04/14/2019
In this day and age we talk a great deal about bullying. Being bullied by those around us can occur both physically and verbally, but verbal bullying cuts us much deeper. Jesus endured both kinds in His life, but predominately the verbal variety. So today, as we are made fun of, jeered, and cruelly denigrated, we should look to Jesus for our example of how to react to, and endure, such torture.
“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;”
Psalms 22:6-7 ESV
Jesus was spit on, taunted, and jeered as he endured the physical torture of the passion. What he went through in those final hours was horrendous in its vile intensity, yet He did not strike back... He loved them in spite of His treatment. He forgave those who were tormenting Him. In the midst of our times of teasing, and being made fun of, we should go about our lives, and have pity on those who bully us too.
“And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house,
And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.”
Luke 8:41, 52-53 ESV
In this story Jesus has been asked to heal the daughter of Jairus, but by the time He reaches the girl she has already died. Then, when Jesus says she isn’t dead He is met with laughter, but Jesus doesn’t let this keep Him from doing what He came to do. He could have walked away saying “these people don’t believe; why should I heal this girl.” but she didn’t. He could have lashed out at them, but He remained silent towards them... He just did what He came to do and raised the girl from the dead.
“But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.”
Luke 8:54-55 ESV
In the midst of torment, and disbelief, Jesus performed miracles for those very people who taunted and detested Him. So I ask you... how do you behave when made light of, or called names and abused by those around you? Do you retreat? Do you lash out at them? Do you wish them harm, or perhaps try to harm them in anger and revenge? Well, Jesus did none of these things; He remained firmly in control of His emotions and continued to love them as He would have them love Him. He went about His Father’s business despite the cruelty and ignorance of the crowd around Him. This is our lesson!
When we are persecuted we should lean on our faith all the harder. In the moments of mental torture we should gather strength from God just as we do when physically tormented and abused. Our sense of worth should not be determined by the way that others view and treat us, but only by how our God sees us. Only our Lord judges us, and He judges our enemies as well.
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.”
Matthew 5:22 ESV
So maintain your focus on Jesus Christ, and shoulder your cross as He instructed you to do. Even when Jesus was tempted by Satan to throw Himself down from the highest point of the temple and He resisted, we should likewise resist the temptation to detest our neighbors who ridicule us. Our worth comes from God, and our judgement is by Him alone... all others mean nothing. Don’t lash out in judgement or anger, and don’t lose heart because you have accepted the judgement of others as truth. Focus on your faith, remember scripture, pray for mental and physical fortitude, but most of all love, rather than judge, those who persecute you... forgive those who crucify you. In doing this we secure eternity for ourselves.
“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?”
Romans 2:1-3 ESV
There will be many in life who will jeer and strike out at you, just as there were many who did so towards Jesus. So you should look to Him in His perfection to determine how you should respond to such treatment. You should remain firmly within the will that God has for you, and gain comfort in your Savior, and the Holy Spirit. Your strength comes from Lord... not men or circumstances; hold to your faith, and forgive those who torment you, even the powerful ones, because “they know not what they do.”
“And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"”
Luke 23:34-35 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who teaches us to love and forgive in the midst of great torment. Thank you Father for giving us the strength to resist striking out at those who hurt us, and for not losing faith, and hope, as we are mistreated and abused by the crowd around us. Thank you Merciful Father for forgiving us when those around us cannot, and for welcoming us back into your arms when others push us away. In you is perfect love and judgement, only you are worthy to judge, and only you hold the right of vengeance. Help me Father when I am being persecuted; give me relief in you from the jeering crowd, the lash of the whip, the pain of the cross, and free me from the humiliating sins of others. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who loves, has mercy, and forgives by your grace. Great are you who sent His Son Jesus to endure such suffering and contempt... and to teach me how to live as he did, and as you would have me do. Praised be your name, and all glory be yours as I love those who love me not, and forgive those who know not what they do. You stand between us and our enemies, and protect our spirit from losing hope.
“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”
Psalms 121:7 ESV
Rich Forbes