Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads
and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in
three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son
of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.
“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king
of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in
him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Be prepared Christian. Haters are going to hate. Mockers are going to mock. Jesus experienced the full brunt of this reality, and we will occasionally experience it as well. In fact, if you remember back in Matthew chapter five at the conclusion of the Beatitudes, Jesus said as much. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven..." Again in chapter ten He said, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And also in chapter twenty-four, "You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."
In the book of John (chapter 15), Jesus was even more direct: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is,
you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."
Haters are going to hate. Mockers are going to mock. But according to Luke's telling of the crucifixion, on the cross as He died, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” If Jesus is our example, when faced with hatred and mockery Christians are going to love and forgive. Always. In every circumstance.
Paul helps us understand why. In Ephesians chapter six, he reminds us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
People are not our enemy. Ever. We have an enemy, but our enemy is not flesh and blood. It is important that we grasp this. When we allow flesh and blood to become the enemy, the enemy wins. So, when people hate, when people abuse, when people insult, when people mock, we choose to love and we choose to forgive. This is genius. This is the Kingdom at its finest. This is the reality of God among us. Anyone can hate and return hurt for hurt, insult for insult and evil for evil. That is normal. But there is no answer for the undeserved, unrestrained, undiluted, outrageous love of Jesus. Lord, teach me to love.
No comments:
Post a Comment