2022-04-15
Matthew 27:29 CEV
The hymnist Isaac Watts wrote, “See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’re such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?” Jesus wore a crown of thorns so you could wear a crown of glory. Thorns in Scripture represent sin.
In Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed, God said, “The ground will be under a curse… [… it] will produce thorns” (Genesis 3:17-18 CEV). Later He told Israel that unless they purged the land of their enemies, “they will be like… thorns in your sides” (Numbers 33:55 NCV). Solomon cautioned: “Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road” (Proverbs 22:5 NLT). And Jesus warned, “You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes” (Matthew 7:16 TLB).
A well-known author writes: “The crown of thorns Jesus wore represented all our sins. As we were caught in the brambles of envy, anger, shame, discouragement, guilt, bitterness, and unforgiveness, so Jesus, who knew no sin, became ‘an atoning sacrifice for our sins'” (1 John 4:10 NIV). Not once did Christ use His supernatural powers for personal comfort. With just a word He could have transformed the hard earth into a soft bed… hurled the spit of His accusers back into their faces… and paralyzed the hand of the soldier who braided the thorns. But He didn’t. Instead, ‘He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to Christ’s cross'” (Colossians 2:14 NLT). And He did it with you in mind. Amazing!
Soul food: Gen 22:1-18; Luke 23:26-49; Ps 22; Isa 53
Matteus 27:29 NLV
Die gesangeskrywer Isaac Watts het geskryf: ‘See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’re such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?’ Jesus het ‘n doringkroon gedra sodat jy ‘n kroon van heerlikheid kan dra. In die Skrif, verteenwoordig dorings sonde. Toe Adam en Eva ongehoorsaam was, het God gesê: ‘…Daarom vervloek Ek die grond… Dit sal vir jou dorings… oplewer…’ (Genesis 3:17-18 NLV). Later het Hy vir Israel gesê dat tensy hulle hulle vyande uitroei, sal hulle soos ‘…dorings in julle sye wees…’ (Numeri 33:55 NLV). Salomo het gewaarsku: ‘Op ‘n oneerlike mens se pad is daar dorings en lokvalle…’ (Spreuke 22:5 NLV). Jesus het ook gewaarsku: ‘Julle sal hulle aan hulle optrede uitken, net soos ‘n mens ‘n boom aan sy vrugte kan uitken. ‘n Mens pluk tog nie druiwetrosse van doringbosse af… nie’ (Matteus 7:16 NLV).
‘n Bekende outeur skryf: ‘Die doringkroon wat Jesus gedra het, verteenwoordig al ons sondes. Soos ons in die dorings van afguns, woede, skande, ontmoediging, skuld, bitterheid en onvergifnis vasgevang is, so het Jesus, wat nie sonde geken het nie, ‘n versoeningsoffer geword om ons sondes weg te neem (sien 1 Johannes 4:10). Nie een keer het Christus sy bonatuurlike magte vir persoonlike gemak gebruik nie. Met net ‘n woord kon Hy die harde aarde in ‘n sagte bed getransformeer het, die spoeg van sy aanklaers in hulle gesigte teruggegooi het en die hand van die soldaat wat die doringkroon gevleg het, verlam het. Hy het egter nie. In plaas daarvan, het Hy: ‘…die dokument met voorskrifte wat as klagstaat teen ons gedien het, uitgevee en dit van ons af weggevat deur dit aan die kruis vas te spyker’ (Kolossense 2:14 NLV).’ En Hy het dit met jou in gedagte gedoen. Ongelooflik!
Sielskos: Gen 22:1-18; Luk 23:26-49; Ps 22; Jes 53
Matthew 27:29 CEV
In the old hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross are the words, ‘See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?’ Jesus wore a crown of thorns so we could wear crowns of glory.
In Scripture, thorns represent sin. In Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, He said, ‘The ground will be under a curse… [… it] will produce thorns’ (Genesis 3:17-18 CEV). Later He told Israel that unless they removed their enemies from the land, ‘they will be like… thorns in your sides’ (Numbers 33:55 NCV). Solomon warned: ‘Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road’ (Proverbs 22:5 NLT). And Jesus warned, ‘You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes’ (Matthew 7:16 TLB).
Author Max Lucado wrote: ‘The crown of thorns Jesus wore represented all our sins. As we were caught in the brambles of envy, anger, shame, discouragement, guilt, bitterness, and unforgiveness, so Jesus, who knew no sin, became “an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10 NIV). Not once did Christ use His supernatural powers for personal comfort. With just a word He could have transformed the hard earth into a soft bed… hurled the spit of His accusers back into their faces… and paralysed the hand of the soldier who braided the thorns. But He didn’t. Instead, “He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross”‘ (Colossians 2:14 NLT).
And He did all of it with you in mind. Jesus gave His life for you.
Gen 22:1-18; Luke 23:26-49; Ps 22; Isa 53
2022-04-14
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV
David was ‘on a roll’. He kept winning battle after battle. It seemed like everything he touched was successful. But success can go to your head, and David wasn’t exempt. He started wondering, ‘Just how strong are we?’ At that point, he conducted a census and discovered he had ‘one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword’ (1 Chronicles 21:5 NIV). That could tempt any of us to think, ‘With an army this size, and given our track record of success, who needs to pray for God’s help or ask Him for a plan?’ That was the point at which God stepped in and judged David, and seventy thousand Israelites died needlessly (see v.14 NIV).
So here’s another aspect of responsibility and leadership that we need to be aware of: our mistakes have the potential to hurt others. We’re not just accountable to those who have authority over us; we also have responsibility to those who we have authority over. If our good decisions have the ability to bless and guide people, our bad decisions have the potential to harm them. ‘David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong… let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people”‘ (v.17 NIV). God graciously answered David’s prayer, and judgment was lifted from Israel.
We need God’s guidance for our own sake, the sake of the people around us, and to give us the grace to accept responsibility when we make a mistake or fail. We shouldn’t try to hide our failures, blame others, or run from God. Instead we should acknowledge them, grow through them, and go on to become wiser.
Lev 24-25; Luke 23:18-25; Ps 69:1-6; Pro 10:5
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV
David was “on a roll.” He kept winning battle after battle. He had the Midas touch; everything he touched turned to gold! But success can go to your head, and David wasn’t exempt. He started wondering, “Just how strong are we?” At that point, he conducted a census and discovered he had “one million one hundred thousand [fighting] men” (1 Chronicles 21:5 NIV). That could tempt any of us to think, “With an army this size, and given our track record of success, who needs to pray for God’s help or ask Him for a plan?” That was the point at which God stepped in and judged David, and seventy thousand Israelites died needlessly (See v. 14 NIV).
So here is another aspect of leadership you need to be aware of: Your mistakes have the potential to hurt others. You’re not just accountable to those who are over you; you’re responsible for those under you. After all, if your good decisions have the ability to bless and guide people, your bad decisions have the potential to harm them.
“David said to God, ‘Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong… let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people'” (v. 17 NIV). God graciously answered David’s prayer, and judgment was lifted from Israel.
So, you need God’s guidance for your own sake, the sake of the people around you, and to give you the grace to accept responsibility when you fail. Don’t try to hide your failures, blame others, or run from God. Acknowledge them, grow through them, and go on to become wiser.
Soul food: Lev 24-25; Luke 23:18-25; Ps 69:1-6; Pro 10:5
