Have I Ever Slapped The King?

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Reading: John 19:1-16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2019&version=NIV Reflection: To the best of my knowledge, I have only been slapped one time in my life. It was many years ago in the presence of a young lady that I was dating. I don't remember all the details now...either because I'm too old or my behavior was so shameful that I've blocked the details out of my my mind...but I do know that I said something in public to a group of our friends about her character that was extremely inappropriate. You, on the one hand I was suggesting that she was someone important and special to me, but on the other hand I was treating her in a manner that suggested the opposite. She was greatly offended and, as a result, slapped me. Something similar happens here in our scripture reading this morning. On the one hand the soldiers pretend that Jesus is someone important to them. They dress him up in the color of royalty and put a crown on his head. On the other hand, they treat him with disdain when they weave the crown out of thorns and mockingly hail him as a king. However, in this situation it isn't Jesus who slaps the soldiers. Rather, it is the soldiers who slap Jesus. There actions indicate how we should feel about the way they are hailing Jesus as King...its little more than a slap in the face. Now, it's easy for me to look upon these men with disgust...and I should! But, when I honestly look at myself in the mirror I have to wonder if I too, in some way, have worshipped Jesus in a way that is little more than a slap in the face. You know what I mean, don't you? Suggesting that Jesus is the Lord of my life, and yet enjoying various forms of media that are a direct afront to His vision and values for my life. To handle my money, my time, my attitude, my life in a way that suggests Jesus is King of my life in title only, but when it comes to the nitty gritty of life I remain in firm control. In fact, notice how I repeatedly used the word "my" in the earlier sentence when if Jesus is Lord it should all be "His." When I do this, I act in a way inconsistent with what I have said, and it is in some way a slap in the face to Jesus. As Resurrection Sunday approaches, might this be the year where I really do make Jesus Lord of all in my life...that my words and actions show that I have embraced His rule, not slapped Him in the face.