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Jan 04, 2023 18:30pm

A Slap in the Face

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It doesn’t matter what language you speak, there is one gesture that means the same across the board.

A slap in the face.

In fact, just the phrase is a metaphor for a disgraceful act of betrayal or an unkind action that brings shock. Perhaps you’ve been there?

Maybe you went out of your way to help someone and they took advantage of you. Or it could have been a friend that you trusted and they shared your deepest secrets with others. Perhaps it was a promotion or raise and your boss decided to give it to someone else.

A slap in the face.

“Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” (Matthew 26:67-68)

The high priest, in the presence of the Sanhedrin and the other religious leaders, has just condemned Jesus to death for what he claimed was blasphemy. At this declaration, the religious leaders come to Jesus and not only spit on Him, but they slap Him right in the face.

Can we just stop for a minute?

I don’t know about you, but my heart is overwhelmed with sadness. If you love Jesus, you consider Him your friend. A deep love for Him causes you to want to jump to His aid, beg them to stop, convince them of their wrong and save Him.

But the prophecy foretold this very thing.

“I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6)

And there is more to come.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53: 3-5)

Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Living Son of God, the One who came to take away the sins of the world, the One who came to save the lost… He was right there in front of them and they couldn’t even see Him! They were the very ones He came to save and they did what? They pridefully puffed up their chests and sought to destroy Him. They spit on Him and tried to disgrace Him in front of those present.

What a slap in the face.

And as heartbroken as I am and angry at these men for what they did, I feel the same conviction towards myself.

How many times have I betrayed my first love, Jesus? How often do I put other things and people before Him? The choices I make, the words I say, the thoughts I think, are they glorifying to God? Or are they a big slap in the face?

As a “Christian” nation, we’ve taken prayer out of schools. We’ve allowed any other religion to be accepted but worshipping Jesus is not tolerated. We have taken God’s design for marriage and destroyed it, allowing and promoting what He says is an abomination. Children are encouraged to make choices beyond their ability and comprehension about what gender they want to be, instead of being taught the truth.

What a slap in the face.

God forgive us.

We are no better than these men. Let us glorify You in word and deed! Let us come before Your presence with singing and pure hearts! You are our Lord and God! We worship You! You were despised and rejected Lord, let it not be so from Your own children!

Lead us, Lord, in the way that is everlasting! Let us fall on our faces before You for guidance, strength and mercy.