Sermon snippet – “Spit”
INTRODUCTION – Today’s subject is unusual, but I assure you that it is Biblical and thus relevant; this topic is spit (not saliva, which sounds technical and lacks the grammatical versatility of spit, which can be used as noun or verb). Spit is roughly 99% water and is crucial to breaking down our food and moistening our mouths (we swallow about a quart per day – enjoy your meal). One of the world’s foremost experts on spit (I kid you not) once said, “It lacks the drama of blood, the sincerity of sweat, and the emotional appeal of tears.” I disagree with that esteemed scholar. I remember a superb baseball player who spit (or spat, if you prefer ) on an umpire and was universally criticized. Probably today he would be held up as a hero. However, decent people still know that spitting on another person is loathsome and perhaps lethal, as deadly diseases can be spread via such execrable expectorations. Furthermore, such despicable disdain for one created in the image of God bespeaks high hubris and haughty hatred. Startlingly, then, we find that…
- JESUS WAS SPIT UPON
In Mark 14:65 and 15:19, we find that Jesus, God the Son, was spit upon by many. This uncouth act of denigration and degradation was a sign of absolute contempt, and here it is, faithfully recorded in the Word of God. We sadly recognize the absolute historical accuracy, the details embedded in the grieving hearts of eyewitnesses. We find also the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 50:6c: “I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” Mark 10:34 records that Jesus specifically foretold the events of His death, including the dastardly and disgusting deed of the crowd spitting on Him. Remember, all of these prophesied atrocities were performed by opponents of Jesus – enemies, haters, killers. In their vile vindictiveness and violence, they unwittingly fulfilled prophecy down to the smallest detail, down to this smallest detail of spit. Shockingly, we also find that…
- JESUS SPIT UPON OTHERS
Without context, it would be inconceivable that the Redeemer of mankind spit upon anyone. In Mark 7:32-35 and 8:22-25 and John 9:1-7, we discover Jesus healing with spit. His sovereignty is thus revealed; He could heal in any way that He wanted – with a touch, a word, a thought. There was no magical formula; rather, there was and is a miraculous Savior. In so healing, Jesus revealed the absolute difference between man and God: man spits in derision, based on a perverse sense of superiority; God, Who truly is superior, uses spit to do good, to heal, to change lives for the better. Even something as simple as spit supplies an illustration of our Savior’s transcendence: truly He is different, completely different, for He is God. Remember, Jesus knew that people would spit on Him, yet He employed the same substance – oh, but what a contrast!
- JESUS CONTINUES TO SPIT
Revelation 3:15-16 reveals the powerful imagery of Jesus, risen from the dead and ascended to heaven, spitting out those who do not want Him. He offers each one of us the opportunity to “repent” (verse 19), to turn to Him for eternal salvation. He has defeated sin and Satan, death and hell. He now offers a place with Him in heaven to anyone who will simply trust in Him. If we are His, He will not spit us out. No, instead He will seat us alongside Himself (verse 21).
CONCLUSION – As a practical matter, how do we deal with people who encourage violence against others? Proverbs 26:4-5 is not contradictory. We are called to discern by God the Holy Spirit, Who indwells each believer, whether to engage with such folks. To those who persist in wrath, we are called to “shake off the dust of [our]feet” (Matthew 10:14 and other verses), to break close fellowship. The commands of Proverbs 22:24 are explicit: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.” The frothing, foaming mob is no place for a Christian.