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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Tuesday, April
4, 2023
The
restored Safe
Harbor trestle
along the
Susquehanna
River
Click on photo to
enlarge
"Ptuo"
Message
summary:
This
week we
"consider
Him who
endured such
opposition
from sinful
men".
Today we
consider the
specific utter
indignity of
how our Lord
was spat upon
during His
time of
suffering.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3). "Then they spit in His face" (Matthew 26:67).
Today's
topic may seem
rather
appalling to
some of our
readers. The
act of
spitting is
not a pleasant
topic for
discussion but
there is a
proper place
for it. I
suspect most
of us first
learned to
spit when we
were taught to
brush our
teeth or when
we were at the
dentist having
our teeth
cleaned. Our
moms probably
taught us how
to spit by
demonstrating
(or in the
case of the
photo a dad!)
And it's
likely that we
observed it in
others
(typically
men) who just
did it out of
habit.
I (Stephen) may spit (but never Brooksyne) when I am out on a walk in the country and away from others. I certainly consider spitting rude in front of others, particularly women. When I do spit I do so where people will not be walking, although as our society has gotten cruder, I see more and more spit on the walkways. It's a pretty gross sight to come upon or, even worse, to step in.
My
family still
has a vivid
memory of me
being
thoroughly
splattered by
spit over
twenty-five
years ago when
we were on
vacation in
Vermont. We
went to a
County Fair
and I was
studying the
face of a
Llama and,
with the wind
velocity of a
tornado, he
spat right in
my face; a
big,
splattering of
thick, yellow
yuck.
Brooksyne and Ester just couldn't stop laughing as I immediately ran to a bathroom. I couldn't get it washed off fast enough and even now practically gag at the memory. It was all over my T-shirt so I then darted to the car and pulled off the putrid shirt. It was the closest I could get to ridding myself of the horrible experience before I could thoroughly shower at the motel where we were staying. (Brooksyne's Note: Too bad I can't provide you with a great visual!)
That's the only time I ever recall being spat upon. Brooksyne has a troubling remembrance of riding the school bus with a special needs student in Junior High School who endured abuse by her schoolmates daily. They would sit behind her and spit in her hair as they swore and called her filthy names. Bullying is nothing new.
The first daily text states, "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart". Consider the many forms of humiliation our Lord endured during His time of suffering, culminating with His death on the cross.
"Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3). "Then they spit in His face" (Matthew 26:67).
Today's
topic may seem
rather
appalling to
some of our
readers. The
act of
spitting is
not a pleasant
topic for
discussion but
there is a
proper place
for it. I
suspect most
of us first
learned to
spit when we
were taught to
brush our
teeth or when
we were at the
dentist having
our teeth
cleaned. Our
moms probably
taught us how
to spit by
demonstrating
(or in the
case of the
photo a dad!)
And it's
likely that we
observed it in
others
(typically
men) who just
did it out of
habit.I (Stephen) may spit (but never Brooksyne) when I am out on a walk in the country and away from others. I certainly consider spitting rude in front of others, particularly women. When I do spit I do so where people will not be walking, although as our society has gotten cruder, I see more and more spit on the walkways. It's a pretty gross sight to come upon or, even worse, to step in.
My
family still
has a vivid
memory of me
being
thoroughly
splattered by
spit over
twenty-five
years ago when
we were on
vacation in
Vermont. We
went to a
County Fair
and I was
studying the
face of a
Llama and,
with the wind
velocity of a
tornado, he
spat right in
my face; a
big,
splattering of
thick, yellow
yuck. Brooksyne and Ester just couldn't stop laughing as I immediately ran to a bathroom. I couldn't get it washed off fast enough and even now practically gag at the memory. It was all over my T-shirt so I then darted to the car and pulled off the putrid shirt. It was the closest I could get to ridding myself of the horrible experience before I could thoroughly shower at the motel where we were staying. (Brooksyne's Note: Too bad I can't provide you with a great visual!)
That's the only time I ever recall being spat upon. Brooksyne has a troubling remembrance of riding the school bus with a special needs student in Junior High School who endured abuse by her schoolmates daily. They would sit behind her and spit in her hair as they swore and called her filthy names. Bullying is nothing new.
The first daily text states, "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart". Consider the many forms of humiliation our Lord endured during His time of suffering, culminating with His death on the cross.
Jesus
knew what was
coming. He had
told His
disciples
beforehand, “See,
we are going
up to
Jerusalem, and
the Son of Man
will be
delivered over
to the chief
priests and
the scribes,
and they will
condemn Him to
death and
deliver Him
over to the
Gentiles. And
they will mock
Him and spit
on Him, and
flog Him and
kill Him. And
after three
days He will
rise”
(Mark
10:33,34).
But
today we
consider the
specific
endurance
required in
the second
daily text, "Then
they spit in
His face"
(Matthew
26:67).
The Jews,
common with
all people of
the East, had
an intense
abhorrence for
spitting. It
was considered
among the Jews
as an
expression of
the greatest
contempt
(Deuteronomy
25:9, Numbers
12:14). Even
to spit before
another was
regarded as an
offense, and
treated as
such by
heathen also.
