Have you been Insulted?
Consider the crucifixion of Jesus:
“Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” Mark 15:29-30.
Insults are hard to ignore. They wound us – as they are intended to – and we cannot pretend otherwise. They may remind us of something which we can forget; perhaps something personal about us or our family; perhaps an unhappy episode from our past. Or they may just not be true.
Even as Jesus was dying on the cross, in great pain, the crowds hurled insults at Him. Their insults never had any element of truth; it was impossible to find fault in Him.
Their cruel and spiteful outbursts would have added Jesus’ anguish, just as insults hurt us. They also mocked Jesus by misquoting what He had said about the temple being destroyed and rebuilt in three days. They had not understood that Jesus was talking about His own body and how He would be raised to life again. And of course He was.
Instead of retaliating, Jesus entrusted Himself to Father God who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). When we are insulted, we should try to follow Jesus’ example.
PRAYER: Almighty God, those who insult me hate me and I feel hatred towards them. I know I am wrong to have these feelings but it is hard to ignore remarks which are meant to hurt. Please help me not to retaliate and please protect my heart from insulting words. AMEN!