Then all the disciples left him and fled. Matthew
26:56b
Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Matthew 26:67-68
But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Matthew 27:14
Lord, I live in a world where I am going to be “jabbed”. I am going to be rubbed wrong, accused falsely (or even rightly), and my feelings are going to be hurt. Folks are going to do everything in their power to provoke me, whether intentionally or unintentionally. And I am going to feel disrespected, unappreciated, and taken advantage of. I wish I could say that this is going to just happen from people outside of my circle of love and trust. But that is not the case. The source will often come from those closest to me!
Your example resonates with my spirit today. How did You do it? How did You control Your emotions when abandoned by those closest to You, disrespected by those who should know better, and questioned by those who did not have a clue? I don’t see You lashing out. I don’t see You humiliating them or shaming them. I don’t see You even proclaiming they got it wrong. You just took it. They provoked You, taunted You and mistreated You, and yet You just let it happen. Did not defend Yourself. Did not stake Your claim. Did not even get angry. You just took it.
How do I get to the place where I do not allow the behaviors of others to impact or influence how I respond to them? How do I become more like You and less like me when confronted with what I believe to be wrong, where I feel taken advantage of, lied to, mistreated, and disrespected? Jesus, Your words on the cross right now ring loud in my spirit, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24) And this was while they were treating You the worst!
Help me, Lord, to exercise the self control today that You demonstrated throughout Your life. Help me to lean and trust in the Holy Spirit especially in those high octane moments when spinning out of control seems inevitable. I know it begins with loving others more than myself and seeing them as You see them. Help me today to deliberately put on my “Christ Eyes” to see them as You see them, and to intentionally don my “Christ Coat” so that I can show up in a manner that looks like You. Help me to love as You loved, not being controlled by my emotions but instead compelled by Your Spirit. And if and when I do cross the line – because I know I will – give me the humility and courage to reconcile. Because You know that in my flesh it is easier just to act like it didn’t happen. But that is not Your way. Help me to be like You. Amen.