John 19:1-7 It's Not About Moral Influence

My commentary has much to say about these seven verses.  There was a "moral influence theory" Pilate seemed to be employing, thinking that if he caused Jesus to be beaten, the Jewish and Gentile crowds would be moved to turn from sin and not want Him killed ... It takes more than human sentiment to bring the lost sinner to salvation.. If sinners who actually saw Christ in His suffering did not repent, what hope is there for people twenty centuries later who only read about His agonies?"  We're not that humane.

"The cross involves much more than an exhibition of innocent suffering.  On that cross, the Son of God paid the price for the sins of the world and thereby declared the love of God and defended the holiness and justice of God.  We are not saved by feeling pity for Jesus.  We are saved by repenting of our sins and trusting Jesus, the sinless substitute.  If Christ was not actually doing something by His death, then we are confronted with a piece of showmanship, nothing more."

"We must not confuse sentimentality with true spiritual emotion.  It is one thing to shed tears during a church service and quite something else to sacrifice, suffer, and serve after the meeting has ended.  We do not simply contemplate the cross; we carry it."

Father, I know that I felt true spiritual emotion when You led me on the long journey to adopt and raise my sons.  Help me now to separate sentimentality from true spiritual emotion in the future.  Lead me not to just contemplate the cross, but to carry it. 

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford