Arrogance Vs Humility

Matthew 27:27-31 (KJV)

27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

The scene of these verses: Jesus was on trial and had just been sentenced to death by the Jews. The Governor has handed Him over to the soldiers to be crucified and the soldiers mock Jesus.

I've read this many times before but never the way I did this morning. In the back of my mind, I am recalling other verses to mind that help me see these Matthews recollection of events in a different light.

John 8:42-47 (NIV)

42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

The soldiers were men who did not believe in Jesus thus their father was the devil. They wanted to carry out their father's desire.

However, I don't focus on the men today but on the devil behind the scene. Satan is the one who wanted to mock Jesus. Satan wanted to gloat, to rub it in, to kick Jesus when He was down, to act victorious over His long time rival. Just imagine the arrogance of Satan actually believing he was very close to winning this cosmic battle, blinded by his own power and ambition, to the awe of who Christ really is.

I'd say he jumped the gun and under-estimated his opponent. Just imagine Satan's surprise when Jesus meets him in hell to deliver the news of God's plan. The plan where Christ is the victor, the rewarded One in the end because He obeyed His Father and brought Him glory. Satan was so wrapped up in himself and his own power that he couldn't see that he is NOTHING compared to the Creator of the Universe! What arrogance! This arrogance is displayed through the actions of the soldiers, doing the will of the one they call father.

Did these men ever come to realize the great sin against their Lord and Savior?
As I contemplate that question, I am led to see my own sins, and realize I, too, have sinned in the same way against my Lord and Savior. I wasn't there the day of the trial, but I mock, spat, and torture my Lord every time I choose the way of Satan, the world, or the flesh. In my lifetime, I have denied Christ as the King of the Universe, as my Creator, as my Savior, as my greatest need, as the most powerful person in all the realms of this universe. I have followed Satan into sin by believing his lies and allowing him little mini 'wins' on a daily basis. My sin put Christ to the cross just as much as the chants of the Jews that day.

What a great a glorious Lord we serve! A Lord that can turn the other cheek and forgive the most grievous of sins. A Lord that gives grace freely to all those that seek it. A Lord that claims me as His own although I do not deserve it. Knowing who God is and what He has done for me brings me to my knees, that He would love such a one as me.

Lord, forgive me for not acting as one of your own and teach me how to behave so that the world will know that I serve you, and you alone! Thank you for your precious gift of Jesus and the grace that saves me daily.