"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." ~Peter writing to God's elect, the strangers in the world, concerning Jesus.
There are no such thing as benign insults and the natural reaction to being insulted is to return the favor. Retaliation is out of the mouth before the brain even fully grabs onto it. I was mulling this over and thought, what a different scene it would've been at the cross if Jesus hadn't entrusted himself to God as the one to judge him justly. What if he had gone to the cross throwing insults back at those who accused him and shouting threats about them getting thiers. The image I got was ugly. That's when the Holy Spirit whispered, "What you're seeing are the thieves".
Three men were executed that day but the insults and mockery were centered on only one. It's interesting to me that most of the jeering of the mob contained the same words Satan used to tempt Jesus with. The words, "If you are the son of God, then..." It's no wonder Jesus looked at his mother. He was the son of man too.
As the son of man, he died just like all the sons of men have and will but as the son of God, he came to life again. When He returned, He didn't go to the priests and the temple to get his revenge or to proclaim himself anything. He chatted with Mary by the tomb and walked to Emmaus with a couple of guys explaining scripture. He cooked breakfast on the beach and I like to think He laughed as Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. He hugged them tight, ate with them, showed them his scars and comforted them with his words. Then he had to leave the earth because, as the son of God, he had to take up his position as King of creation.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." ~Jesus
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