On Defending Your Truth

In reading Jesus' story, what has hit me this morning especially hard is that when He was mocked on the cross and people were being sarcastic in His pain, He didn't respond. They asked why - if he was a literal miracle worker - He didn't save himself, which of course alluded to the fact that He was NOT who He said He was. That He wasn't capable of miracles. He didn't defend Himself. HE KNEW the truth, HE KNEW what was coming, HE KNEW why...HE KNEW they would soon know. The end was more important than the present moment. The bigger picture was more important than making a defense for every comment with the little human energy He had left. He didn't have to defend the truth because the truth stood when He couldn't. And in a matter of days, many people would know and the shock of what was coming was the fuel that would push them to spread the word. In that moment, His quiet was louder than any earthly shout. HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME to address the naysayers, He had a bigger work to do. His energy was completely used up on the present moment. HIS PURPOSE. No lie or sarcastic comment will EVER touch purpose. It's so different from how we treat the truth today. As if we have to defend it to make it true. If you live your life in truth and people try to discount that verbally, you don't HAVE to defend it. You don't HAVE to waste the energy you have trying to make them see it. You speak your truth. You live your truth. Then you walk on. HOW FREEING IS THAT? As I was reading this, The Today Show was on in the background and I could hear them talking about presidential candidates bickering and I thought...man...how different would this be if they each just spoke their truths? They waste SO much energy defending what they believe that I actually don't even know what they believe. What is their truth? No one even knows. And we act all appalled at how they are behaving, but we are no different. We both defend our truth until its lost and demand that others defend theirs so that we can judge its worthiness. BUT WE CAN ALL CHANGE. Look at Jesus. Quit wasting so much energy defending yourself and just live whatever time you have left. I think if Jesus' teachings have taught me anything, it's that if we are defending something, may it be others. If our fists and voices are raised may it be against injustice. Mark 15:29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Mark 14:53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council[f] were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”[g] 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows. He didn't answer to the accusations of others. Matthew 27:39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is 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 deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Luke 23: 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[b] And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[c] “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”