Retaliation and violence are never appropriate reactions to persecution by the disciples of Jesus. Rather than respond in kind, they must meet threats and assaults with humility, mercy, and forgiveness. Doing so is what it means to “deny yourself,” “take up his cross,” and follow him. We fulfill the “Law and Prophets” and become “perfect as our Heavenly Father” by doing good to our “enemies.”
“Carrying a cross” is a fitting image of what it means to endure
unjust suffering. When Roman authorities condemned a man to crucifixion, he was
compelled to carry the crossbeam on which he would be hung to the place of
execution, just as Jesus did on his march to Calvary. This was intended to humiliate
the condemned man (“Who for the joy that was set
before him, endured the cross, despising shame”).
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| [Photo by Duncan Sanchez on Unsplash] |
In contrast to this world, Jesus taught his disciples to “rejoice and leap for joy” whenever “men hate you, and ostracize you, and profane you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.” They are especially “blessed” and therefore should “exult greatly” since “great is their reward in heaven” - (Matthew 5:10-12).
By enduring persecution faithfully, and
with grace, we emulate Jesus. Just as his enemies abused him, so the enemies of
the Cross mistreat us when we dare to follow his teachings and example.
After his Resurrection and Ascension, his disciples
took his instructions to heart. When Peter was hauled before the Sanhedrin and
ordered to cease preaching, rather than give in to anger and hatred, he went his
way “rejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
On another occasion, after being abused and
imprisoned, Paul and Silas spent the night “praying and singing hymns to God”
from their prison cell. They did not curse their persecutors or call down God’s
wrath on them - (Acts 5:41, 16:23-25).
Jesus provided
the ultimate example of enduring unjust suffering for the sake of others. As
Isaiah prophesied, the “Servant of Yahweh” was “oppressed and
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.” The Messiah did not “wrangle or
cry aloud, nor did anyone hear his voice in the streets. He did not break a
bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick.” He was certainly no violent
revolutionary! - (Isaiah 53:7).
FOLLOWING HIS EXAMPLE
Jesus instructed
us to “love our enemies and pray for them who persecute us.” He was the
only truly righteous man who ever lived. If anyone deserved respect for his
“rights,” he did. Yet rather than be served or demand entitled privileges, he came
“to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This he did by suffering a horrific death for others. Not only so, but he chose to die for us when we were “yet enemies of God.” Conforming to this pattern is how we become “great” in his domain and his true disciples - (Matthew 20:28, Romans 5:10).
When an
armed mob arrested Jesus, Peter drew his sword and “smote the high priest's
servant, cutting off his right ear.” However, Jesus did the unexpected. Rather
than flee or join Peter in defending his “rights” and denouncing his
persecutors, he rebuked the sword-wielding disciple, commanded him to sheathe
his sword, and healed the wounded man who was part of the mob sent to arrest him
- (John 18:10-12).
Interrogated,
beaten, and reviled before the High Priest, Jesus reviled not in return. While in
his death throes on the Cross, he prayed for his Father to “forgive them,
for they know not what they do” - (Matthew 27:39, Mark 15:32, Luke 23:34).
Opposition is something disciples should expect
and endure faithfully. To suffer for Jesus is a great honor, a matter of
rejoicing, not anger or despair. Today, through loud protests and legal
machinations, we may avoid persecution; however, in doing so, we will rob ourselves
of something of infinitely greater value than a comfortable life.
We think as this world does when we insist that
other men and governments respect our inviolate civil “rights,” but this flies
in the face of New Testament teachings on discipleship, mercy, and suffering
for the sake of Jesus and his message.
The man who would be his disciple must
daily “take up his cross and follow” the same path that Jesus did. Failure
to do so makes him unworthy of the “Kingdom of God.” To become "greatest"
in His realm, we must first become the “slaves of all.” The Cross means denying
that which is ours by right, and enduring unjust suffering and persecution when
called upon to suffer for him.
In contrast to the political ideologies
of the present age, the Kingdom of God offers its citizens the far greater
privilege of self-sacrificial service for others, and the high honor of
enduring insults, hatred, and persecution because of Jesus. The rewards for
doing so in the “age to come” will far outweigh any losses we may suffer
in this present life.
SEE ALSO:
- Servant or Caesar? - (Satan offered Jesus unlimited political power to achieve his messianic mission if only he acknowledged the Devil as his overlord)
- Opposition Begins - (Jesus began to proclaim the Gospel following the arrest of John, foretaste of the opposition that would plague his ministry – Mark 1:14-15)