63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
To get a panoramic view of our verses for today, let’s check out how the other three gospels present this same scene:
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?" Matt 26:67-68 (NIV)
65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him. Mark 14:65 (NIV)
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. 23 "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" John 18:22-23 (NIV)
Isaiah prophesizes this incident in the following way:
6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:6-7 (NIV)
Mocked by mere men, blindfolded and blasphemed, spit upon, slapped and repeatedly struck our silent Savior bears our shame – out of pure love, He marvelously demonstrates and displays for us His all achieving power under control. One word from His holy lips and a myriad of angels would have been at His royal disposal yet He chose to endure the disgrace for my scrawny neck and yours. The Lord remained silent throughout this fiery ordeal committing Himself to Him who judges justly all the while standing firm in all the will of God – mature and fully assured.. Kind of makes our whining and complaining over a broken fingernail or spilt milk a mute point does it not? In that day, spitting upon someone showed utter contempt – an act of repudiation and of gross personal insult – imagine this done to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Peter tells us:
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:21-24 (NIV)
As Jesus is our Supreme example we are to follow His lead. We are called to emulate His character and His conduct through His power. Scripture tells us:
6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)
“It is urgently needful that the Christian people of our charge should come to understand that they are not a company of invalids, to be wheeled about, or fed by hand, cosseted, nursed, and comforted, the minister being head-physician and nurse – but a garrison in an enemy’s country, every soul of which should have some post of duty, at which he should be prepared to make any sacrifice rather than quit it.” F.B. Meyer
“Our identity as Jesus’ followers should define and dictate our lives.” Joseph Stowell, III
“According to the New Testament, God wills that the church be a people who show what God is like.” Stanley J. Grenz
“Though assaults be many, and my enemies mighty, if God strengthen me, I have enough to comfort me; for the greater my enemy, the more glorious my victory; and the more glorious my victory, the more triumphant my glory.” K.H. Von Bogatzky