During my Bible study time recently, God brought me to Luke 23 32:35 (NIV): “32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
These scriptures give some of the details of the crucifixion of Jesus. During this time of year, around Easter, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is as commonplace on a Sunday morning as is Proverbs 3 on Mother’s Day. But what God let me to see was the sneering of the elders, those church leaders, as Jesus hung on the cross. Then they mocked him and by doing so, they opened the door for others to do the same as witnessed in verses 36 – 37: “36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
What I heard this morning was let them sneer at you. Ok God. Here is what I know. Their sneers do more harm to them than me. Think about it. They sneered and mocked Jesus. The same one they would have to go through to get access into heaven. John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.
If you are God’s child, then understand those sneering at you, hurling insults, and setting out to purposefully harm you will only hurt themselves. (Note your determination on being God’s child depends on you not God. He called you but did you answer -https://www.brosdaughter.com/single-post/2020/09/09/i-hear-you-calling.)
Here’s what I love about this whole exchange. Before the sneering and mocking, Jesus had already asked the Father to forgive them for their ignorance of whom He was. (Luke: 23:34: “34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”) This isn’t coincidence. The Word says all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. The sneering has a reason behind it. Maybe it’s to make you stronger for the battle ahead. Maybe it’s to remove pride out of you. Either way, there’s a reason and purpose. Stop the woo is me song you are singing and look deeper into what is happening. Ask God to show you why then accept what He shows and do better. Yes, it’s that simple. We make life hard. It’s not!!
Sometimes we throw ourselves a pity party when God called us more than conquerors. History records Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar as some of the most notable conquerors. They conquered civilizations and made other countries heel to their ways. Yet you are more than this. Now the question becomes what does God want you to see that you are more than? Pride, jealousy, others opinion of you, your opinion of yourself. Be the more He called you to be but don’t do so with pride. Use the humility of Christ as He hung on the cross as your roadmap to where God is leading you.
Be A Blessing and Not Just Blessed
- Nakya