Category: Spiritual Growth & Discipleship

Sometimes, controlling anger at injustice is a real challenge, and exercising control isn’t what we want; it can feel as if we’re choosing to absorb pain instead of doing something to stop it. The pain can feel unbearable at times, but with God, all things are possible, and it’s well worth staying the course and following Christ’s example.

Jesus exercised ultimate control; at any moment, Scripture says He could have called 12 legions of angels, and a Roman legion numbered about 6,000 men. The point is, Christ could have stopped absorbing all the pain He suffered, but he didn’t; Christ’s love for God and mankind was greater than every temptation to lose control or call it quits. Consumed with love, Jesus was determined to do His Father’s will; for this we should all be eternally grateful, for without His loving sacrifice we have no hope for eternal life in Heaven.

The trickle-down effect of Christ absorbing all that pain was our salvation. Jesus’s life, death, burial, and resurrection demonstrate God’s love for us. Every soul has the opportunity and promise of eternal life if we accept God’s grace with our obedient faith; Heaven becomes our home.

Jesus could have gotten angry and lashed out, as many of us might. He could have ended all of us at any moment, but instead, Jesus, being consumed with love and compassion, exercised ultimate control.

Jesus had experienced rejection before, and He knew what He was about to suffer was far beyond anything He had experienced. Knowing what was about to happen, Jesus was sweating blood on the Mount of Olives. He even prayed for a different solution, but if not, he wanted to submit to God’s will, not his own.

“And He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. And when He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father if you are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” LUKE 22:39-44

Jesus submitted to God’s will, but instead of showing anger, He demonstrated love and restraint; Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I admit this is difficult sometimes, but if it were not for our betterment, Jesus would not have told us to do so.

Also, remember what Jesus says in Romans 12:14-21 and trust Him.

• Matthew 26:53 (12 legions of angels)
• Matthew 19:26 (all things possible)
• Luke 1:37 (nothing’s impossible)
• Philippians 4:13 (Christ who strengthens me)
• Matthew 5:39-44 (love your enemies)
• Matthew 22:37-40 (Encompassing)
• Romans 12:14-21 (I will repay, says the Lord)
• 1 Peter 2:21-23 (Christ’s not retaliating when reviled or suffering)
• Isaiah 53:7 (the silent Suffering Servant who opened not His mouth)
• Philippians 2:5-8 (Jesus humbling Himself, obedience even to death)
• Hebrews 12:2 (enduring the cross for the joy set before Him)
• John 15:13 (greatest love is laying down one’s life for friends)
• Matthew 26:39 (praying “not as I will, but as You will”)
• Romans 5:8 (God demonstrating His love while we were still sinners)

God First!