When reading the gospel accounts of the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion it is difficult to imagine all that he suffered. One thing that always strikes me is the humiliation that they put Jesus through. We read that Pilate had Jesus flogged. This was a form of torture that tore out flesh from the victim’s back and left them on the verge of death. But then we read what happened right after this in John 19:1-3, “Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.” How terrible! Jesus had just been flogged and the soldiers response is to mock him and abuse him some more. The verses say that they did this again and again. Think about what that must have been like.
Imagine that you have gotten into a terrible car accident. You are dazed, some of your bones are broken and you are bleeding badly from cuts from the glass. You need medical care desperately. And now imagine that the first people that come to the scene start mocking and laughing at you. They take turns slapping you in the face and making sarcastic comments. How do you think you would feel? How could you feel nothing but hate for these people?
It was not just the soldiers that mocked Jesus. Matthew provides his account. Matthew 27:39, “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads.” Matthew 27:41, “In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.” Matthew 27:44, “In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” Everyone took part in humiliating and mocking Jesus. And let us not forget that those that should have supported him, his disciples, had run away and abandoned him. Let us not think that we, ourselves, are excluded here. We sometimes sing a hymn called How Deep the Father’s Love For Us. One verse reads, “Behold the man upon the cross; my sin upon His shoulders. Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.”
For all this, Jesus did not retaliate and he did not allow hate to enter his heart for these people. He even asked the Father to forgive them while hanging on the cross. Luke 23:34, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” What wondrous love is this! This love can only come from above. We are taught by Jesus in Luke 6:27-28, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” This cannot be done in our own strength. We must turn to the source of love.
We might have thought that this kind of response could only have come from Jesus if it wasn’t for the story of the stoning of Stephen. We read in Acts 7:59-60, “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” So in the same way Stephen, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, prayed in intercession for those who were murdering him.
To pray for those that mistreat us is not an easy thing. We need to surrender our rights and to have the mind of Christ. This may not be easy for some of us but the story of Stephen should encourage us and teach us that it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. None of us are likely to be stoned for our beliefs but Jesus did teach us that we will face persecution. Our response to persecution and mistreatment will tell the world much about who we are in Christ Jesus. May our response bring glory to His name.
Adam
