O Ye Sons of Men, How Long Will Ye Turn My Glory Into Shame?
The world's treatment of Jesus reveals a heart of rebellion and rejection of God's glory, but His glory will yet gladden the eyes of saints and angels.
C.H. Spurgeon reflects on the tragic irony of how the people of Israel treated their long-awaited King, Jesus, during His final hours. Instead of honoring Him, they subjected Him to a mock procession, offered Him a bitter drink, and gambled over His garments, showcasing their disdain. The cross, a symbol of shame, became His throne, revealing the world's rejection of divine authority. Despite this humiliation, Spurgeon assures that Jesus' glory will ultimately be recognized and celebrated by saints and angels for eternity.
Text
An instructive writer has made a mournful list of the honours which the blinded people of Israel awarded to their long-expected King. (1.) They gave Him a procession of honour, in which Roman legionaries, Jewish priests, men and women, took a part, He Himself bearing His cross. This is the triumph which the world awards to Him who comes to overthrow man's direst foes. Derisive shouts are His only acclamations, and cruel taunts His only paeans of praise. (2.) They presented Him with the wine of honour.
Instead of a golden cup of generous wine they offered Him the criminal's stupefying death-draught, which He refused because He would preserve an uninjured taste wherewith to taste of death; and afterwards when He cried, "I thirst," they gave Him vinegar mixed with gall, thrust to His mouth upon a sponge. Oh! wretched, detestable inhospitality to the King's Son. (3.) He was provided with a guard of honour, who showed their esteem of Him by gambling over His garments, which they had seized as their booty.
Such was the body-guard of the adored of heaven; a quaternion of brutal gamblers. (4.) A throne of honour was found for Him upon the bloody tree; no easier place of rest would rebel men yield to their liege Lord. The cross was, in fact, the full expression of the world's feeling towards Him; "There," they seemed to say, "Thou Son of God, this is the manner in which God Himself should be treated, could we reach Him." (5.) The title of honour was nominally "King of the Jews," but that the blinded nation distinctly repudiated, and really called Him "King of thieves," by preferring Barabbas, and by placing Jesus in the place of highest shame between two thieves. His glory was thus in all things turned into shame by the sons of men, but it shall yet gladden the eyes of saints and angels, world without end.
Sermon Outline
- The World's Treatment of Jesus
- The Throne of Honour
- The Glory Turned to Shame
- The world's actions, a rejection of Jesus' glory
- But His glory shall yet gladden the eyes of saints
- A guard of honour, who gambled over His garments
Key Quotes
“Derisive shouts are His only acclamations, and cruel taunts His only paeans of praise.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Oh! wretched, detestable inhospitality to the King's Son.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“His glory was thus in all things turned into shame by the sons of men, but it shall yet gladden the eyes of saints and angels, world without end.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Recognize the world's rejection of God's glory and the consequences of such rejection.
- Understand that the cross represents the full expression of human rebellion against God.
- Look forward to the day when God's glory will be revealed and celebrated by all.