Such a form of ridicule is hardly known by us, although I can't imagine any culture where being spat upon would be considered an honor. Perhaps a more contemporary example, admittedly distasteful, is the deep personal insult and major offense of someone thrusting their middle finger right into your face. Hurtful actions can speak even louder than unkind words. I wonder if, at times, our actions toward our Lord defy our words of adoration and praise.
"Then they spit in His face." In context "they" were the teachers of the law and elders who had assembled for a mock trial. This vicious treatment of Christ is a clear fulfillment of a Messianic prophecy written some 700 years before our Lord's suffering 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, ptuo, translated "spit" is an onomatopoeia, which is the formation of a word that imitates the natural sound associated with the object or action involved such as "cuckoo" or "boom". Can you hear the sound of someone spitting when pronouncing "ptuo"?
Can you picture these scorning mockers spitting in the face of the Creator and Redeemer of the world? Matthew carefully records the detail that they spit in His face (not just in His presence or at His feet).
Today, again let us "consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men" and with firm resolve let us stay faithful to the One who suffered for us, "so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."
Such a form of ridicule is hardly known by us, although I can't imagine any culture where being spat upon would be considered an honor. Perhaps a more contemporary example, admittedly distasteful, is the deep personal insult and major offense of someone thrusting their middle finger right into your face. Hurtful actions can speak even louder than unkind words. I wonder if, at times, our actions toward our Lord defy our words of adoration and praise.
"Then they spit in His face." In context "they" were the teachers of the law and elders who had assembled for a mock trial. This vicious treatment of Christ is a clear fulfillment of a Messianic prophecy written some 700 years before our Lord's suffering 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, ptuo, translated "spit" is an onomatopoeia, which is the formation of a word that imitates the natural sound associated with the object or action involved such as "cuckoo" or "boom". Can you hear the sound of someone spitting when pronouncing "ptuo"?
Can you picture these scorning mockers spitting in the face of the Creator and Redeemer of the world? Matthew carefully records the detail that they spit in His face (not just in His presence or at His feet).
Today, again let us "consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men" and with firm resolve let us stay faithful to the One who suffered for us, "so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."
See
Him there upon
the hill
Hear the scorn and laughter
Silent as a lamb He waits
Praying to the father.
Hear the scorn and laughter
Silent as a lamb He waits
Praying to the father.
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Jesus,
Your act of
humility in
the midst of
ridicule,
mockery and
abhorrent
behavior by
the very
people that
You created
and willingly
died for is
not a picture
of weakness,
but 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!
Amen."The
suffering of
Jesus is never
completely
understood
until a
complete
examination of
everything
that was done
to Him is
considered.
Even then it
is difficult
to imagine the
depth of
anguish the
Lord endured
because of
sin. The cross
is a focal
point with its
own horrors.
As if only a
passing remark
the gospel
writers say
Jesus was
scourged. This
was an event
that was
beyond the
pale of human
suffering.
Prior to the
scourging and
the nailing to
a cross were
the things
done to God’s
Son by the
Jews and the
Romans alike.
At the
judgment seat
of Caiaphas
the high
priest they
spat in the
face of Jesus.
Not one person
but a group of
people
gathered
saliva out of
their mouths
and projected
it on the face
of Jesus.
Spitting on
another has
always been
considered an
expression of
the deepest
contempt. This
is a most
disgusting
thing to
endure. There
Jesus stood.
Spit covering
His face. The
face of God’s
Son. The holy
Son of God is
covered in
frothy
spittle. And
He does
nothing."
(Kent Heaton)
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"A
Wretch Like
Me"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Lauren
Talley
The
4 gospels
cover the life
of Christ, a
period of
about 33
years. Most of
this material
deals with the
3˝ year period
of His
ministry.
However an
astounding 30
of the 89
accumulative
chapters in
the gospels
deal with the
period from
Christ's
triumphal
entry through
His
resurrection
and
post-resurrection
appearances.
Mathematically
this means
that
approximately
33% of the
written
material in
the gospels
deals with a
mere .05%
period of His
life! In the
providence of
God we have a
much greater
proportion of
material
dealing with
God's greatest
act of mercy
in providing
our
redemption.
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Jesus'
authority
challenged in
the temple:
Mt. 21:23-27;
Mk. 11:27-33;
Lk. 20:1-8
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk 14:53-15:20; Lk 22:54-23:25; Jn 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt 27:31-56; Mk 15:20-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-11; Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-18
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk 14:53-15:20; Lk 22:54-23:25; Jn 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt 27:31-56; Mk 15:20-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-11; Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-18
Yesterday
afternoon I
took a bike
ride with
a friend
on
the Enola Low
Grade Rail
Trail.
The
restored Safe
Harbor trestle
with the
Susquehanna
River in the
background.
Bob, a friend
that rode with
me yesterday,
waves down for
a perspective
of size. This
rail trail had
at one time
been a very
busy freight
line for the
Pennsylvania
Railroad.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Looking
down the
Susquehanna
River from the
Safe Harbor
trestle.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
A
waterfall
along the
trail.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
A
view from the
Martic Forge
trestle over
Pequea Creek
Click
on photo to
enlarge
Finally
today:
Last
night just
before sunset
the dogs
enjoyed a long
walk and
running freely
in the rye
field across
from our
house. Our
smallest,
Rosie, is up
on her back
legs as she
sees Ester
coming down
the trail with
Mollie, our
older dog.
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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