Public sin, public victory

It’s always set-up when God calls attention to your troubles. Everyone goes through stuff. But when you go through stuff and it’s not private, don’t give up, because backstage is your hero. While everyone is pointing their finger at you, they are mocking and criticizing you, they don’t know who is about to step out onto the stage. It’s a setup for God to show up and do great things. 

David was a man well acquainted with victory and with mocking. “My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, ‘Where is your God?’” (Psalms 42:3) “As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (Psalm 42:10) “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let there be known among the nations in our sight The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.” (Psalm 79:10) His experience mirrored Christ’s on the cross: 

“Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. 

“Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. 

“Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the inscription of His accusation was written above:

THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

“With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ 

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!’ 

“Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’ 

“Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.” (Mark 15:16-32) 

Both David and Jesus are examples of public shaming and mocking that turned to amazing victories for the Kingdom of God. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t get down. Turn your eyes to the One that suffered the ultimate public shamed and in the end rose to the glory that all would aspire to you—seated at the right hand of majesty.