T H E O P H I L U S

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:27-31

Why is it that we, as humanity, make entertainment of other people’s pain and suffering? Ultimate Fighting, Boxing, action thrillers, horror films, etc. We take joy in the faction of bloodshed for a bizarre need to fulfill an almost animalistic psychological need.

In my early teenage years, a bunch of senior-year boys in our church youth group decided to “initiate” the newer grade seven boys. They would call it “How high can you go?” and would pull the boys up by the back of their underwear and hang them on the highest hook they could find possible before their underwear would rip. For some of the boys, it was almost like a right of passage, and if they toughed it out, they would feel like they were accepted. For others, it would leave them scarred and prevent them from returning again, let alone to youth groups, but to church altogether. The most disturbing part was that the senior boys somehow enjoyed doing this and would laugh hysterically. Although it may seem like it is all just teenage humour, it is to me to this day disconcerting that boys could be like that even in church and that people would even find it funny.

What would compel somebody then to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him while doing it? What did Jesus ever do to these Roman guards that they would find entertainment in the brutal beating and murder of Jesus? What could ever compel a human being, in general, to participate in the most heinous and disgusting act with all of one’s moral compasses thrown out the window? This is the state of our human brokenness and the very beast some of us store within us. The fact is, we are all capable of such things.

“Allow the spit of the soldiers to symbolize the filth in our hearts. And then observe what Jesus does with our filth. He carries it to the cross.”

Max Lucado, “He Chose the Nails”

Jesus not only carries the spit but also the bruises, gashes, and broken bones along with the cross to Calvary. He carries the beast that kills him but also drags it to hell with him. The most beautiful part is that he returns from the dead. The beast, which is the cross, does not. It was and is always dead wood.

Jesus died on the cross, covering with his blood even the greatest of sins in our hearts—the worst of beasts within us, the darkest of corruption. He not only died for us but has also forgiven us and set us free. To experience this freedom begins when we reveal the beast in which we want to hide so profoundly. It starts with allowing Christ to work inside of you.