Now the soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. And they dressed Him in purple, and after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began saluting Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spit on Him, and kneeling, they bowed down before Him.
There is a literary device known as dramatic irony; this is a moment when the reader of the story has better understanding of what is going on than the characters in the story do. From the outside lens, the reader can see how ironic the actions of the character are though the character doesn’t recognize this. The moment in today’s passage is one of dramatic irony because while the soldiers thought they were carrying on a joke and mockery, they were bowing to the One who truly does deserve all the honor and praise. Whether we live for Him or against Him, the truth of who Jesus is does not change. Jesus’s position does not change based on who we want Him to be or what others say. He is who He says.
It is easier to downplay who Jesus is than accept that He completely changes who we are and how we are to live. When we downplay His lordship, we seek to live on our terms, pursuing our interests and a life that is comfortable to us. But we miss a life of true meaning, purpose, and fulfillment only possible through Christ. One day we all will have to come to terms with who Jesus is, and our eternity will be forever changed by the way we have acknowledged or denied Him. Philippians 2:10-11 says, “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Are you living under the reality of who He is today?
- How has Christ’s lordship changed the way you live? Where are you seeking to maintain control of your life?
- What are some ways we might downplay who Jesus is today?
- Pray and thank God for Jesus. Ask Him to help you live with Him as Lord of your life.
