17/03/12

The world mocks and abuses us

Mark 14:65 - And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face [blindfold Him], and to buffet him [punch His face], and to say unto him, Prophesy [asking Him to let know who hit Him]: and the servants [Jewish temple officials] did strike him with the palms of their hands [slap Him].


Yesterday's message showed us how the Lord God was in charge during the arrest of Jesus in the garden. In today's message the Lord is bringing our attention to another event connected to the sequence leading to Jesus' crucifixion.

At this event Jesus was punched by the people. They covered His eyes and after hitting Him they mocked Him asking Him to identify who hit Him. The question comes why did Jesus bear this humiliation, was this necessary for Jesus to bear this for our sins? Wasn't the humiliation of being hung naked on the crucifix sufficient?

We were told yesterday everything Jesus done was to fulfil the scriptures, and all sacrifices required for the salvation of mankind.

It was necessary for man to lay hands on the head of the sacrifice and we see both the Romans and the Jews did fulfil this. The Romans placed a crown of thorns on His head and thus put their hands on His head. In today's scripture we see Jesus bore all that abuse not to humble Himself before those people but to humble Himself before the will of God and we see it was fulfilled when the temple officials struck Him.

Jesus did not take all the battering just to be a punching bag for those who abused Him. He did it for purpose of humbling Himself to the will of God for the good of us. Jesus said before Pilate if the Lord God did not allow they would not have been able to even touch Him. Jesus did not say He would react violently nor did He say He would call for the Angels to come to His aid but said if He would have asked the Father the Father would have sent Angels for His aid.

Jesus as man was a man full of authority. He was God (the Son) Who is the head of all the Hosts of Heaven. He had authority to summon all the Angels in Heaven but as man He had humbled Himself and thus even humbled His authority over the Angels and did only through the Father.

In today's message we need to see our situation. We too as Christians are experiencing abuse from the people of the world. We are called to be humble to God's will and to His people and not to the people of this world. If our humbling is not helping the Kingdom of God and its people then what purpose does it serve?

It will surprise you that we suffer most of the time not because God desires us to suffer (done so as to build us or build others in the Lord) but because we lack understanding thus authority in the Lord.

If we see in the last days just before Jesus' coming the Bible talks of two witnesses who are full of understanding of scriptures and knowledge of the Kingdom of God. Therefore they exert the authority to call for fire from Heaven at their will. These two individuals cause the whole world to fear them.

As to my understanding of scriptures there a period of time before this event occurs and that period is more than 150 to 200 years from today. We need to look at the weapons that the armies of this world possess today and knowing the speed of development of technology can we imagine what it would be in a 150 to 200 years? Even with all that technology and power yet these two individuals cause the whole world to fear them and become helpless before them just because they know their God and know who they are in the Lord.

The Lord is telling us today we experience abuse and mocking from people of this world not because God wills it but because we lack understanding of His Kingdom and authority. In my course of learning from the Lord, the Lord showed me how even a single Christian can shake the course of events in this world and what power we hold.

It is time we live a life as true Christians, building our understanding of God's Kingdom through the Holy Spirit and thus cause the world to know God and respect His people.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You made your people to be special. You called them your Princes; and princes are not made to be abused by people of this world but honoured and respected. We lack knowledge and understanding of who we are in You therefore are throttled under feet of the people of this world. Holy Spirit it is time there walk amongst us at least a few who are people of authority bringing glory to the Kingdom of God...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 27:27-30
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered to him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on 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!
30 And they spit on him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

John 18:36-37
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.

John 19:10-11
10 Then said Pilate to him, Speak you not to me? know you not that I have power to crucify you, and have power to release you?
11 Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against me, except it were given you from above: therefore he that delivered me to you has the greater sin.

Revelations 11:3-7
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)