Seeds for 03/07/2024 - Matthew 27:32-37
Scripture: As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. Above His head they placed the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Observation: Just another day at the office. This passage comes off as a standard issue day in the life of a Roman soldier. A condemned man, weakened by beatings and torture, is unable to carry his own cross. Fine. Conscript someone to take it the rest of the way. What’s Simon from Cyrene going to say to these military men—no? Offer the man a drink. Maybe He takes it, maybe He doesn’t. He’s got extra clothing He won’t be needing anymore—may as well cast lots (or roll dice) and see who gets to take an item home today.
One wonders how uncommon the sign over Jesus head would have been.
Regardless, we’re back to the theme that has come up already this week. While Jesus was innocent concerning the blasphemy of which He was accused, He was absolutely guilty of the charges written above His head for any passerby to read. Jesus was King of the Jews.
Even in His death, as the Jewish and Roman leaders executed Him in the most cruel, painful, and humiliating way possible, the truth of God is proclaimed that Jesus is the true king.
The authorities—the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman provincial government—intended all of their conniving to put an end to the small band of followers for this obscure young rabbi. But God was using it all to accomplish the salvation of the world.
Joseph’s poignant words to his brothers at the end of the book of Genesis come to mind. After suffering greatly as a result of their jealousy and cruelty, only to oversee a giant rescue operation that included helping his own family survive a massive famine, Joseph said this as a way of summing up the trials and triumphs in his life:
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20)
For Jesus, none of their abuse and injustice could halt the advance of His plan for the salvation of the world.
Application:
When have you seen at a later time how God used something that was painful or difficult to advance His work in your life?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, grow such faith in me that I may trust your hand is at work when I cannot see how. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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