Taking One For The Team
John 18:22 When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”23 Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, then show what it was. But if what I said is true, why do you hit me?”
I find it interesting that earlier in this chapter Jesus just spoke and soldiers moved back and fell to the ground. John 18: 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they moved back and fell to the ground. Later in this same chapter a guard decides to hit Jesus and Jesus only responds with kind words in return. Why didn’t Jesus just use that power in His words to have this guard hit the ground? Jesus could have made it easier on Himself but He chose the road of shame rather than to defend Himself.
Sometimes in baseball, a batter will lean into a pitch just to get on base and other times the pitcher decides to hit the batter just because he feels the batter is crowding the plate. Alot of the times the batter who was hit will then just sacrifice defending himself for the sake of helping the team. Imagine getting hit by a pitch that is traveling at 80 mph plus. It takes some serious self control to take a pitch for the sake of the team. Jesus went way getting beamed with pitches for my sake.
Lord Jesus, there are times I want to defend or retaliate on certain people. Especially on those who hurt innocent others whom I love. During these times please help me to respond like a You. You would never ask me to do something that You were not willing to do Yourself.
Created over 2 years ago
