When Jesus died, his
suffering was not so much about pain as about rejection. He became sin, the outcast, the reject, in
order to open a new way of acceptance before God. The ultimate price in rejection is
death. But every rejection for Jesus’
sake is a small death, a small cross one carries for the place one holds before
God.48
It is a death to be whispered
about, to have hateful gossip spread about ourselves, but never to defend.
It is a death to be kicked
out of one’s living situation for the love one gives to others, but not give in
to a hateful action back.
It is a death to be stolen
from, but to never sue for the return of one’s goods.
It is a death to be
threatened, but to accept it with joy.
It is a death to love those
who hate you.
It is a death to be punished
by the government for doing good, but never suing back.
It is a death to be declared
guilty when you are innocent.
It is a death to repent for
one’s small sin, when the large sin of the other remains unrepented of.
It is a death to go to jail
for doing good.
It is death to be kicked out
of a church because one’s good works has caused “harm” to the church.
It is a death to be misunderstood
and so punished for what one did not say.
It is a death to be yelled at
by a cop or security guard for caring for the needy.
It is a death to be hated
from a distance because of those you love.
This doesn’t happen everyday.
It usually isn’t something you can plan.
The key is this: when it happens, accept it. Don’t lash back. Don’t express your hated.
Just stand for love. Accept the rejection. And thus allow God to accomplish justice.
Notes
48. The fourth law of justice, and the meaning of Jesus’ death is based on Jesus’ own words in Mark 12:1-12. Ultimately, Jesus died to take over the rule of thekingdom of God
48. The fourth law of justice, and the meaning of Jesus’ death is based on Jesus’ own words in Mark 12:1-12. Ultimately, Jesus died to take over the rule of the
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