4th Sunday in Easter

Words That Wound
The dialogue that day was bitter.
From the onlookers, “Come down from the cross
if you are the Son of God!” From the religious leaders,
“He saved others but he can’t save himself.”
From the soldiers, “if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Bitter words. Acidic with sarcasm. Hateful. Irreverent.
Wasn’t it enough that he was being crucified?
Wasn’t it enough that he was being shamed as a criminal?
Were the nails insufficient? Was the crown of thorns too soft?
Has the flogging been too short?

For some apparently so.

Peter, a writer not normally given to using many descriptive verbs,
says that the passers-by “hurled” insults at the crucified Christ.1
They didn’t just yell or speak or scream. They “hurled” verbal stones.
They had every intention of hurting and bruising.
“We’ve broken the body, now let’s break the spirit!”
So they strung their bows with self-righteousness
and launched stinging arrows of pure poison.

Of all the scenes around the cross, this one angers me the most.
What kind of people, I ask myself, would mock a dying man?
Who would be so base as to pour the salt of scorn upon open wounds?
How low and perverted to sneer at one who is laced with pain.
Who would make fun of a person who is seated in an electric chair?
Or who would point and laugh at a criminal
who has a hangman’s noose around his neck?

You can be sure that Satan and his demons were the cause of such filth.

And the criminal on the cross number two throws a punch.
“Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

The words thrown that day were meant to wound.
And there is nothing more painful than words meant to hurt.
That is why James called the tongue a fire.
Its burns are every bit as destructive and dangerous as those of blowtorch.

But I am not telling you anything new.
No doubt you have had your share of words that wound.
You have felt the sting of a well-aimed gibe.
Maybe you are still feeling it.
Someone you love or respect slams you to the floor with a slur
or slip of the tongue. And there you lie, wounded and bleeding.
Perhaps the words were intended to hurt you, perhaps not;
but that doesn’t matter. The wound is deep. The injuries are internal.
Broken heart, wounded pride, bruised feelings.

Or maybe your wound is old. Through the arrow was extracted long ago,
the arrowhead is still lodged…hidden under your skin.
The old pain flares unpredictably and decisively,
reminding you of harsh words yet unforgiven.

If you have suffered or are suffering because of someone else’s words
You will be glad to know there is a balm for this laceration.
Meditate on these words from 1 Peter
2:23
.
“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.”

Did you see what Jesus did not do?
He did not retaliate. He did not bite back. He did not say, “I’ll get you!”
“Come up here and say that to my face!”
“Just wait until after the resurrection buddy!”
No, these statements are not found on Christ’s lips.

Did you see what Jesus did do?
He “entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
Or said more simply, he left the judging to God.
He did not take on the task of seeking revenge.
He demanded no apology.
He hired no bounty hunters and sent out no posse.
He, to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defense.
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”2

Yes, the dialogue that Friday morning was bitter.
The verbal stones were meant to sting.
How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain,
eyes blinded by his own blood, and lungs yearning for air,
could speak on behalf of some heartless thugs
is beyond my comprehension.
Never, never has I seen such love.
If ever a person deserved a shot at revenge, Jesus did.
But he didn’t take it. Instead, he died for them. How could he do it?
I don’t know.
But I do know that all of a sudden, my wounds seem very painless.
My grudges and hard feeling are suddenly childish.

Sometimes I wonder if we don’t see Christ’s love as much
in the people he tolerated, as in the pain he endured.

Amazing Grace. Amen.

Sources:
1. 1 Peter 2:23
2. Luke 23:34