City Life Starter

Written by Nate Warren

The Word

Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

– Luke 22:63-65

…although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth.

-Isaiah 53:9b

Reflection

Back in Luke 18, Jesus predicts not only his death, but nearly every detail of the Passion. Luke quotes, “[the Son of Man] will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon” (v32). In todays passage, we see this part of prophecy realized as His Jewish brothers take cruel pleasure in humiliating Him. With His hands bound, eyes covered, they mercilessly punch Him, spit on Him, and insult Him. In her comprehensive reflection on the Crucifixion, Fleming Rutledge notes: “Ponder our Lord’s experience, enduring sadistic brutality for many hours throughout the darkness of night, until the sunrise of the next day…“

In response to all of this, Jesus is silent. He could call the legion of angels to destroy His enemies at a Word. He could systematically respond to each “Who hit you?” with a detailed account of each man’s secret sins. Instead of retributive vindication, He absorbs every blow into His infinite love.

Application

What possessed these men to do this? Jesus represented a real threat to the power structure that they, as Jews and temple guards, were allegiant to. Anytime an institution or faction is threatened, those associated with it will always be presented with a temptation to muster power to brutalize, defame, and kill.

Jesus doesn’t go this way – instead He courageously dares the World, it’s Principalities and Powers, to throw its worst at Him. He walks right into our darkest condemnation and inflicted shame, and endures quietly. This exposes the folly of coercive power and highlights humanity’s helpless slavery to sin and death. Paul writes, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:15).

Prayer

Father,
By Your Spirit, may I embody agape love when I am mistreated, and speak only the Word You give me, even if it’s no word at all.
Amen