What We Do to Him

by Max Lucado

How we treat others is how we treat Jesus.

The soldiers bowed before Jesus, making fun of him, saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They spat on Jesus. They began to beat him on the head. Then they led him away to be crucified.” (Mark 15:18-19).

The soldiers’ assignment was simple. Take the Nazarene to the hill and kill him. But they wanted to have some fun first. Strong, armed soldiers encircled an exhausted, nearly dead Galilean carpenter and beat up on him. The beating was commanded. The crucifixion was ordered. But the spitting? Spitting isn’t intended to hurt the body—it can’t. Spitting is intended to degrade the soul, and it does.

Ever done that? Maybe you haven’t spit on anyone, but have you gossiped? Raised your hand in anger? Ever made someone feel bad so you would feel good? Our Lord explained this truth in Matthew 25:40: How we treat others is how we treat Jesus!

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

From He Chose the Nails