Do you ever have days when you feel sorry for yourself? You know, the "woe is me" kind of days. I was having one of those days this past week. I caught a bad summer cold, which started on a Saturday leading up to one of the busiest Sundays I've ever had - preaching 3 services, followed by two meetings, small group, and a farewell party. I was feeling pretty miserable and pretty sorry for myself.The next morning I was still in a low spot when I read the following passage about what Jesus went through for me. As I read about the crucifixion and how he was struck on the head over and over again, it struck me: "Wow, I guess compared to what Jesus went through, my situation is not so bad." Even if I have to power through a long day of not feeling well for Jesus, that fails in comparison to what Jesus did on my behalf.
This changed my perspective! Rather than feeling sorry for myself, I felt grateful for Jesus and for the chance to do even my little bit for his glory. If you could use a change of perspective, read the passage below and share your thoughts...
27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull"). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the jews. 38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself ! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself ! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
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