"Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him."
Matthew 26:67
There are two or three thoughts that come to my mind when I think that these wicked men did actually spit in Christ's face - in the face which is the light of heaven, the joy of angels, the bliss of saints, and the very brightness of the Father's glory. This spitting shows us, how far sin will go. If we want proof of the depravity of the heart of man, I will not point you to the stews of Sodom and Gomorroah, nor will I take you to the places where blood is shed in streams by wretches like Herod and that sort.
No, the clearest proof that man is utterly fallen, and that the naturals heart is enmity against God, is seen in the fact that they did spit in Christ's face, did falsely accuse him, and condemn him, and lead him out as a malefactor, and hang him up as a felon that he might die upon the cross.
O my sisters, let us loathe sin, not only because it pierced those blessed hands and feel of our dear Redeemer, but because it dared even to SPIT in his face. No one can ever know all the shame the Lord of glory suffered when they did spit in his face.
These words glide over my tongue all too smoothly; perhaps even I do not feel them as they ought to be felt...If ever anybody should despise us for Christ's sake, let us not count it hard, but let us be willing to bear scorn and contempt for him.
Let us say to ourselves, "Then did they spit in his face. What then, if they also spit in mine? If they do, I will 'hail reproach, and welcome shame,' since it comes upon me for his dear sake."
Adapted from "An Awful Contrast," sermon by C.H. Spurgeon.
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