FREEDOM FROM BITTERNESS (Parts 61-70)

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 61: THE WAY OF THE CROSS –ENTERTAIN US! (3/27/22)

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man."

But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place."

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.

And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other (Lk 23:4-12).

“With the lights out, it’s less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I am stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto, an albino

A mosquito, my libido”

(From “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana)

Brother Lawrence said that the human will loves excitement. In fact, our desire for excitement explains many of our words and actions. It also explains many of the mistakes we make and many of the transgressions we commit.

The desire for excitement connects to popularity, entertainment, fame, and celebrity in our world. If a person can excite us or can do something spectacular, then that person becomes famous. The medium really doesn’t matter – sports, music, politics, art, literature, religion, movies, videos, tweets. What matters is the thrill we experience. We just need a performer.

This dynamic explains the disillusionment and despair that many celebrities experience. They think that popularity means that people love them. To the contrary, the performer is just an object of excitement – a clown.

Herod knew Jesus was a celebrity. He had heard that Jesus could do some astounding things. So he was glad when Pilate sent Jesus to him. He was hoping that Jesus could do a great sign that entertained and amazed him. “Hey, did you hear what Jesus did when He performed for Herod?”

But Jesus did not perform. He was simply silent. So Herod and his cohort got what amusement they could. They dressed Jesus like a clown anyway. They had heard he was a “king” so they arrayed Him in royal clothing and made fun of Him. (One image is the professional wrestlers on TV. They dress in gaudy robes and strut about the ring as they perform.)

Herod and his soldiers had fun at Jesus’ expense. The truth is that the expectation of excitement from another person is a form of abuse. “Entertain us!” When Jesus refused to perform, Herod’s true intent was exposed. Herod abused Jesus. Herod got what excitement he could from Jesus.

So Jesus, the wise but disappointing performer, stood silently as they mocked and jeered Him. No offense, no malice, no bitterness…just silence.

Next post – The way of the cross – Preference

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 62: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – PREFERENCE (3/29/22)

Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them.

And he answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead (Mk 15:6-11).

What does it feel like when another person at work receives a promotion instead of you due to some factor completely unrelated to the job? You have many years more experience and understand the business better than the other person. But the other person gets the promotion. Maybe the other person is more attractive; or is a relative of the boss; or is a member of the right club; or is a different race or gender. This snub is unfair and causes resentment.

This is the offense of “preference” or “privilege.”

Jesus experienced this snub as well and it was an ironic one. Barabbas was a true insurrectionist and a murderer to boot. Jesus was not an insurrectionist. But the insurrectionist was released. And the One who was not an insurrectionist was held, tried, and sentenced. It is so unfair!

Jesus did not protest. He did not allow resentment or bitterness to defile His heart. Instead, He stood silently in the face of unjust preference and entrusted Himself to the ultimate justice of His Father.

Jesus chose to suffer the injustice rather than to be defiled by resentment or bitterness. If Jesus gave in to resentment and bitterness because of preference, He would not have been the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world. If Jesus gave in to resentment or bitterness because of preference, the work of the cross would have been in vain.

Next post: The way of the cross – Choices

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 63: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – CHOICES

(4/1/22)

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"

They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"

The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." So he delivered him over to them to be crucified (Jn 19:12-16a).

The people make a clear rejection. The people reject Jesus as their king in order to kill Him. The preference of Caesar as king is a cruel choice. The people choose political power, military might, treachery, debauchery, and oppression over Jesus, His teaching, and His servant ministry. It is reminiscent of the insistence of the people of Israel that an earthly king rule over them rather than the Lord’s appointed judge, Samuel. “[T]hey have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them” (1 Sam 8:7).

Here is the astounding part: The willingness of Jesus to be rejected. Jesus is the King of kings, the Lord God Almighty, and the Prince of Peace. He has the power to force His kingship on the mob, on the high priests, on Pontius Pilate, and on Caesar himself. But He chooses not to do so. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world" (Jn 18:36).

