2/25,3/4/09 - Midweek Lent - Mark 14:60-65

FATHER, FORGIVE US FOR OUR BLASPHEMY!

Every time I read about some of the things that Jesus’ enemies did to him, I almost get a little angry! I’ve read the stories before, of course, I know most of them by heart, but my stomach sometimes churns in revulsion when I read about the horrible things done to my Savior. And the portion of Scripture that we have for tonight’s devotion - Mark chapter nine - is one of those stories. As these verses begin, Jesus has already been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and he is now on trial in the middle of the night before the Sanhedrin - the Jewish ruling council. And there, in verse 60, Mark writes, 60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 63The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
That makes me mad! How dare those soldiers beat their promised Messiah! How dare some of those Jews in the courtroom blindfold their Creator, punch him in the face, and ridicule his prophetic powers! How dare the high priest accuse God himself of blasphemy! And that is the saddest atrocity of them all: everyone who was gathered there that night was guilty of blasphemy except for the one who was accused of it. Blasphemy is disgracing and dishonoring and profaning God in words or actions - and so everyone there was a blasphemer except for Christ. The guards treated Jesus as if he were a condemned criminal. That was not only uncalled for, that was blasphemy. The Jews began to spit in his face. That was not only cruel, that was blasphemy. The high priest doubted Jesus’ clear words and promises. That was not only foolish, that was blasphemy. And that should make us as Christians a little bit angry! It should offend you when people mock and abuse and disregard the one in whom you believe, the one who gave you life, the one who gave up his life for you! Their blasphemy should insult you, but it should also remind you of your own.
You are a blasphemer! And I can say that because I am too. And I know: that’s not how you would usually describe yourself! That’s not how I would normally describe myself either! But compare your thoughts and words to those of Jesus’ enemies on that late Maundy Thursday evening. Jesus clearly told them that he was the promised Messiah. He publically declared that he would come back one day on the clouds of heaven. And no one believed him. The guards and the Jews physically abused him because they doubted his words. The high priest condemned him because he did not trust that the Lord’s promises were true. How is that any different than what we do? Because we doubt God’s promises all the time!
In the book of Matthew Jesus promises that he will be with us to the very end of the age. But we often times feel alone nevertheless. We start to wonder if Jesus really is with us, if he’s watching us at all. That’s blasphemy! That’s doubting God’s words just like his enemies did! The Lord also promises that he will provide us with everything that we need in this life - we don’t have to worry about a thing because he is our Father and he will take care of us as his children. And so in light of this wonderful promise of God, we worry. We worry about how we will pay the bills. We worry about our children, our grandchildren, our parents. We worry about our church, our health, and our country. We worry constantly although the Lord promises that he is always in control. That’s blasphemy! That’s doubting God’s clear words just like his enemies did. The Lord promises that he will work out everything for our good - even the tragedies and catastrophes of life he promises to use for the good of his will. But we get frustrated and depressed and angry anyway. When we are hit hard by the effects of this sinful world, we feel overwhelmed and hopeless and wonder how God can love us if he allows these things to happen. That’s blasphemy. If there ever was such a thing as blasphemy, doubting God’s love is it. And that is no less serious, that is no less offensive, than what Jesus’ enemies did to him the evening before his death. We are blasphemers. And when we realize what we have done and how we have acted, what else is there left to say other than, “Father, forgive us. Forgive us for our sins. Forgive us for our blasphemy.”
But also know that he does. The Lord does forgive us for our blasphemy. In fact, he has already forgiven us for our doubts and our worries, and we see that forgiveness in action right there in that Jewish courtroom on the night before his death. The high priest sentenced him to death. The Jewish crowd desecrated the Lord’s face with their own spit. The guards mercilessly battered Jesus’ body. And our forgiveness is demonstrated their in that courtroom because of what Jesus didn’t do. He didn’t do anything. Jesus took it. He didn’t object. He didn’t fight back. He didn’t immediately show them the wrath of an Almighty God. And thank the Lord that he treats us in the same way! He takes our blasphemy without a word. He doesn’t get us back and he certainly doesn’t show us the righteous anger that would be well deserved! Instead, Jesus hears our disrespectful words and sees our blasphemous thoughts - and he puts them on his shoulders with the rest of the world’s sins, and he takes them to the cross. And there he pays for them. There he suffers for them. There on the cross Jesus actually takes the punishment for all of the sins that we have ever committed against him! He was the one sinned against, but he is also the one who paid the penalty for those very sins!
That’s the glory of our God. Jesus wasn’t there in front of the Sanhedrin expecting a fair trial. Jesus wasn’t hoping to be treated with respect by his own countrymen. He knew and he was anticipating a severe beating and a cruel mockery of who he claimed to be. He was prepared for the death sentence! And he was ready to be condemned for something he never did. In fact, he was condemned for the very things that were done to him. He was about to pay for the guards’ cruelty, the Jews’ ridicule, and the high priest’s contempt. The more they sinned against him that night, the more he was going to have to suffer the consequences for those sins the next day. And he let them do it. He allowed them to continue on. He didn’t stop their sins that Thursday night. Instead, he washed them all away on Friday afternoon.
Does the pain and turmoil that Jesus had to endure make me a little angry? Sure it does. I don’t like to read about my Savior suffering at the hands of sinfully ignorant men who should have known better. But I’m not just angry at them. I’m angry and disappointed in myself. Because I have done the same things. I am a sinfully ignorant man who should know better. I have added to those sins. I have contributed to his suffering. I am no less guilty. But I am also no less forgiven. As Jesus carried his cross to Calvary the next day, suffered for their sins but he also suffered for mine. Jesus suffered for their sins but he also suffered for yours. And he was glad to do it. Because he loves you. He loves me. And he was going to do anything it took to make sure we wouldn’t have to go through any of the things that we deserve. That is our God. That is our Savior. That is the man we watch tonight get beat and mocked and condemned. Be a little angry at what Christ had to go through, but thank him for that misery as well. Thank him for his sacrifice. Because it was all for you. He is for you. And he always will be.
Amen.

“To him who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priest to serve his God and Father - to him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.” - Rev. 1:5-6