Before I begin, let me explain the difference between force and power. I have deliberately chosen the word “force” for my topic because there is a difference between force and power. Force is the energy applied to accomplish something while power is the amount of energy needed to accomplish the task. For example, if I force a door open, I am applying energy to the door to open it. However, if my level of power is insufficient to open the door, it will not open despite the force I exert on it.
There is a force at work in the earth that is continually causing untold damage everywhere. It is unstoppable until another power intervenes, a supernatural intervention that changes lives and redirects humans into a new reality.
Now, let’s examine our topic.
A few weeks ago, I was on a mission to discover the real reason for Jesus’ suffering. I had always thought that His suffering on the cross was the pinnacle of His earthly suffering and that, in order to share His glory, as Paul explained in Romans 8…
Romans 8:17 NLT
[17] “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
… I had to suffer for Him as He had suffered for me.
My misunderstanding left me stone cold. Was I never to share in Christ’s glory because I have never suffered for Him as many others through the ages have? There must be another explanation… so I set about finding out what this verse in Romans means.
My discovery blew my mind open to a new understanding of what suffering “with Jesus” really means.
First, the condition is that we suffer WITH HIM, not for Him. This helped to clear up a part of my dilemma.
Second, from what Peter wrote…
1 Peter 4:1 NIV
[1] “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body (literally “in his flesh”), arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body (in the flesh), is done with sin.”
… Jesus suffered in the flesh. “In the flesh” here, from the Greek word “sarx” which, in Scripture, mostly refers to fallen human nature, the sin nature, refers to Jesus’ human nature, not to His physical suffering. Jesus had a human nature, but not a sinful human nature. He is the “last Adam”, born with the nature of the “first Adam”, who was able either to sin or not to sin.
Romans 5:19 NIV
[19] “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
1 Corinthians 15:45 NIV
[45] “So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.”
This leaves us with a question. Was Jesus fully human?
Hebrews 2:16-18 NIV
[16] “For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. [17] For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. [18] Because he himself suffered WHEN HE WAS TEMPTED, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
This implies that Jesus suffered in His human nature. Let’s dig deeper. How did He suffer?
This verse changed the direction of my understanding. How did He suffer? He suffered being tempted. Did you get that? He had to wrestle within His human nature not to sin because to sin would have left Him in the same condition and to the same fate as all fallen humanity.
This suffering was continuous and intense.
Hebrews 5:7-9 NIV
[7] “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him… “
Since Jesus did die, physical death was not the issue for Him but rather, eternal death, had He given in to temptation. The Bible assures us that He never sinned, but what was He tempted to do?
Again, Peter gives us a clue.
1 Peter 2:18-20 NIV
[18] “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. [19] For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of UNJUST SUFFERING because they are conscious of God. [20] But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”
Speaking specifically to slaves, Peter urges compliance and non-retaliation from slaves, even under unjust treatment. Why?
1 Peter 2:21 NIV
[21] “To this YOU WERE CALLED, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
To retaliate under injustice is the greatest temptation humans will ever suffer, even greater than giving in to fleshly lusts. Injustice strikes at the very core of who we are. Injustice demeans us, reducing us to the level of worthless objects to be treated with disdain. When someone treats us unjustly, we are nothing to that person. He elevates himself above us, making himself God. Every word or action that puts us down is injustice and we are quick to react, to retaliate, to take revenge, because our very existence is under threat and we rise up to fight for self.
We retaliate to injustice in two ways. We either punish the person who treats us unjustly and continue the cycle of revenge by our own contribution to unjust behaviour, or we punish those closest to us and set up a new cycle of injustice and retaliation.
Jesus is the greatest example of one who interrupted and broke the cycle of unjust treatment by His response to injustice. He refused to retaliate, choosing to absorb every word or deed against Him into Himself, letting it go by redirecting his focus, away from His own ego to “entrusting Himself who judges justly”.
1 Peter 2:22-24 NIV
[22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] 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. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Look what happened when Jesus cut off the cycle of injustice and retaliation at the knees.
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Notice how often He refused to speak when He was accused and could have defended Himself, especially during His trials before the Jewish Sanhedrin and before Pilate, when His opponents hurled baseless accusations at Him.
Matthew 27:12-14 NIV
[12] “When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. [13] Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” [14] But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.”
John 19:7-10 NIV
[7] “The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” [8] When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, [9] and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. [10] “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
Jesus was the epitome of one who adhered to His own counsel in His own Word.
Romans 12:17-19 NIV
[17] “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [19] Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
What was Jesus’ strategy to overcome the temptation to retaliate?
1 Peter 2:23 NLT
[23] “He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.”
Can you now understand why I said that retaliation is the most damaging force on earth? Retaliation started the ball rolling in Genesis 4.
Genesis 4:3-5, 8 NIV
[3] “In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. [4] And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, [5] but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast…
[8] Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”
A perceived gross injustice, followed by extreme revenge! Now let’s see where this leads…
Genesis 4:23-24 NIV
[23] “Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. [24] If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
Murder was the pattern for retaliation down the family line. Centuries later, descendants of Adam were still retaliating to injustice by murdering. Remember the story of Absalom?
2 Samuel 13:4, 14, 20, 22, 28-29 NIV
[4] “He (Jonadab, Amnon’s adviser) asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”…
Tamara refused Amnon’s advances, so…
[14] But he (Amnon) refused to listen to her (Tamar, Absalom’s sister), and since he was stronger than she, he raped her…
[20] Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman…
[22] And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar…”
Later, Absalom saw his chance…
[28] “Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.” [29] So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled… “
Another tragedy born of injustice and retaliation happened!
So, what is our conclusion?
Society in general is run on the principle of injustice and retaliation, revenge… one injustice, followed by retaliation, giving birth to another, more evil injustice than the first, escalating with every act of revenge. Families, communities, societies are torn apart by actions of injustice and revenge.
We, God’s children, have the power… enough energy from God’s Spirit in us… to break the cycle by refusing to retaliate to unjust treatment.
We, God’s children, can also watch our own words and behaviour, so that we don’t start the cycle by treating others unfairly.
God had given us a simple prescription for life.
Micah 6:8 NIV
[8] “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
My dear readers, let us not be those who add to the chaos in the world by perpetuating the endless cycle of “tit for tat”. Not even “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” can change the course of destruction we see everywhere.
Jesus showed us a better way. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can choose not to retaliate. We can put our situation in God’s hands. We can “turn the other cheek”. We can choose to forgive, to let go, and to embrace peace as a weapon to disarm evil. It takes the power of God to break the force of retaliation that is destroying the world.
Psalms 37:5-8 NIV
[5] “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: [6] He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. [7] Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. [8] Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.”