Ears to Hear: Seeing Sin Through Jesus’ Eyes

Pastor Dick Warner
Sep 27
3 min read

Updated: Oct 9

*Jesus carrying His cross - Image by iStock*

Wake Up and Lean In

"Wake up, sleeper. Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." That verse always grabs my heart.

Jesus, my life belongs to you. I lift up my heart to you. I turn my thoughts, my attention, my eyes—everything—to you. Here I am. Use me, mind, body, and soul.

We belong to you, Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—thank you for inviting us close.

Listen: The Heartbreaking Road

Let’s slow down with this story. Here’s what Matthew 27:27–31 says (NIV):

The governor’s soldiers dragged Jesus inside and called over the whole squad. First, they stripped his clothes, then dressed him up in a scarlet robe for a cruel joke.

They twisted together a crown of thorns and shoved it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand and knelt down, pretending to worship.

Then the mockery got worse—they spit on him and took turns bashing him on the head. When they were done, they stripped off the costume, gave him back his own clothes, and led him off to die.

Look Again: Don’t Rush

Sometimes we read a story like this and think, “I know this part.” Let’s be honest—we start skimming because it’s familiar.

But if we really pause, the pain and horror of this moment hit us differently.

This wasn’t just anyone—this was Jesus, the Son of God, letting himself be humiliated and tortured by soldiers with hard hearts.

It's simple to miss how raw, undignified, and cruel this scene really was. Below is a list of what happened to Jesus.

Consider reading it aloud slowly, allowing your ears to hear it and letting it resonate and sink in.

Soldiers took Jesus away
A whole crowd surrounded him
They stripped him
Dressed him up in a mocking robe
Smashed thorns into his head
Forced a stick in his hand, pretending he was a king
Bowed down and mocked him
Spit right in his face
Hit him on the head again and again
Took off the robe
Led him away to the cross

What If…

What if my sin isn’t just some personal mistake? What if every time I choose my own way, it’s almost like doing one of these very things to Jesus himself?

What if my selfish, lustful choices are like stripping the clothes off Jesus?
What if my angry words are like picking up a stick and hitting Jesus again?
What if my jealousy is setting that crown of thorns on his head?
What if my pride is like spitting right in his face?
What if my arrogance leads him to the cross?

It sounds harsh. But really, isn’t that what sin does? It hurts. It destroys. It even put Jesus on the cross.

But hold on—here’s the beautiful twist. Even though sin was killing everything (even God, it seems), in Jesus, God turned the tables. Jesus killed sin. Jesus killed death. That’s why we’re singing along with Chris Tomlin today: “The blood is still the blood, and the King is still the King.”

Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God—thank you for having mercy on a sinner like me. Most of the time, I just think of sin as my own failure, but now I want to see how it hurts you, too. Holy Spirit, open my eyes and ears. Help me get how serious sin really is—and thank you, Jesus, for putting sin to death. Help me walk as someone alive to you, free from all that old lifestyle. In your name, Amen.

Jot It Down

What caught your attention this time? Did anything in this scene impact you differently?

How do you feel about the idea of envisioning your sin as something that genuinely causes Jesus pain? Is that too extreme, or does it resonate with you?