Not Keeping Silent When Suffering

Not Keeping Silent When Suffering

• Luke 23:26 (NLT)

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I am one who deals with pain or trouble through silent reflection. This can be good, but there often is a message to be spread in the midst of our darkest hour. It is a great witness of the love we have for God and others when we put them before ourselves even while suffering. Words have the most impact when they are heart felt so speaking during crisis can bring out our conviction in a way that others can truly feel.

Jesus while being crucified, the most painful suffering one can imagine, was more concerned with those around Him and what they needed to hear than His own affliction.

Women were following Jesus weeping, He described to them which was not comforting how things are going to get worse for Jerusalem. This was a warning to prepare their hearts for what was to come. Jesus spoke to the Father as people were mocking Him, "forgive them for they don't know what they are doing." One of the two criminals being crucified says to Jesus to remember Him in paradise and Jesus assures Him He will.

So looking at death Jesus was still bringing life, preparing others for what was to come, praying to the Father to forgive wrong doers and assuring salvation to a sinner who put His faith in Him.

Why doesn't God always heal, why does he allow bad things to happen to good people? Not every question can be answered or at least the way we want to be, but in all things if we acknowledge God He will respond, lessons will be learned, and we can comfort others as we have been comforted. We may not always handle difficulty well but if we are transparent by being open and honest we will be received well by others for they can relate and identify with us. Helping others does not mean we have all the answers, listening and sharing our own similar experiences is the best way to be supportive to someone in need.

Jesus Christ came to the world not for Himself but for others, He suffered beyond what anyone has ever felt, yet He never lost focus, He lived, suffered, and died for the sake of us all. The same Spirit within Him that allowed Him to overcome His emotions, stay obedient, even to the point of the cross, is in us, and therefore through Him we can do the same. So let us be bold like a lion even when facing the most challenging circumstances knowing that God uses all things for good to those that love Him.

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Our Life On Trial (Luke 23:1-25)

Our Life On Trial

• Luke 23:1 (NLT)

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Have you ever felt that you were on trial? People questioning the motives behind you're every move. Do you feel that some people are just out to get you, always looking for evidence to prove that you have done something wrong, even falsely accusing you.

People don't like change, they don't like facing their wrongs, they like to keep things in the dark. Leaders who are change agents will be strongly opposed. If you are a leader and everybody seems to like you, you're not really leading but following. Yes we want to lead in a way as Plato suggested in the "Republic" for the good of all, but people often don't know what is best for them, so a godly leader isn't moved by popular opinion but by the will of God.

Jesus in Luke 23 is on Trial. Jesus did not respond to being questioned, Truth is Truth, enough said! Some people don't want to believe the truth so they will try to twist the truth into a lie, but bottom line the truth either sets you free or through denial binds you up. We should not have to prove our innocence, our life should speak for itself. We often say too much, trapping ourselves with a loose tongue, a wise person speaks little.

Spiritual discernment is given to see the intent of another, some people set judgment and their view cannot be swayed, so we might as well shut up, bear the insults and move on, for the bible says "not to cast our pearls upon swine." Most people are moved by the majority, so like Herod, they might not like what they are doing but do it anyway to please the popular demand. Living right is not popular and we can expect even those whom we think would support us to turn on us and like Herod leave us to be crucified by the world. Yet, this is our call, to take up the cross daily, and follow Him.

Just because we are innocent does not mean we will not suffer. The world has enmity against God, we must expect therefore to be treated unfairly and falsely accused. The Devil did not just roll over and die, He is trying to prolong the end, and therefore if we fight in the flesh, defeat will follow, but if we fight in the spirit, victory is ours no matter how things appear naturally. The devil thought he had the victory with the crucifixion but it was what had to be done for death could not hold an innocent man and therefore resurrection followed to bring the hope that all who call on the name of Jesus would be saved.

Suffering is opportunity for old things to die and new things to come alive!

Our life in Christ is on trial, people are watching, scrutinizing our every move, examining us with the hope that our life denies the existence of Jesus Christ, yet some will flip from unbelief to faith by the proof we present through the living testimony of what only God could do in and through our lives.

Betrayal & Rejection (Luke 22:45-71)

Betrayal & Rejection

• Luke 22:47 (NLT)

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Most people are betrayed behind their back but have you ever been betrayed right in your face, where the individual greets you nicely and then suddenly turns against you?

That is what happened to Jesus as Judas his disciple approached him with a kiss, with the temple guard behind him. Jesus was like Judas are you really going to betray me with a kiss?

Most often our reaction to opposition make matters worse because we were caught off guard and react abruptly without forethought. Jesus had warned the disciples to pray so they don't fall into temptation, He knew what was about to come, yet they chose rather to sleep. 

What type of reaction do you have to a negative situation when you are woken from sleep?

So the disciples wanted to fight, they were outnumbered by men with weapons, not very smart, also they had no clue why this was taking place, for they didn't spend time in prayer. Our perspective on something means everything. When we pray we have foresight when we don't we are nearsighted. It is important to be able to see ahead and see what is before you, so you know how to handle the temporary in regard to the eternal.

So the disciples asked Jesus if they should fight but yet fought anyway, cutting off a guards ear before Jesus could even respond. I once responded to someone who was being rude and domineering towards my wife at our business, I choked him and pushed him against a wall, in which I was almost arrested. I came into the situation asking God how to respond but I had really made up my mind that I was going to be aggressive, to show my wife that I am her protector. It may sound like the right thing to do but I knew my heart was not right and I did not really wait on God's counsel.

Jesus was like enough of this, He knew this was part of God's plan, so He told His disciples to back off. Without prayer we can never understand how a bad thing can be turned around for good, and will always react negatively. God wants to prepare us for the challenges ahead but are we in position to gain His perspective? 

A team's success is determined in practice for it is what prepares them for the game. They are challenged with drills of situations that may come up in a game and they go over their playbook so they can counter what their opponent throws at them. We are prepared for life's challenges through prayer and the study of God's word. 

We need to ask ourselves daily, am I spiritually ready to face life's challenges in a godly way?

Jesus questions the guards, why now, and why in such a fashion? He says it is because now is the time that darkness is allowed to have it's way. 

Have you ever asked the questions; Of all times, why do I have to go through this now? God's eternal plan is much bigger than our temporary circumstances. Satan thinks he actually is in control, yet God uses him for His divine purposes. We must choose to trust God, despite how things seem to appear, for what Satan meant for bad God will turn around for good, when we put our trust in Him.

Have you ever tried to outrun or hide from your problems, or just live in self-denial? 

The disciples did not just back off from the guards, they fled, like, "man overboard, we are not going down with the ship." 

Have you ever been close to someone with major problems that you didn't want nothing to do with? You were like not me, this is on you. 

Peter we see in verses 54-65 gets to the point of denying three times when confronted by bystanders that he even knows Christ, just as had been foretold. Jesus was not just betrayed by Judas but rejected by the majority of his friends. So when Jesus was brought before the Council and false witness was presented He had nobody to speak up for Him. Not that it would have done any good, but it would have been for moral support, that Jesus friends were there for Him during His darkest time.

Now let's do a little self-examination. It is easy to look at others but how about ourselves. How have we betrayed and rejected Christ? Having surrendered our lives to the Lord and having the power to overcome our sinful nature through the Holy Spirit do we still sin right in the Lord's face, since he sees and knows all? Does our lifestyle sometimes deny that we are disciples of Jesus Christ? The majority of us can say yes, so let us repent, receive God's mercy, and yield more to the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.