The God Who Suffers| A SOAP devotional, By Pastor Jamie

 

Read Matthew 26:57-68- Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end. 59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!” 67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”

Here we have what is often times referred to as the "trial" of Jesus, but it's more of hearing with the verdict already well determined. The religious officials know the result they want, and they were determined to get there. If Jesus was not Who He said He was- the Messiah, the Son of the living God- then Caiaphas would have been right that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy. The scene conjures up a picture of Jesus calmly speaking the truth to a riled-up crowd of religious leaders eager to see Jesus' death. The Son of God suffers the humiliation of being spit upon and beaten.

Tim Keller said, "Jesus did not come with a sword in his hands; he came with nails in his hands.” While the nails haven't yet been hammered into Jesus in Matthew's gospel, Jesus knows they are coming, and He responds as the Way, the Truth, and the life, as the one sent by the Father to redeem His people from sin, suffering, and death. He has prayed extensively about and anticipated this moment. We are far more prepared to meet our most challenging moments in this life when we are clear about Who Jesus is and all He has done for us. Jesus, as fully human and fully God, came from heaven to earth for us.

(By Clement of Alexandria- 150-215) Be gracious, O Instructor, to us Thy children, Father, Charioteer of Israel, Son and Father, both in One, O Lord. Grant to us who obey Thy precepts, that we may perfect the likeness of the image, and with all our power know Him who is the good God and not a harsh judge. And do Thou Thyself cause that all of us who have our conversation in Thy peace, who have been translated into Thy commonwealth, having sailed tranquilly over the billows of sin, may be wafted in calm by Thy Holy Spirit, by the ineffable wisdom, by night and day to the perfect day; and giving thanks may praise, and praising thank the Alone Father and Son, Son and Father, the Son, Instructor and Teacher, with the Holy Spirit, all in One, in whom is all, for whom all is One, for whom is eternity, whose members we all are, whose glory the eons are; for the All-good, All-lovely, All-wise, All-just One. To whom be glory both now and forever. Amen.

 

"He was despised and rejected- a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care." (Isaiah 53:3),

 

Pastor Jamie