It is not for nought that Jesus remains the ultimate hero.
He has continued to inspire the world for 2000 years as the Divine Saviour who humbly submitted to evil.
Ray Overholt reminds us of Jesus’ options in song:
“He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.”
Jesus persevered through the midst of utter horror, all the while having the power to punish those who brought the pain upon him.
Seven weeks later the apostle Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, would pointedly lay the blame upon his hearers: “this Jesus whom YOU crucified” (Acts 2:36). Their sin had killed the Saviour, and ours also.
Jesus’ self-control throughout his suffering is that which inspires you and me to persevere while suffering for the Gospel. Just as Jesus encountered hostility along the way, we must expect it too.
Sometimes we are like Samuel of old who took Israel’s request for a king as a personal rejection. Along with Samuel, God is telling us that the rejection of His commandments is a rejection of Him, not us.
This helps us to “turn the other cheek,” and to “pray for those who persecute us.” Revenge on our part, in any form, interrupts the work of the Holy Spirit upon the sinner’s conscience.
The Christian must always be careful to choose their words when engaging the world’s “Drama of the Day.” Our mission is to save the world, not change it—Jesus will do that!
Self-control is not easy. But by the grace of God, we grow by trial and error. This can get lonely because the conviction to overlook the faults of others can make you a target from all sides.
However, in sharing our Saviour’s mission we share his cross:
“He could have called ten thousand angels
But he died alone for you and me!”
John Staiger
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