“When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.” – Matthew 27:31 (NLT)
A boy and his father were driving down a country road one afternoon when a bumblebee flew into the car through an open window. The boy was deathly allergic to bees and cried out, “It’s a bee! It’s going to sting me!”
The father quickly grabbed the bee and closed his hand around it. After a minute, the father opened his hand and there, stuck in his skin, was the bee’s stinger. “You see this?” the father asked. “You don’t need to be afraid anymore. I’ve taken the sting for you.”
As Jesus lifted that splintered, wooden cross upon his shoulders and dragged it through the streets of Jerusalem, he took the sting that was meant for you. Just like the father in the story was willing to bear the bee sting to save his son, the Son of God bore his cross on that scorching, dessert afternoon to save you from your sins.
Pause and Reflect
- What guilt has been weighing you down? Make a detailed list. Then, in red marker, draw a giant cross over the list to remind you that Jesus already paid for your sins, so you don’t have to.
- Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Spend some time in worship and thank God for sending Jesus to take the sting that was meant for you.
