LIKE A LAMB

Many years ago, when Debbie and I were just getting established in our marriage, we were cheated by a landlord in Nicholasville, Kentucky.  We had only lived in the apartment for a year and took care to leave it in immaculate condition.  However, the unscrupulous landlord refused to return our escrow.  By today's standards it was a small amount;  however, at the time it was a huge amount to us.  We felt so taken-advantage-of.  It was unjust and we felt the pain of it.

Upon returning home, we shared the story of this injustice with Debbie's family in great detail.  After doing so, her father spoke very directly to me.  He said:  "Harold, you shouldn't repeat this story again.  Every time you do, you relive the anger of the moment.  Why do that to yourself?"

To be honest, I was offended at his admonition.  I had been wronged!  Didn't I have the right to share my pain with those I loved?  But, inside, I knew he was right.  The telling of that story raised vengeful feelings in me.  I wanted to get back at the landlord and even fantasized about doing so. This was not appropriate behavior for a seminary student.  It was not appropriate behavior for a Christian couple.  

The Holy Week experiences of Jesus reveal horrible physical and emotional abuse.  The sinless Son of God suffered immeasurably!  This chain of suffering ended with the cross and its cruelties and shame.  It is a week that we presently commemorate and regard as 'Holy'.  It is the pivotal week in the Christian year!  We reflect on this week with the deepest gratitude.  

Robin Mark sings it so well:

  You exchanged the Joy of Heaven

For the suffering of the cross
And the presence of Your father
For the friendship of the Lost

You took on the form of servant
All Your Godly glory veiled
For this broken world submitted
To the cross, the thorns, the nails

Now we know there was no other way
To release this world from sin
You endured the cross, despised the shame
Opened Heavens gates
So that we might enter in

Jesus endured the greatest of injustices as He laid down His life to be our sacrifice for sin!  He did not complain.  He did not cry out against the injustice.  There are many indications that He simply chose silence as His response:

Matthew 27:12

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.

Matthew 27:14

And He did not answer Pilate with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

Luke 23:9

And Herod questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.

It's easy for us to forget that Jesus could have taken an escape route.  Remember in the garden when Peter drew his sword?  Jesus responded:   [Matthew 26:52-54]

"Put your sword back in its place,…Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?'"

There seem to be three points for us to consider here:

1. It is probable that we have not fully appreciated the depth of Christ's sacrifice!  I will not expand on the details of crucifixion here, nor will I attempt to describe how it must have felt to have His Father abandon Him as He bore the sins of the whole world.  It is sufficient to say that there has been no greater sacrifice made in history - and He did it out of His love for me and you!
2. It is likely that we spend too much time and energy holding on to resentment and bitterness.  We unwittingly punish ourselves for the wrongs of others.  How foolish!  How much better for us and how much wiser to take the path of Christ:  "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."  [Luke 23:34] 
3. Jesus also offers us another alternative to injustice:  accept it as part of God's greater will and plan.  Don't resist it.  Trust the Father for the grace to endure and prevail.  Believe in His persistent love for you and His capacity to see you through the greatest of adversity with a high hand!  

I Just finished watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy with my grandchildren.  Repeatedly throughout these stories I find myself saying, "Well, this is the end;  they're surely defeated now!"  But in each scenario, resources and forces beyond my imagination rise up to deliver victory and freedom!  It is an epic story of good triumphing over evil despite overwhelming dilemmas.  

But, in the end, Frodo drops the ring into the river of fire and then after a brief respite back in the shire, he boards a ship for the enduring land.  

If we capture these truths, we can be certain - because of the empty tomb - that we will experience the same ending!  Trust Him!