Joyful Ruins

Perhaps this is severe of me to write, but I could not help what the Spirit brought to my mind.

I was reading John 18:19-24 this morning. In this passage, Jesus is questioned by the High Priest. Jesus answers by simply saying He has not hidden any of His teachings from them. In response, one of the officials present slapped Jesus in the face.

This has never stood out to me before, at least no more than the usual sadness towards those who treated Jesus with such hate, but today, I had to puase.

I paused to chew on the ridiculous reaction of that official towards a man who hid nothing, did nothing wrong, and answered the questions given to Him. None of that mattered. The enemy was being allowed to run free in these people’s hearts in order to fulfill God’s plans.

Still, there was more to my pausing than even that reality. I felt the Spirit bring to my mind this: when you mistreat others in the same way, it as though you are the official who slapped me in the face.

Ouch.

Especially on social media and in this politically charged season, we must be careful how we treat those around us. So many times we have acted like the official did to Jesus. Someone shares their thoughts honestly, and without truly listening to understand, we rage at them, dismiss them, we slap them.

Id we had watched ourselves do it, we would have been appalled by our actions, just as we are appalled by the action of that official.

I believe Jesus wants us to remember that such treatment comes from the enemy, not Him. When we treat others so, we are treating Jesus so.

Does that sound unbiblical to you?

Matthew 25:41-45

“Away with you, you cursed ones… for I was hungry and you did not feed me. I was thirsty and you did not give me drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me into your home. I was naked and you did not give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. “

“Lord, when did wee ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?”

“I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these, you were refusing to help me.”

Perhaps you are thinking, Jessica, that is a radical conclusion. Fighting with someone over social media is not the same as ignoring a hungry person.

Let me present one more passage:

Matthew 5:21-22

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement”; But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement. Whoever insult his brother will be subject to judgement; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Before you respond to anyone in the days to come, reflect on these passages and ask yourself if you are responding as the official did in John by deciding you disagree and hate before even listening OR if you will act like Jesus and be quick to listen, slow to anger, lovingly patient, welcoming to the stranger, and EVEN loving your enemy.