Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;
After Pilate tried half-heartedly to release Jesus, he surrendered to the wishes of the mob, had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:1-15)
The soldiers took Him away into the palace and called together the whole Roman cohort. They dressed Him in purple, put a crown of thorns on His head; and they began saluting Him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spat on Him; And after they had mocked Him, they led Him out to crucify Him.
Mark 15:16-20 (Summarized)
Reading an account like that, you might ask, “Are some people just born evil?” What benefit was it to the individual soldiers of the Roman cohort (normally 600 men) to treat Jesus with such cruelty? Created in the image of a kind and loving God, (Genesis 1:27) how could they have such disregard for another human being?
Jesus told us how, as He hung dying on the cross these same soldiers nailed Him to. He said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
The soldiers who had just mocked and tortured Him ‘did not know what they were doing’? The crowd that demanded His death, ‘did not know what they were doing‘?
The term ‘under the influence‘ comes to mind. We know the crowd was influenced by the religious leaders to shout, “Crucify Him!” (Vs. 11) But the religious leaders were in the same crowd that He said, ‘did not know what they were doing‘; What influenced them? What influenced the Roman soldiers?
Peter wrote, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) And Paul tells us who the real enemy is – “the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) It has always been Satan! (Genesis 3)
No one was ‘born’ evil, but ALL of us have allowed Satan to influence us. (Isaiah 53:6) However, God will ultimately defeat Satan, and He has provided us tools to withstand Satan’s influence;
Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:13
Paul describes his struggle in Romans 7:14-25. Knowing the intense struggle I have to resist Satan’s influence, should give me compassion for others going through their own struggles! That is why Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45) That’s what Jesus did! Prayed for those who persecuted Him.
Elohei Ma’oz – God my strength – Help me stand against Satan’s influence.
God broke the flaming arrows, the shields and swords of war. Selah
Psalm 76:3 (ICB)
Withstand Satan’s influence,
Words of Encouragement 