Serious or Just Kidding?
Rev. Enoch Thompson | October 22 2024 | John 19:1-3
KEY VERSE:
² The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³ and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. John 19:2-3 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
The approach we adopt to reality at any point in time may be either serious or just kidding about the realities we face. We can take a doctor’s statement of our health condition seriously or conclude that the doctor is joking with us by the things she sees and declares about our health.
The soldiers in our text today were not serious about their presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ as king. The purple cloth when understood seriously pointed to royalty, and a crown of some precious metal and precious stones equally proclaimed the dignity of royalty. However, the crown and the robe that the soldiers presented to the Lord were a mockery and a sham, far removed from the identity and dignity of the one they bowed before. They presented Him with a crown of thorns, to hurt Him, and to say that following Him only produces pain and hardship, like when one wears a crown of thorns. They clothed Him with a purple robe while they struck Him in the face, to say that the Kingdom and promise of royalty He offered was a weak and powerless alternative to the kingdoms of this world.
Many people make a mockery of God, of religion and the claims of Christ. In the name of God, we present a faulty view of God, in the name of Christ we make a mockery of what He stood for, and what He demands of us.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Are you serious about Christ and His claims on your life, or are you just kidding Him with your religion? If we are serious with the King, we will truly bow our hearts before Him and let Him rule in every aspect of our lives.
PRAYER:
Dear God, please forgive me where I have made a mockery of you by my lack of seriousness in my claims to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over my life. Please help me to take my faith-walk seriously, and to truly bow before your throne. For Christ’s dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: STRUCK The word "struck" comes from the Greek deró (δέρω), meaning to hit or beat. It conveys an intentional act of violence meant to demean or harm. The soldiers struck Jesus in mockery, placing a crown of thorns on His head and dressing Him in a purple robe, rejecting His kingship. This act symbolized their refusal to accept His true identity. For believers, it serves as a reminder to take Christ’s kingship seriously and to approach our faith with sincerity, reflecting genuine worship. Reflections: How are you treating Jesus’ kingship in your life—are you honouring Him with sincerity, or are you just going through the motions?
Comentarios