“The RoseBouquet”

In this short passage the governor’s soldiers got a turn at mocking and torturing Jesus. They were trained to kill, and probably had refined the torture of victims to a sport for their own entertainment.

They stripped Him, and put on a scarlet robe and crowned Him with a circlet of thorns. They put a staff in His hand, and then pretended to worship Him, but in a mocking way, and spit on Him.

Many believers are afraid to speak up for Jesus, fearing those we know or who hear, will mock us, yet in our wildest imaginations, I don’t think many of us ever suffer such cruel mocking as Jesus did. In some corners of the world it is so severe, but most of us only experience disapproving comments or a joke at our expense.

These soldiers also took that staff and hit Jesus on the head repeatedly with it, and then they changed Him back to His own clothes, and took Him out to proceed with the ordered crucifixion.

Let’s think about that mocking some more. There was the indignity of being stripped, the pain of the thorns in that crown, and the beating on the head with the staff, but worst of all - what will have hurt Jesus the most, is their pretend worship. He knew He deserved their true worship, but this was not the real thing. This great big lie must have wounded Jesus tremendously. It hit Him at the core of who He was, the Creator of this world, and these very soldiers; He was the One sent from God to die for their sins.

Have you ever experienced such severe mocking? I have not.

PRAYER: Oh Lord Jesus, I am ashamed for having ever feared that others would mock me if I mentioned Your name. I have never really experienced such severe mocking as You did. But now, no matter how bad it is for someone else, You can say that You’ve had as much or worse - and You bore it all for us. Thank You, dear Lord Jesus. Thank You!

Help me now to be bolder, and to not left fear of mocking hold me back from truly worshiping and serving You. Most of all, keep me from insincere worship, for that mocks You all over again!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Oh, how sweet to have a friend who’d drop everything and come when you need her. Ruthe, the heroine of this novel, dashes away from her own grad when her friend Muriel calls. Don’t you wish you had a loyal, caring friend like that? Buy and READ Ruthe’s Secret Roses! e-Book edition Softcover edition.