daily java

Daily Java: For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. (1 Peter 2:15-16).

It is the natural state of human behavior to want to pay someone back for something bad they did. Look at little children. They are human nature at its purest. Someone hits them, they hit back. It is normal. That is one of the byproducts of original sin, or human nature, or sin nature or whatever you want to call it.

But Jesus came to overcome the sin nature, to cause people to take the godly way.

When Jesus was in his trial, and when he was finally killed, one thing that stood out was the fact that he did not defend himself.

Now his accusers ranted and railed at him. It is a fact that when people are mad, they will say anything. And if you stand around long enough, you will find that to be absolutely true. I am reminded of a meeting in which some people had a grievance against me.

I stood, saying nothing (an action hard learned for me), as the leader of the insurrection spoke. He began listing a litany of complaints even down to the placement of a table in the back of the sanctuary and the fact that he had heard I was going to move the pulpit. He even complained that I stepped down off the pulpit area to preach.

I said nothing, not because he was right or any other reason. I have just found that answering in kind always hurts any situation. After he was finished, I said a couple of things and dismissed the meeting. He looked like an idiot and knew it. Even his kids could see it.

In Mark 13:3-5, Mark records Jesus at his trial. The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

Jesus knew it would do no good to answer so he just shut up. It amazed Pilate because he was used to people angrily defending themselves. Add to the fact that Jesus was obviously innocent and Pilate didn’t know what to do.

At his crucifixion, when he was vulnerable, they still continued. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads  and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” … In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. (Matthew 27:39-40, 44).

John records Jesus saying a couple of things, but they were rather innocuous.

He knew that there was no answering people who had their blood up. When people decide to do something to you, they will do it, no matter what you say. And it is a truth that you cannot shout down someone who is in the wrong and knows it. Watch debates on TV news shows if you want to see that.

And people are their most vindictive when you are down. It was an interesting thing that even the Roman centurion in Luke 23:47 could see that. He even went so far as to say, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Other people see that.

You can do one of two things. You can lower yourself to their level, or  you can stay above it. Jesus chose to stay above it.

It is true that the best revenge is no revenge. When Jesus was killed, he said nothing. His opponents knew they were wrong. For the most part, nothing you can do can make a better witness than your life. People will see who you are and how you are. And if they refuse to see this, it will make no difference. God will know it.

BTW, that does not mean that I will not fight to defend my family. That is different and is part of my mandate to provide for  them. Touch them and you are toast.