The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Persecution
We have been focusing each week on a specific theme related to the Lenten season. The first two weeks we talked about repentance and humility, which represent the kind of spiritual formation we are hoping to experience during Lent as we turn from our sin and give up the things that feed our consumer lifestyles.
We focused last week on Christ’s suffering in the wilderness, and now we turn our attention to the persecution that he endured at the cross.
There are many prophecies in the Old Testament about Messiah. Some of them describe the suffering that Jesus would endure. In Psalm 22, David’s prayer depicts the persecution that Jesus would face on his way to death. Notice how accurately this foretells the words and experience of Jesus.
Jesus is described as a worm and not a man. This is an interesting metaphor in the context of persecution. I don’t know about you, but when I am insulted or accused or mocked, my inclination is to defend myself. The human tendency is to be annoyed, envious, resentful, anxious, and proud. We are not like worms. We are more like a snake that rears up and strikes back.
But Jesus is a worm and not a man. He was willing to let men tread on him. He did not strike back or defend himself. He went humbly and willingly to the cross.
Why did he do this? Because he had his mind set on something else.
Persecution has a way of intensifying your immediate surroundings and circumstances to the point that you get wrapped up in things like personal rights and your need to be right. It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.
The bigger picture in this case is something like loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you, rejoicing as one who is counted worthy to share in Christ’s suffering. Not the stuff of mere men.
Only by meditation on the life of Jesus can our lives become this way, which is why the writer to the Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 22
We focused last week on Christ’s suffering in the wilderness, and now we turn our attention to the persecution that he endured at the cross.
There are many prophecies in the Old Testament about Messiah. Some of them describe the suffering that Jesus would endure. In Psalm 22, David’s prayer depicts the persecution that Jesus would face on his way to death. Notice how accurately this foretells the words and experience of Jesus.
Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him" … I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me … I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
Jesus is described as a worm and not a man. This is an interesting metaphor in the context of persecution. I don’t know about you, but when I am insulted or accused or mocked, my inclination is to defend myself. The human tendency is to be annoyed, envious, resentful, anxious, and proud. We are not like worms. We are more like a snake that rears up and strikes back.
But Jesus is a worm and not a man. He was willing to let men tread on him. He did not strike back or defend himself. He went humbly and willingly to the cross.
Why did he do this? Because he had his mind set on something else.
Persecution has a way of intensifying your immediate surroundings and circumstances to the point that you get wrapped up in things like personal rights and your need to be right. It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.
The bigger picture in this case is something like loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you, rejoicing as one who is counted worthy to share in Christ’s suffering. Not the stuff of mere men.
Only by meditation on the life of Jesus can our lives become this way, which is why the writer to the Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 22
posted by Will | 9:46 PM
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