June 14, 2023
“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company around him. They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe. They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.” – Matthew 27:27-31
Yesterday my wife and I had the day off together. We spent a good portion of our day filling out paperwork to register us and our five children at the community health center. It was soooo much fun! (I wish you could hear my sarcasm and see my eye roll right now). Anytime I have to fill out paperwork it is miserable. But that is especially true when I’m filling out paperwork for one of my least favorite activities on earth; going to the doctor. As a pastor, I can sit and listen to people’s problems for hours. But I hate going to a complete stranger and telling him all the things that are wrong with me. I feel like such a whiner! So, as I’m expressing this to my wife, she grabs me, looks me in the eye, and gently says, “This is important, Shane. We need you to be around for a really long time.”
I like to make “manly” sacrifices…the ones that make me look tough. I don’t like to make sacrifices that humiliate me. Admitting my weakness, talking about my problems, and asking for help is humiliating. But if I am going to be around for a long time to care for my wife and children, this is a sacrifice I have to make. When we think about the story of the crucifixion we often think about how “tough” Jesus was to endure all that pain. But we forget that a large part of the crucifixion experience was humiliation. He was humiliated for you and for me. He gave up everything, including his honor and glory, in order to rescue us. So, I ask you today, what are the sacrifices you are avoiding because they are humiliating? Remember, Jesus gave up everything for us. What part of your pride do you need to surrender to serve him and minister to those you love?
Heavenly Father, remove from us the desire to only sacrifice in ways that make us “look good.” Teach us the true meaning of sacrifice…sacrifice like Jesus. Then, fill us with Your Holy Spirit and empower us to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to further Your Kingdom and minister to the people around us.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon