“Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him.” – Luke 22:63
There are a lot of people in the world, including many Christians, who get very, very upset when they feel disrespected. They become indignant or even violent in demanding their rights or the respect they think they’re due. That’s a perfectly natural reaction. And yet…
This verse reveals our Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God being beaten and humiliated. Jesus didn’t become angry, indignant, demanding, or vengeful. He didn’t call down an army of angels on His behalf. He didn’t work a miracle to end His pain and shame. He quietly accepted that humiliation on our behalf. He quietly accepted that suffering and embarrassment so we wouldn’t have to, though we actually deserve it.
As Christians, we’re called, commanded, and expected to do the same. Exactly the same. In exactly the same way. There’s a greater strength required to do what Jesus did than to strut about crowing, complaining, posturing, and picking a fight because someone has treated us like trash. To act like Jesus when it goes against every fiber of your natural being requires the supernatural strength of the Holy Spirit at work within you. Work and pray to develop that Christ-like character that can absorb the scorn of the world with complete confidence rooted in God’s overflowing, unconditional love and acceptance of you as His child.