Even now, in our world filled with darkness, the kingdom of God does exist. The kingdom of God exists in the hearts of believers who honor Him as King and who allow Him to rule and reign in their hearts. Our heart and soul is the place of the Kingship of Jesus. 

The question is not whether He is the King. The question is whether we allow Him to be our King and surrender our hearts and lives to Him – daily, hourly, moment by moment.

Next post: The way of the cross – Shed blood

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 64: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – SHED BLOOD (4/3/22)

Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!"

And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."

And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified (Mt 27:22-26).

Now blood is being shed. Roman scourging was a cruel punishment that sliced the flesh and caused blood to flow. Matthew Henry says that scourging was unreasonably inflicted upon a person sentenced to die. The scourging was intended to cause great suffering and to hasten the death of the convicted.

Blood is being shed, and it is being shed for us. It is this blood of which we partake when we share in communion. Steve Parker says that the breaking of bread is the broken body and the grape is the poured out blood. Both are symbols of sacrifice and of surrender.

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?” (1 Cor 10:16-18)

The next time you partake of communion, you should remember Jesus and the cross. But you should also take stock and consider yourself as a participant in His broken body and as a participant in His shed blood. We should be willing participants in the sacrifice and the surrender of the cross – the “fellowship of His sufferings” as Paul puts it (Phlp 3:10). We should be participants in the way of the cross – a way that meets accusation with meekness; insult with humility; injury with forgiveness; and suffering with grace.

Next post: The way of the cross - Royalty

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 65: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – ROYALTY (

4/5/22)

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him.

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him (Mt 27:27-31).

He wears a crown of braided thorns,

His scepter is a reed.

His subjects mock His majesty

And strike Him on the head.

Here is the glorification of the Christ. But it is not how we normally think of glory. The whole battalion gathers to inflict themselves upon Jesus.

Domination seems to be the way of this world. The desire for power, control, and authority seems to infect every government, every institution, and every community. At the end of his autobiography, Holocaust survivor, Walter Ziffer, concludes “It seems as if human greed and the insatiable desire to dominate ‘the other’ control human behavior. I choose to call this destructive attitude – evil.”

A difficult question is: How does a follower of Jesus respond to domination? Our instinct is to respond in kind. Equity requires retaliation and revenge. Justice dictates that we overcome our oppressors, and that we render them powerless.

But in such a response, do we not become the very thing we hate? Do we not become “evil” just like them? Do we not perpetuate a cycle of domination that has no end?

Every believer should carefully discern between the power of God and the power of this world. Jesus allowed Himself to be dominated and to be abused – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus did not meet brute force with brute force or physical power with physical power.

But the response of Jesus was rooted in the power of God. Jesus overcame evil with good. In fact, the evil inflicted upon Jesus only increased His glory.

Here is the glorification of the Christ.

Next post: The way of the cross – Take up your cross

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 66: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – TAKE UP YOUR CROSS (4/8/22)

So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha (Jn 19:16-17).

Jesus’ disciples thought Jesus was the Messiah. To them, that meant He was destined to become a king and to rule an earthly kingdom. The Messiah would deal with the Romans and seize power. And Jesus’ disciples were interested in the trappings of royalty – power, pleasure, and plenty.

So when Jesus began to talk about going to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and be raised, Peter took Jesus aside and said “No way, Jesus! This isn’t how the script is supposed to read!” (Mt 16:22). Jesus immediately rebuked Peter. Jesus would not entertain the temptations of worldly power, pleasure, and plenty.

Jesus then carefully distinguished His followers from the disciples of the world. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mt. 16:24). The context of this statement is Jesus’ imminent death and crucifixion. Jesus is preparing to take up His cross. But Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that He expected them to take their cross as well and not to seek worldly power, pleasure, and plenty.

