He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. - Isaiah 53:7Jesus exemplified the way of humility, lowliness and stillness. He was willing to be used, mocked, rejected, hurt and suffered every pain imaginable for the salvation of mankind. Looking at the teachings of Jesus we can see the clear emphasis on this unreasonable love show to others when under duress or suffering: "He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). “I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15). “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). The way of martyrdom is never the way of self-will or fighting but it is a release and submitting to the will of God. Jesus showed us that the Father was in full control and he submitted the will of Him who could sustain him through any trail or end of death. In the eyes of the world it seems like madness that the King of the universe would come to die as a Lamb. A king who wore a crown of thorns and a mock purple robe. What type of ruler is this? Jesus is a ruler of a kingdom of God that defeats its enemies with love. Jesus said before Pontus Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36). Paul the Apostle shared this truth: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Eusebius, an early church witness, said of the martyrs: “They humbled themselves under the mighty hand, by which they are now greatly exalted. They defended all, but accused none. They absolved all, but bound none. And they prayed for those who had inflicted cruelties upon them.” Our Martyrdom might not be physical, it just might be verbal and we must submit and accept the way of humility our Lord showed us.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
