Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be FILLED! ~ Matthew 5:6
~ Blessed Good Friday ~
I keep thinking about it. How I don’t excel very well at unselfishness. I’m not great at sacrificing for someone else. I don’t enjoy pain. I seek peace and avoid confrontation. Conflict stresses me and harsh or unkind words stay in my mind for a long time. When I feel made fun of or disregarded, I feel small and worthless and overlooked.
I think about Jesus as He stood before Pilate and Herod. As He was accused and heckled. Confronted and condemned. Beaten and sneered at. Mocked and taunted. As thorns, a crown of them, no less, were shoved down hard on his head, blood dripping off his brow. Jesus said little. He knew He was right and they were wrong. He could have proved it. He had the power to call down angels and angels and angels. But He didn’t. He endured. He suffered. He willingly obeyed His Father.
For my sake.
I really can not fully take it in. He took their flogging and fault-finding and forcefulness. He was served injustice despite His innocence.
And here I am, over here, protesting and proclaiming my rights when someone wrongs me or ridicules me, takes advantage of me or inflicts hurt.
I am not very good at suffering. And here is my Savior suffering in my place.
And then??!
THEN He redeems and rescues and fills me with righteousness!!! That is LOVE. That is acceptance. That is a deep, deep caring, compassion and kindness! THAT is my Jesus.
1 Peter 5:10 ~
And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
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