From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God. Self cannot satisfy self. We must hunger for God.
This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God. Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.
“The miracles did just what Jesus had predicted. To those who chose to believe him, they gave even more reason to believe. But for those determined to deny him, the miracles made little difference. Some things just have to be believed to be seen.” —-Philip Yancey
Day 31: Fasting Mockery
The increasingly aggressive behavior in people is disturbing. Hostility is a behavior that is a result of anger that goes unchecked. I am incredibly weary of how mean, intolerant, and actually violent a person can be because they do not like what is happening in their lives. They may think they are standing for some “cause” or even for “the betterment of humanity,” but physically harming an innocent person or trashing their belongings reveals no virtue whatsoever.
Aggressive actions are birthed from deception and they produce rotten and unrighteous fruit that God abhors. God has set “the” moral order for creation and the justice of God cannot be mocked—people will harvest exactly what they plant (Gal 6:7). I cringe to think what will happen to people in this world based on their unacceptable actions that are simply unprovoked by the people whom they harm. I pray for their souls, because their deception is great and entirely egocentric—thinking only of self without regard to others.
Jesus is familiar with deceived contemptuous and disrespectful treatment—mockery. It may be a temptation to dismiss mockery as something innocent or even playful sarcasm. It is not. Mockery is a sin; a supreme sign of arrogance, pride, and unrighteousness. God will not dismiss a mocker; punishment and consequences will prevail. Remember, God’s final judgment will bring people into everlasting life or everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). Believers must not enter into mockery at any level, so may God cleanse our hearts.
Here are a few examples of the mockers Jesus faced during his trials:
Anna’s officials: (John 18:22)
The Temple Guard slapped Jesus across the face
The chief priests, Sanhedrin, and their guards: (Mark 15:16-19)
Began mocking and beating Jesus
Spit in his face
Blindfolded him
Struck him with their fists
Herod and his soldiers (Luke 23:11)
Ridiculed and mocked Jesus
Dressed him in en elegant robe and sent him back to Pilate
Pilates soldiers: (Matthew 27:27-31)
Stripped Jesus
Flogged him
Put a scarlet robe on him
Twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head
Put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!”
Took the staff and struck him on the head again and again
Mocked him
Jesus endured great mockery in our place. He did it because he felt you and I were worth anything he had to suffer. He is the pure Savior of the world. Today, we fast mocking others and turn to bring tribute to the Lord.
John 19:28-37 NLT The Death of Jesus
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking the contempt and mockery upon yourself that was intended for us. We give you honor. May our lives be a tribute to your love working in us—a transformation only you could inspire in our souls. In Jesus’ name. Amen.