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A friend of mine has a saying that he often repeats, “All will bow the knee, eventually. I’d rather choose to bow it than have it bent for me.”

The soldiers were ignorant that their mocking submission and humbling before King Jesus would one day come to pass. In startling reality, they will bow before King Jesus, and it won’t be in mockery but in terror. Their earthly power pales compared to His eternal power, and one day they will beg for His mercy.

I want to think of myself as better than them, yet I can’t escape the reality that I am no less at the mercy of the Lord Jesus. My knee will be bent before Him eventually; better to bend it today and receive His mercy now than be a beggar for it and full of regret for what could have been.

Even in His suffering, Jesus’ power is on display. He holds the power to decimate these men instantly, and yet He wields the self-control to pursue the greater outcome – the atonement of sin through His humble self-sacrifice. He sees the goal beyond these fools and endures their ridicule and beatings. This moment of meekness and humility shouts that He is worthy of all power, honor, and glory. Thank you, Lord, for what you went through for me; what a gift! A fatal sickness we often succumb to is ignorant pride – thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. I hope that one or all of them came to their senses and repented of their sins. If Jesus can redeem and transform me, why not these men?

Reflection: Slow down and pray through James 4:10. Be humbled before Jesus and trust Him as your King. Then pray for those you pass judgment on to be forgiven as you have been.

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