"They Spit In His Face"

(A repeat from 2010)

"They Spit In His Face"

   

    Many years ago, I sat in my car at my children's school, waiting for them to come out at the end of the day.  I heard a car approaching from behind.  When it pulled alongside me, the driver slowed down long enough for a young man to lean out the passenger side window and spit in my face.

    I felt stunned at first, and then angry beyond words.  I thought about shouting something at the car speeding away, but before a word could escape my mouth, I remembered words from Matthew's Gospel:  "They did they spit in His face" (Matthew 26:67)

   I cannot say that all the bad feelings went away instantly.  However, in that blessed moment, the situation changed.  I realized that while perhaps I didn't deserve to be spat upon by the young man, the truth of the matter is that in real terms, I deserve infinitely worse. I deserve God's wrath, and banishment from His presence forevermore.  Instead, the Lord Jesus Christ bore my condemnation.  He suffered my abuse, being utterly shamed, smitten, and forsaken on the cross of Calvary by both God and man. Thus, my Heavenly Father allowed me to experience a small sample of "the fellowship of Christ's sufferings" (Philippians 3:10).

   I still pray for that young man I would have loved to strangle had God left me to my fleshly devices and inclinations. I have no idea who he was, where he is now, or anything at all about him. I only know that he was a means by which God gave me an opportunity to remember the grace He bestowed upon me, and to "walk, even as He walked" (I John 2:6). I also believe that the Lord allowed the young man's sin so that I might pray that he would realize the Lord Jesus loves him enough to endure the indignity of spittle, taunts, thorns, nails, and a spear.  I hope to see the young man in Heaven someday, and if so, perhaps we will kneel together at the throne of the glorious and wonderful One of whom it is written, "Then did they spit in His face."

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

(Luke 23:34)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." (Proverbs 3:25-26).