What does it mean to “take up your cross?” Jesus had been sentenced to die when He took up His cross. A person who bears his or her cross is under a sentence of death. Your death is a given. You are not dead yet, but you are as good as dead. Your life is forfeit. You no longer hold onto your rights, your pride, your control, or your status. They are gone. It is complete and total surrender.

“Sentenced to death.” Paul described how this applied to his life:

For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things (1 Cor 4:9-13).

Then Paul adds “Be imitators of me” (1 Cor 4:16b).

Next post: The way of the cross – Do not weep for Me

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 67: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – DO NOT WEEP FOR ME (4/10/22)

And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Lk 23:27-31)

We have the benefit of history, but Jesus was prophetic. In 70 AD, about 40 years after Jesus’ death, Titus, the son of the Roman Emperor who himself would become Emperor, destroyed Jerusalem and burned it to the ground. The Jews had rebelled against Rome violently, and the Roman response was awful and certain. Around the time of Passover, Titus besieged Jerusalem. When his army overran the city, Titus ordered that Jerusalem be razed and its inhabitants be killed. A few refugees who survived gave the number of dead at 600,000 although some historians give a lower estimate. The Temple was destroyed along with the city, and Jerusalem would remain desolate for many years thereafter (Source: ISBE).

None of this destruction had happened when Jesus was sentenced to die. He has been accused and abused, and insulted and injured. He is on the road about to die an ignominious death. But He does not have a victim mentality. Instead of wallowing in His own sorrows, Jesus looks upon the women of Jerusalem with compassion. He grieves over their plight.

How amazing that Jesus is not focused on His own situation! Jesus is having what might be described as a very bad day. We tend to wallow in our misery which cuts off compassion for others.

And what astounding perception! “The Romans have abused and wounded Me – a Person who is innocent, pure, and holy – like green wood that does not invite such fire. If they have done that to Me, what will the Romans do to a people who rebel and use violence against them – the dry wood that invites a conflagration?”

Jesus was still operating in His powerful gifts – here prophetic and then pastoral. He did not allow offense and bitterness to destroy His identity. He is still the Good Shepherd – tending to and comforting His flock.

How can we function in such a way that offense, bitterness, or abuse does not hinder the exercise of our God-given gifts? How do we release them so they do not prevent us from fulfilling our ministry with compassion and empathy?

Next post: The way of the cross - Shame

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 68: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – SHAME (4/12/22)

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.

But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene (Jn 19:23-25).

The soldiers crucify Jesus. In the process, they seize the last worldly possession that Jesus had – His clothing. Jesus now has nothing.

But it is more than a seizure of property. The “garments” refer to Jesus’ outer garments. The “tunic” was His undergarment. Jesus is now naked to the world. It is a humiliation – and a public humiliation for men and women alike to see.

Philip Jamieson says: “[I]t is the very public nature of crucifixion that is of the greatest significance. Meant to be the supreme deterrent against challenging Roman authority, it is the public (shaming) nature of the death that is essential. Other deaths may have been more painful, but the slow death of crucifixion emphasized its main lesson: do not challenge Rome. Crucifixion was an efficient means to satisfy the lust for revenge and cruelty, but of even greater importance, ‘by the public display of a naked victim at a prominent place – at a crossroads, in the theater, on high ground, at the place of his crime – crucifixion also represented his highest humiliation…’” [From The Face of Forgiveness, pp.107-108 (quoting Martin Hengel)].

Shame and bitterness work hand in hand. If we experience a humiliation or a shaming, bitterness against the person that shamed us gives us comfort. Bitterness calms the feelings of shame as we vilify and demonize the source of the shame. But bitterness does not heal the shame. In fact, it acts like a jar lid that locks the shame in place and preserves it. I call it “shame preserves.”

