MATTHEW 27:24-31 – “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.”

THEME OF THE DAY: VISIT THESE PLACES OFTEN.   How often do we visit the places of our Lord’s intense suffering?  Obviously, I am not referring to catching a plane and heading to Israel.  No, these visits are faith-based by engaging our minds, hearts, and wills to go the scripture.  As we search God’s Word for the places of our Lord’s sufferings, we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane, appearing before Pilate, and at the hill called Golgotha where He was crucified.

These are places we must frequent often.  Doing so prevents the loss of first love for our Lord and goes a long way toward avoiding the development of a lukewarm heart.

In all three places the Lord suffered there is an underlying principle common to all.  It is captured well by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippian believers – “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11). The underlying principle and chief virtue God will develop in us is humility.  Without humility, there is no spiritual growth, and by keeping close to the humble Christ in His sufferings, we keep ourselves teachable.

By visiting the places of our Lord’s suffering, and never drifting far away, there is another application. We are constantly reminded of His love for us.  This is important for our concentration on God’s love for us, not our love for Him, which fuels our love for Him.

So, stay near Gethsemane, Pilate’s encounter with Jesus, and the cross.  We see the willing Man of Sorrows enduring such suffering for us! And that out of love for His Father, leading to our restoration to Him.

PRAYER: Father, I am in awe over Your love that would put Your Son through so much suffering for me.

REFLECTION:  Stay near the suffering of Christ.  To do so prevents loss of first love and a lukewarm heart.