The Bitter Taste of Sarcasm
Friday morning’s dialogue was laced with venom. The onlookers hurled insults, “Come down from the cross if you’re the Son of God!” The religious leaders sneered, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself.” The soldiers taunted, “If you’re the king of the Jews, save yourself.” The words were bitter, acidic with sarcasm, hateful, and irreverent. Wasn’t it enough that Jesus was being crucified, shamed as a criminal, and nailed to the cross?
The Perversion of Humanity
What kind of people would mock a dying man? Who would be so base as to pour salt into open wounds? How low and perverted to sneer at one laced with pain. The words thrown that day were meant to wound, and there’s nothing more painful than words meant to hurt.
A Balm for the Laceration
If you’ve suffered or are suffering because of someone else’s words, take heart. There is a balm for this laceration. Meditate on 1 Peter 2:23 (NIV): “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.” Jesus did not retaliate or bite back. He left the judging to God.
The Astounding Contrary
Jesus spoke on behalf of his tormentors, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” They were a stir-crazy mob, mad at something they couldn’t see, so they took it out on God. But they didn’t know what they were doing. Yes, the dialogue that Friday morning was bitter, but Jesus’ response was a testament to his boundless love.
A Love Beyond Comprehension
How could Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by his own blood, and lungs yearning for air, speak on behalf of heartless thugs? It’s beyond human comprehension. Never has a person deserved a shot at revenge more than Jesus, but he didn’t take it. Instead, he died for them. His love is a stark contrast to our own petty grudges and hard feelings.
A Reflection of Christ’s Love
Sometimes I wonder if we don’t see Christ’s love as much in the people he tolerated as in the pain he endured. His love is a beacon that shines brightly, illuminating our own shortcomings. It’s a reminder that our wounds, though painful, are but a fraction of what Jesus endured. And in his love, we find healing and forgiveness.
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