Easter Devotional | 2021 - Day 17
Jesus Mocked. Grace Extended
By Alan Lynch
When they had twisted 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!
Matthew 27:29
We see the culmination of God’s redemptive plan for a man when Jesus died on the cross, bearing humanity’s sin. The road that led to the crucifixion shows the depth of the depravity of mankind. Jesus, who committed no sin, became sin for us, in order that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. But the road to the cross was a brutal one for our Lord. Jesus endured rejection from the ones He came to save. There was humiliation, mocking, abuse of various kinds, all to Jesus who was rejected because of the false belief of the religious that spilled into the emotion of the crowds and ultimately to the ignorant Romans who carried out His crucifixion. Jesus was made fun of and rejected so we could have redemption and be recipients of the salvation of our good and gracious Creator God.
Isaiah described the events of Matthew 27 in more general terms 600 years before they happened. Speaking of Jesus Christ, he said “He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Isaiah 53:3). I am convinced there is no greater pain in all this world than to be rejected. We are at times rejected unjustly, but many times because of our wrong actions.
Imagine with me for a moment, the God of the universe, the One who created us, came in the form of a man to save us, yet was mistreated, misunderstood, and suffered painful and hideous death by crucifixion. But Jesus did not turn back from His purpose. He gave up His rights and privileges to meet our greatest needs, even though it was great pain and suffering. That is incredible GRACE! Because Jesus suffered the rejection, abuse, and mocking, and went to the cross, we are the recipients of God’s incredible grace.GRACE is God’s kind act of divine influence on a heart, and its reflection in life includes GRATITUDE! God’s grace produces gratitude in a heart. Gratitude in a heart towards God produces a life that reflects God’s influence in your life.
Key Passage
Jesus experienced rejection in this world because He spoke what God wanted Him to speakand did what God wanted Him to do. As you commit to speak what God wants you to speak and do what God commands you to do, my prayer is that you will endure the consequences of rejection that this world will deliver as a result. That is the least we could do for the One who did the most He could do as a result of His gracious love for us! He is risen! Let His people arise!
Questions for Thought
- Are you sure that you have moved from knowing about God to knowing God personally by truly receiving God’s precious gift of grace through the forgiveness of your sins by faith in Jesus Christ?
- Is your life a reflection of His grace by the way you live your life before others and in private?
Author Bio
Alan Lynch
Alan has a passion to minister to and assists the body of Christ to experience God’s fullest blessings. He is passionate about the great commandment and the Great Commission. Alan and his wife, Janna, have three adult children and four grandchildren with two more on the way.
