Come on Jesus - prophecy who just hit you?
But now, having been falsely accused and condemned to death by their leaders, those wretched minions thought to physically man-handle Him. They mocked His claims by spitting in His face, smiting and buffeting Him. Then, they thought of further humiliating Him by blindfolding Him, striking Him, then asking Him to tell who it was that had carried out the mean action. Did they really want to test His prophesying ability? Or were they just putting Him to an open shame, Heb. 6:6?
Were they really interested in learning the truth about His Person? Did they have a genuine desire to know if He was indeed a prophet? Certainly not! This was simply a clear demonstration that ‘the carnal mind is enmity against God’, Rom. 8:7. Every proof that Jesus of Nazareth was the Prophet they were waiting for was given to that nation. When earlier that night He was asked by Annas about His doctrine, Christ’s answer was simple and straightforward, ‘I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing’, John 18:20.
As to His Messiahship, He was approved of God among them by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him in their midst, Acts 2:22. Their leaders were quite cognizant of all His miracles, including those where He raised the dead. Yet they chose to ignore all of those infallible proofs of His claims and plotted His demise, John 11:46–50.
But why would the incarnate God accept such humiliation from His creatures? He could have easily willed them out of His presence and they would have vanished from before His face. His calm submission to insults shows His commitment to finish the work given to Him by His Father, John 17:4. Therefore, He endured the cross despising the shame. How brightly does His moral glory shine here! ‘Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously’, 1 Pet. 2:23.
Mikhael, B. (2010). August 8th: Prophesy, Who It Is that Smote Thee? (Luke 22:63–65). In K. Totton (Ed.), Day by Day: Bible Questions (p. 239). Bristol, UK: Precious Seed.
Were they really interested in learning the truth about His Person? Did they have a genuine desire to know if He was indeed a prophet? Certainly not! This was simply a clear demonstration that ‘the carnal mind is enmity against God’, Rom. 8:7. Every proof that Jesus of Nazareth was the Prophet they were waiting for was given to that nation. When earlier that night He was asked by Annas about His doctrine, Christ’s answer was simple and straightforward, ‘I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing’, John 18:20.
As to His Messiahship, He was approved of God among them by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him in their midst, Acts 2:22. Their leaders were quite cognizant of all His miracles, including those where He raised the dead. Yet they chose to ignore all of those infallible proofs of His claims and plotted His demise, John 11:46–50.
But why would the incarnate God accept such humiliation from His creatures? He could have easily willed them out of His presence and they would have vanished from before His face. His calm submission to insults shows His commitment to finish the work given to Him by His Father, John 17:4. Therefore, He endured the cross despising the shame. How brightly does His moral glory shine here! ‘Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously’, 1 Pet. 2:23.
Mikhael, B. (2010). August 8th: Prophesy, Who It Is that Smote Thee? (Luke 22:63–65). In K. Totton (Ed.), Day by Day: Bible Questions (p. 239). Bristol, UK: Precious Seed.
