I paced back and forth the living room floor, not really knowing what to do with myself. I couldn’t believe I had been treated this way. I felt hurt. I felt angry. I felt such disappointment. It was then that a bit of advice, given from a friend years ago, had come to my memory. “When you have ill-feelings, study the life of Jesus.” Feeling persecuted, I opened my Bible to Luke 22 and 23, the account of the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. As I began to read this familiar text, a new significance seemed to leap off the pages. Here are three lessons I learned from the cross that night.
Pray for those who cause us suffering. It is our sinful humanity that wants to retaliate and “get them back” when we have been hurt. The inspired penman affirmed that we daily have a battle going on between the carnal and the spiritual (Romans 7:15). However, if we follow the example of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, we see that He took the spiritually mature route. Luke 22 and 23 records that Jesus had just suffered hours upon hours of illegal and unfair treatment, betrayal from so called friends, a conspiracy of corruption full of lies smeared on his name, defamation of character, arrest, mocking and beatings. All alone he faced the Sanhedrin, a crew of 71 men. Our Lord faced the public who falsely accused Him and then demanded that Barabbas, who was a criminal in prison for robbery and murder (Luke 23:18-19; John 18:40), be freed in place of Christ. As though that wasn’t enough, Jesus was then crucified on the cross!
However, Jesus prayed for those who caused this suffering. Luke 23:34 records Christ saying, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.” As always, Jesus practiced what He preached! His behavior in this situation mirrors His teachings of loving one’s enemies (Luke 6:27). Praying for those who cause us suffering will not only help us work through our carnal battle to a mature spiritual level, but it will also help the persecutors, for their names are brought before the Almighty, and He alone is able to help them.
A second lesson I learn from the cross is that while facing suffering from others, we should still seek to bless and not curse. While on the cross, hanging on the tree by nails in His hands and feet, Jesus Christ sought blessing for His persecutors! Instead of calling names, seeking revenge by spreading lies about them or a whole host of other methods of retaliation, Jesus asked the Father to bless them with forgiveness! I am reminded of a stanza of a poem I penned some time ago:
Innocent Man, God’s Son was He
Hung by nails on the wooden tree
Their very act made those persecutors free
On Christ’s lips were blessing for you and me!
A third lesson I learned from the cross is that we should forgive those who cause us suffering. Jesus’ prayer to the Father to forgive those who caused Him suffering should not be confused with the idea that Christ excused these men from His teachings on repentance. Consider Jesus’ words from Luke 17:3, “…and if he repents forgive him.” However, Jesus didn’t hold a grudge. We, too, need to mimic Jesus and forgive those who have repented of a wrong against us. Remember the inspired words of Paul, “And be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness is a liberating, burden-lifting action! Following the teachings of Christ is always best for us, not only spiritually, but also many times mentally, emotionally and physically.
After reading these passages of Scripture and gleaning these three lessons from God’s Holy Word that night, I was filled with embarrassment that my “light and momentary trials” (2 Corinthians 4:17) were actually very mild compared to Christ’s sufferings. I also felt comforted by His Word, knowing Christ understood the feelings I had (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). It was a comfort to be understood. Lastly, I felt loved because Christ suffered, bled and died for me. He loved me enough to forgive me! I closed my Bible and headed back to bed. Full of peace and gratitude, I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
