PERSEVERE THROUGH DISAGREEMENTS AND ATTACKS— FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

PERSEVERE THROUGH DISAGREEMENTS AND ATTACKS—FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” —John 18:20-23

            Jesus spoke openly to the world.  Wherever He taught, He did nothing in secret.  All could know what He stood for.  And, if they did not hear Jesus themselves, they could have gotten the information from those who did hear Him.  Jesus is 100% trustworthy and so is what He says.  God, which He is, cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

            Jesus encouraged the high priest and those with him to investigate and ask the people what He was teaching.  They would tell them because they knew what He was teaching.  Upon telling the high priest this, “one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, ‘Is that how you answer the high priest?’”  Jesus was not being disrespectful.  He was only saying that the truth of what He taught was well known among the people and they only had to ask.  After being struck Jesus said, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”  They were silent.

            Religious people, when challenged with something truthful that goes against their beliefs or power positions, react negatively.  With Jesus, they struck Him as we read in this passage.  But they did worse things to Him and eventually had Him crucified.  This all happened because Jesus exposed them as to who they really were— “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27).

            So, beware brothers and sisters, fellow followers of Jesus, of the religiosity of others who disagree with us.  Just because they might react negatively toward us, we need not do the same toward them and should not.  If a religious person disagrees with me, so be it.  I will not react but work with those and serve with those who desire to go in the same direction our Lord has called us to.  Yes, let’s work together to finish the great commission of making disciples until the gospel of the kingdom goes out to the whole world… and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20).

Dear Father, may I be faithful to Your Word and what You have called me to, encouraging others as I can and not being sidetracked by those who disagree and attack.  Help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and persevere in the race You have marked out for me by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  Yes, may this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgqD_HQQir0