Shame is diminished and healed through healthy exposure such as acknowledgement, confession, or therapy. Shame is healed when we expose and lean into our weaknesses and shortcomings while receiving grace. The unclothed humiliation of Jesus was public. But He bore that reproach meekly, gracefully, and without recrimination. We are called to bear humiliation and reproach in like manner:

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured (Heb 13:12-13).

Next post: The way of the cross – Bitterness of death

(Quotation from Surrender and Trust – Book Two, Section III, Week Nine (Offense), Day 6)

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 69: THE WAY OF THE CROSS – BITTERNESS OF DEATH (4/15/22)

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Lk 23:39-43).

Death can cause bitterness. Or certainly, the prospect of death can cause bitterness.

I once read an account by a survivor of a plane crash (I think it was in VOICE magazine). In 1977, two 747 jumbo jets collided on a foggy runway at Tenerife. A Pan-Am jet was broadsided by a KLM jet that was attempting takeoff improperly.

The author of the article was a passenger on the Pan-Am jet. Many passengers on the Pan-Am jet could see the KLM airliner bearing down on them a few seconds before the horrific crash. The author said there were two instinctive reactions by the Pan-Am passengers as they faced disaster. In the first reaction, the author said many passengers screamed profanity when they saw the peril. They “cursed like sailors.” But there was a second reaction. Other passengers cried out to God and prayed for mercy in the seconds before the fiery collision.

Jesus is facing death as well. But He has companions. There are two justly convicted criminals who are dying beside Him.

One criminal has the first reaction. He joins the mockery and ridicule of the crowd. His conviction and imminent demise has stirred up the bitterness which lives within him. He holds his own life dear, and he gives voice to his bitterness as he rails at Jesus.

But there is another reaction. The other criminal does not give in to bitterness. Although his situation is dire and his demise is certain, he does not blame others for his plight. He acknowledges his wrongdoing and accepts the consequences. Then, in the face of death, he turns to Jesus in faith and prays for mercy.

And Jesus granted that mercy.

There can be bitterness in death, just as bitterness can breed death. But if we can just resist bitterness in our lives, like the thief on the cross, then there is life and glory just around the corner.

Next post: The way of the cross – “Father, forgive them”

WALKING IN FREEDOM – BITTERNESS

PART 70: “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM” (4/17/22)

“And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments (Lk 23:33-34).

Today, on Easter Sunday, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because He rose from the dead, Jesus was able to ascend to the Father and to make intercession on our behalf. Forgiveness is an essential part of the resurrection story because forgiveness is necessary for our own salvation and resurrection into new life. Forgiveness opens the door for reconciliation of broken relationship and for acceptance.

After all that He suffered, bore, and endured, Jesus pronounces forgiveness. His request for forgiveness is unprompted and it is not conditional.

That Jesus would be willing to forgive is amazing. But here is the astounding part: Despite the many wrongs done to Him on the way to the cross, Jesus does not address the matter selfishly. Jesus doesn’t say “Oh, I forgive you.”

Instead, Jesus requests that His Father forgive those persons who have sinned against Him. Jesus is already assuming the role of intermediary…intercessor between God and man. As the perfect Sacrifice, Jesus is pleading with God for forgiveness of humankind.

But to assume the role of intercessor, Jesus cannot hold grudges or bitterness toward His “clients.” Jesus is not taking count of the wrongs against Him. Jesus has to release the offenses against Himself in order to intercede on behalf of His killers.  

Jesus knows that those offenses were sins against the Father as well as Himself – and those sins have eternal consequences. So He asks for forgiveness on their behalf.

This act by Jesus shows the heart of God. The heart of God desires to forgive and to reconcile. The heart of God desires to forgive and to restore. The heart of God desires to forgive and to redeem.

I desire this heart of God within me. How can this happen? How can I not only release offenses against me, but then become an intercessor with God on behalf of the person(s) who wronged me? Oh Lord, I need this! I have got to have this in my life! Only You, O Lord, can do this.

Next post: Walking in freedom – Bitterness: Note this part.