May 02 devotional - Shame Game - Mark 15:17-18

Mark 15:17-18  They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (NIV)

            Some historians believe it was called ‘The King’s Game.’ Before important prisoners were crucified, the Roman guards would abuse the condemned person and add to his misery by performing a cruel and brutal pageant of mockery and shame. The victim was dressed up as a king of the local region before whom the soldiers would mockingly bow and then beat the person senseless. They did this to disgrace the condemned person and to satisfy their own sadistic nature. Instead of giving their victim a last meal, they made his final hours one of cruelty and despair. The guards robbed him of any final chance of dignity or comfort. It was a wicked and atrocious way to die.

            Even today, these things still happen to prisoners of war and political detainees. We may sadly remember the degradation, torture, and abuse that our own troops carried out against prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq, just over ten years ago. Many of us were appalled when we saw the inhuman indignities that were carried out against powerless prisoners. It brought shame to our country and was strongly condemned by other nations around the world. It reminded me that no matter how sophisticated our weapons have become or how smart we train our military, helpless people can still be wickedly abused because of the vile and base nature of those with power.

            When I read about what Jesus endured before His crucifixion, I am appalled by the brutality and often weep at the wickedness. I wonder what Jesus must have been feeling inside of Himself because the very people who were mocking and assaulting Him were the exact same ones He came to die for. As each painful second passed, I ask myself, “How did He do it?” I know why He did it – He did it for me and you and them – I just don’t know how He managed to endure it all for my soul’s sake and the world.

Point to ponder

What do I feel when I read about Christ’s unjust injuries and degradation? Am I truly grateful for all that He endured?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You suffered for our sake and yet we still take You for granted. You purchased our salvation with every bruise and wound You received. We can never repay the debt we owe You; we can only wonder at Your courage and cling to Your grace. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s Good Friday drawings. It is called ‘Killer of Prophets.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cross.

Daily Devotional: Canceling debts - Colossians 2:13b-14

Colossians 2:13b-14   God forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

            In the political world, the National Debt becomes an important issue at every general election. Candidates from all the parties usually talk about how they will reduce the financial burden that is placed upon every taxpayer in their countries. Whoever comes up with the best solution normally becomes the poll favorite to win the office of leadership. However, when they gain that position, they soon discover that dealing with the National Debt is not as easy as they hoped. Current policies and other politicians usually get in the way of solving the problem. The debt becomes greater and is often left to the next leader or generation to find the right answers.

The sad fact of the matter is this: politicians all over the world are not very willing to sacrifice their popularity by imposing stringent economic solutions – the art of  national debt procrastination abounds all over the world.

            We are all under a similar debt when it comes to dealing with our sins. Each time we sin, we rob God of His glory and owe Him an apology. Every day, our sinful debts keeps piling up so, at the end of our lives, we will be so indebted to God that we will never be able to face Him and pay back all of the divine glory that we have stolen and squandered. However, God has provided the solution to canceling our debt to Him. His Son Jesus has paid that sinful debt in full at the Cross of Calvary. We do not carry over our sinful debt into the next part of our lives when we accept Christ as our Savior-Redeemer. He has paid it all and, in doing so, has given us the opportunity to be fully and eternally restored to God.

            In the midst of this important election with all of its complications, personalities, and issues, let’s also constantly remind ourselves of Who really is the Leader of our lives, the Canceller of our debts, and the Savior of our souls.

Questions for personal reflection

How do my sins alienate me from God and make me indebted to Him? Why do I need Jesus to save me from my sins by canceling my debt to God?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You were nailed to the Cross to cancel the debt due for the sins of humanity. Our sins are countless, so we owe everything to You. Remind us of the cost of our eternal restoration and freedom. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to contact him, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Good Friday drawings called ‘Sin Bearer.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Sin Bearer.


Podcast version

Short devotion: The First Convert - Mark 15:39

Mark 15:39   And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

            It’s just a short passage (Mark 15:33-41) and yet it contains a wealth of spiritual inspiration. Jesus cries out His last words from the Cross, which sound like He is surrendering to death and despair. Those below Him misunderstand His words and so they seek to crudely revive Him with some bitter vinegar alcohol. A Roman soldier, on guard duty beneath the Cross, has been observing Jesus throughout His crucifixion. When Christ actually dies, the centurion is a changed man – he believes that Jesus truly was the Son of God.

            What seemed like utter defeat is turned into a glorious victory at that pivotal moment in history. The centurion becomes the first converted sinner at the Cross after Christ’s death. He is also symbolic of what was yet to come – the Roman Empire that he represents will eventually reach the same conclusion about Jesus. It will take three hundred years, but the end result will be the same. The Roman Empire of the Caesars will give way to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

            Individually, we all face the same pivotal moment. At some point in our lives, we have to deal with Jesus. For some, He will remain just another teacher who was unlucky to be crudely crucified for reasons of political expediency. For billions of others on Earth, He will be personally known as the Son of God, who saved humanity from a fate worse than death – a terrifying fate of being eternally separated from God, our Creator.

Question:      Who is Jesus in my life? If I claim Him to be the Son of God, how will that realization affect my deeds and decisions today?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds to Your reality. Reveal to us Your Divine status and then challenge us to truly serve You today. Guide our decisions and allow us to be at one with You. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make comments or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest digital glass drawings for Pentecost. It’s called “Spirit Descending.” If you would like to view a larger version of the image, please click here: Spirit.