “Hey! Let’s dress him up like a real king!” Someone came up with a wreath of spiny desert thorns: “Ha ha! Hey, ‘Anointed One,’ here’s your crown!” And on it went.
Pure anti-semitism, Jew-hatred, poured out on Jesus, the Messiah: the King of the Jews, the “Jew of all Jews.” In their minds He stood for everything they hated and despised.
To hate the Jews is to hate God. They were chosen to be His messenger to the world, to bring His Word and His Anointed One to save us, whether they realize it or not. The world’s rebellion and hatred of God is focused on Israel.
Lord God, Your Word and the messengers who bring it are despised by this world; we can see from History that it’s always been that way. Our sinful hearts, in rebellion against You, chafe under Your Law, even as it convicts us so that we flee for forgiveness to the Savior.
Thank You for receiving even me, who have so often treated Your Word with contempt.
Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles
John 19:1-3
Most of the Roman soldiers deployed to Judea hated the locals. Living for years at a time in Condition Yellow, constantly on your guard, never knowing whom you can trust, will do that to you. These people thought they were so special: “God’s chosen people,” they called themselves, as though that justified their behavior.
Now a prisoner had been brought to them, one known among the locals as the “King of the Jews,” the “Messiah,” the “Annointed One.” The Governor ordered that He be flogged, hoping to appease the local authorities by properly humiliating Him.
Wouldn’t this be fun? The entire batallion turned out. They started with the Roman Empire’s brutal trade-mark flogging, and when He was bleeding and barely able to stand, some one yelled, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they all laughed. Somebody else shouted, “Hey! Let’s dress him up like a real king!” Someone came up with a wreath of spiny desert thorns: “Ha ha! Hey, ‘Anointed One,’ here’s your crown!” And on it went.
Pure anti-semitism, Jew-hatred, poured out on Jesus, the Messiah: the King of the Jews, the “Jew of all Jews.” In their minds He stood for everything they hated and despised.
To hate the Jews is to hate God. They were chosen to be His messenger to the world, to bring His Word and His Anointed One to save us, whether they realize it or not. The world’s rebellion and hatred of God is focused on Israel.
Lord God, Your Word and the messengers who bring it are despised by this world; we can see from History that it’s always been that way. Our sinful hearts, in rebellion against You, chafe under Your Law, even as it convicts us so that we flee for forgiveness to the Savior.
Thank You for receiving even me, who have so often treated Your Word with contempt.
Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles
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