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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

"Ptuo"

"Then they spit in His face" (Matthew 26:67).

When we lived in New England my family went to a County Fair in Vermont. I got a little too close to a Llama and he spit right in my face; a big, splattering of thick yellow yuck.  Brooksyne and Ester just couldn't stop laughing, but I couldn't get it washed off fast enough and even now practically gag at the memory.  

That's the only time I ever recall being spit upon.  Brooksyne recalls a student in Junior High School who endured abuse by her classmates on the bus daily.  They would sit behind her and spit in her hair as they swore at her and called her filthy names.

This week I'm considering the many forms of humiliation our Lord endured during His time of suffering.  The Jews, common with all people of the East, had an intense abhorrence for spitting, which brought great insult. Such a form of ridicule is hardly known by us, although I can't imagine any culture where being spit upon would be considered an honor.  Perhaps a more contemporary example, admittedly distasteful, is the deep personal insult and offense of the middle finger being thrust right into our face.

This vicious treatment is a clear fulfillment of a messianic prophesy written some 700 years before our Lord's suffering. This prophetical statement is found in Isaiah 50:6, "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."

The Greek word translated "spit" is an onomatopoeia, which is when the formation of a word imitates the natural sound associated with the object or action involved such as "cuckoo" or "boom".  Can you hear this in "ptuo"?  Can you picture these scorning mockers spitting in the face of the Creator and Redeemer of the world?  Matthew carefully records that they spit in His face (not just in His presence or at His feet).  "Did e'er such love and sorrow meet?"

Today, again let us "consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men" and let us with renewed resolve stay faithful to our wonderful Saviour!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer: Jesus, Your act of humility in the midst of ridicule, mockery and abhorrent behavior by the very people You would die for is not a picture of weakness, but instead it is one of incomparable self-sacrifice.  You could have called a legion of angels to reveal Your power or to put Your accusers in their rightful place.  But You chose to walk the road of humility and obedience all the way to Calvary, motivated by Your redemptive love for mankind.  Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all!



As Brooksyne and I prepared today we considered a song that would reinforce our message. We found this online version of the song "Amazing Love" and were especially blessed. (Audio)  (Video) These links are to the Willingdon Church in Burnaby, BC Canada.

If you want a blessing watch the special guest
in this service, Hiram Joseph.  The site has a video clip of several if his solos.  In addition to being an excellent soloist, he sings with great fervency and conviction.



Hyacinth
(Click on photo to enlarge)
It's a beautiful day here in Pennsylvania and early this morning I stepped outside with Brooksyne to examine our flowers and took this photo of a Hyacinth.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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