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Shame, Shit and Jesus: Difference between revisions

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The answer is that the soldier was humiliating Jesus.  Sponge on a stick is the Roman equivalent of toilet paper, which they would place in a disinfecting liquid (like vinegar or cheap wine) between uses.  That is why the wine was in a bowl (not a cup or bottle), and why the soldier had a sponge on the hill in the first place.   
The answer is that the soldier was humiliating Jesus.  Sponge on a stick is the Roman equivalent of toilet paper, which they would place in a disinfecting liquid (like vinegar or cheap wine) between uses.  That is why the wine was in a bowl (not a cup or bottle), and why the soldier had a sponge on the hill in the first place.   


“So that all the scriptures could be fulfilled”, Jesus took the curse intended for the priests on himself.  The Roman soldier spread dung on his face – he added human dung to the recipe of the bread of life that God sent from heaven.  And with that, Jesus became Jerusalem’s dung Gate.  He took all of our evil, iniquity, and sorrow into himself, as well as the judgment and curse for that evil.  Looking down from Golgotha, Jesus would have seen Jerusalem, and perhaps the Hinnom Valley in the distance.  Jesus’ last experience was to taste the dunghill, hell on earth.  Then he cried “it is finished”, as he took your shame in his embrace to the grave.   
“To fulfill the scripture”, Jesus took the curse intended for the priests on himself.  The Roman soldier spread dung on his face – he added human dung to the recipe of the bread of life that God sent from heaven.  And with that, Jesus became Jerusalem’s Dung Gate.  He took all of our evil, iniquity, and sorrow into himself, as well as the judgment and curse for that evil.  Looking down from Golgotha, Jesus would have seen Jerusalem, and perhaps the Hinnom Valley in the distance.  Jesus’ last experience was to taste the dunghill - hell on earth.  Then he cried “It is finished”, as he took your shame to hell in his own embrace.   


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God loves you, a lot.  If you have ever experienced shame, Jesus came down to your level.  If you have ever caused shame, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them”.  That is the righteousness of God in Christ.  Let’s admit that it is by Grace we are saved through Faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  We are not saved by our own works – we only tarnish God’s good plan when we add our own self-righteousness into the recipe.  When we focus on our own works, we end up “eating and drinking damnation…not discerning the Lord’s body”.   
God loves you, a lot.  If you have ever experienced shame: Jesus came down to your level.  If you have ever caused shame: Jesus said, ''“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”'' That is the righteousness of God in Christ.  Let’s admit that it is by Grace we are saved through Faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  We are not saved by our own works – we only tarnish God’s good plan when we add our own self-righteousness into the recipe.  When we focus on our own works, we end up “eating and drinking damnation…not discerning the Lord’s body”.   


Let’s step aside, and gaze afresh at the breadth of Jesus’ sacrifice, and his complete power to save and heal our bodies and our souls.  By removing ourselves from the equation, we give God the glory he deserves, for he will not share his glory with another.  
Let’s step aside, and gaze afresh at the breadth of Jesus’ sacrifice, and his complete power to save and heal our bodies and our souls.  By removing ourselves from the equation, we give God the glory he deserves, for he will not share his glory with another.  
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#Malachi 2:1-3, ''"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it."
#Malachi 2:1-3, ''"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it."
#Isaiah 64:6, ''"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."''
#Isaiah 64:6, ''"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."''
#John 19:28-29, ''"Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips."'' (New Living Translation)
#John 19:28-30, ''"Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit."'' (New Living Translation)
 
#Luke 23:34, ''"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."''
 
#1 Corinthians 1:30, ''"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"''
 
#Ephesians 2:8 ''"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"''
 
#Psalms 95:15, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
 
#1 Corinthians 11:29, ''"To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."''
#Isaiah 53:5, ''"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 48:11b, ''"...for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another."''