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A sports news network reported an NFL’s investigation showed an offensive lineman for one of the teams was harassed by one of his teammates last year. An investigation ordered by the league said it found evidence that a player had been the subject of racial slurs and bullying during his time with the football team. Accusations and the league’s investigation received national news attention for several weeks last year. Dozens of lines of newsprint and numerous television news stories covered the departure of the “victim” from the team.
Jesus’ harassment and mistreatment prior to his crucifixion was much worse than anything any football player suffered. Yet, most people probably do not know very much about what happened to the Lord.
During Jesus’ crucifixion, not only was there the physical pain of being nailed to a cross, but also the pain of ridicule. In one prophetic passage, King David wrote, “All those who see me ridicule me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the LORD, let him rescue him; let him deliver him, since he delights in him!’” (Psalm 22:7-8 NKJV).
People who are falsely accused or ridiculed are not afraid to take the matter before the national media, however, Jesus never said anything. The prophet Isaiah described this hundreds of years before it happened. He wrote, “He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth,” (Isaiah 53:7).
We are the ones left to tell others about the suffering Jesus endured so that others might be saved from sin. Let us carry the message of the blessed Savior who died for us all to the people of the world who need to hear it so they may turn from sin, obey the gospel and live for Jesus.
John Henson
Dibrell church of Christ
McMinnville, TN