Considerations: A Disapproving Way to Be Like Jesus

Jesus told his disciples that they would be treated the same way as he was treated. I have seen this in many ways, from my own experiences in churches, hearing the war-stories of others, and following the accounts of the persecuted church from around the world.

Today I was drawn to one more facet of this life. In the same way as people judged that Jesus was “stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Is 53:4), many will think that the hardships Jesus’ brothers go through are afflictions from God, or proof that these people are under God’s disapproval.

Jesus’ enemies mocked him while he was on the cross, saying, “let God deliver him now, if he desires him” (Mt 27:43). In their minds, the proof of God’s approval would be Jesus’ deliverance from execution. They did not know that God would bring the greatest victory of all through Jesus’ death, and that Jesus was dying for the sins of others.

Now that these others come into the salvation Jesus’ purchased on the cross, they face the same mocking and jeering from the world that believes that the world’s approval is God’s approval, and their disapproval must surely also be God’s disapproval. Many who know that they suffer unfairly can take great comfort from that fact that this is what Jesus experienced to bring us into such a great salvation.

And, God not only told us, seven hundred years before it took place, that this is what would happen to Jesus; he also tells us that “those who suffer according to God's will (should) entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (I Peter 4:19). The world will continue mocking and mistreating God’s children, no doubt about that; but let there also be no doubt that we will continue living the life that pleases Jesus Christ our Savior, the most unfairly treated person in all of history.

 

From my heart,

 

Monte