Grace wins every time

This morning you get to be a social psychology student for a minute.

"Which behavior most likely to increase a person's aggressive response?"

This was a question is similar to one I had on a quiz last week. The answer is social rejection or embarrassment.

Why is this important?

Because, on Sunday, as I watched church, and I thought of how people gathered to shout "Hosanna" and then would just days later shout "crucify" about the same person, the same Jesus, and how He demonstrated nothing but peace.

John 19:16-24, tells a bit about the crucifixion and how the guards cast lots for Jesus' clothes as He hung on the cross. He was stripped of clothing, mocked, tortured, and hung out for everyone to see. Jesus was put in a position that would've been embarrassing. A position of social rejection. Jesus did not have an aggressive response.

Jesus knew what awaited Him. That's why He grieved so much in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke 22:44 says "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Jesus knew what was going to happen but instead of being angry at God, or aggressive with those around Him, do you know what He did?

He humbly served.

He still was prayerful.

He rested.

He cried out to God.

He still practiced discipleship and fellowship.

He spoke truth over feelings.

He still broke bread.

He washed feet.

Jesus knew that although suffering would occur, it wasn't going to win.

Jesus knew that the anger and sadness weren't worth sitting in.

Jesus chose to be obedient.

Jesus chose to serve.

Jesus chose peace and love.

I cannot fathom the self-control Jesus had, especially in a moment that was so demanding.

However, I am now more self-aware of how I have no excuse to let embarrassment become anger. I have no excuse to let social rejection become aggression. I don't have a cross waiting for me at the end of the week- all the more reason to willfully serve. Jesus took the cross so we didn't have to.

Stop comparing your circumstances and sufferings to others because as Jesus hung in between two thieves, as a perfect Son of God, He did not judge them. Jesus did not compare His grief or suffering to theirs. He instead, extends salvation to the one who asks. Imagine if instead, those feelings of embarrassment and social rejection had clouded decisions here.

We live in a world that is in constant suffering. We have all experienced social rejection and embarrassment. Choose grace. Choose service. Choose joy. Choose prayer. Choose obedience. Choose humility.

Grace wins every time.