When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23 NIV
It occurred to me today, while speaking about Christ on the cross, that he never once asked his followers to defend him or attempt some rescue.
I’m guessing if he did not need defending that fateful Friday, he probably does not need our defense today.
I am certain Jesus would much rather us follow him than defend him.
Heaven and its advancing kingdom are not under threat of siege or hostile takeover.
Each generation has moments when it seems the world is about to suffocate the teachings of Jesus, but the light of truth always overcomes darkness.
We are not the first Christ-following generation that has faced tough and complex questions about sexuality, marriage and violence.
We will not be the last.
Yes, we should preach and teach the Scriptures and proclaim the coming kingdom of Christ. We should repent and teach others to live lives that are honoring to God, but the reality of Jesus, the fully human and fully Divine savior of the world, will survive and thrive despite any secular debate or scrutiny.
Historically, the church that humbly follows Jesus by loving each other and serving others has flourished and multiplied, while those who felt the need to perpetually protest were swept away by public cynicism.
We have the same choice today.
I choose love and serving. It was the radical new way of living that Jesus showed us on that bloody cross. He could have called for an angelic rescue and maybe a few generations would have retold that story.
Instead, Jesus joined us in our sufferings, gave up his life, and allowed the same Holy Spirit that is at work in us today to bring him from the grave.
This story will be told for all time.
When Jesus ascended a short time later, he went to an established kingdom that has no end and left behind a church that was built on an immovable rock. He needs no defense, but he sure needs believing followers who will live as he did, maybe die as he did, but who will most certainly will be resurrected as he was.