Cancer Blog #28
By Brian Zimmerman
Begun on July 31, 2021
Email: dyingman1@yahoo.com
My Dying Words
Entry #28
March 7, 2022
[Luke 23:34 NASB95] 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
[Act 7:58-60 NASB95] 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they [began] stoning [him;] and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on [the Lord] and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
If life is our greatest gift and death our greatest fear, how could we ever forgive anyone who would cause our suffering, much less our death? We can see from the passages above that Jesus gave us the example we need to follow. If anyone was ever blameless, giving no cause to receive persecution, much less execution, it was the sinless Son of God. And, from that example, we find Stephen paraphrasing Jesus at Stephen’s own execution, asking the unthinkable as Jesus did: for God to forgive those who first persecuted then killed him. And, the crowd included Saul of Tarsus (likely one of the reasons Saul/Paul later called himself the chief of sinners). If Jesus was the sheep to be slaughtered (Isaiah 53:7), who did not resist or cry out in bitterness or anger, how could we do any less? And, of course, as we see with Stephen, that is how the early Christians handled persecution and death.
[James 5:6 NASB95] 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous [man;] he does not resist you.
[1Peter 3:17-18 NASB95] 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, [the] just for [the] unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit
How does this idea, this example speak to us today, we in the US, who face no danger of physical persecution or unjust execution for doing right? There several considerations we might reflect on:
First, we should be emboldened to be light that we do not hide under a basket. If we meditate on these passages, we should gain courage from our Savior’s example and the examples of other righteous men and women who died without resisting to demonstrate their faith. If Jesus died for our sins, a just man, how can we not be brave enough to suffer unjust persecution for holding unpopular opinions? There are those today who have come to believe that all of life and morality can be viewed through the lens of homosexuality and skin color. But, we should first see the hope of Christ as we have been delivered from death by his unjust suffering and execution, and draw strength from His example. Who knows? There may come a time when we will suffer more than just an angry word or gesture.
Second, we can give more thought and develop greater sympathy for our brethren in places where they suffer and die even today for their faith: places like China, India, Africa, Cuba, and predominantly Muslim countries. These are disciples who, much like first century Christians, are suffering not from COVID hysteria or woke attacks, but from peril for their very lives because they worship together, or study the Bible (perhaps using Third Millennium materials). These Christians can relate to these passages in ways we cannot imagine and can teach us much about choosing the narrow road that is full of obstacles and trouble, but with the certain hope of arriving safely at their destination of heaven.
Third, we can be encouraged to pray for our brothers and sisters suffering so much now in Ukraine. There are scores of Christians who fear for their lives because of the attack of Russia. Only by God’s grace will they be able to put aside hatred, bitterness, and thoughts of revenge. Passages like those above might be used by God to help ease their suffering.
[Rom 8:35-36 NASB95] 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
We need not fear the attacks of the ungodly, for Jesus suffered them and yet triumphed. We know He suffered not only to gain forgiveness for our sins, but also to set us an example as Peter says and as John reports, of forgiveness of enemies, even when we must endure harm, perhaps even death, from those who are blinded by the god of this age. God is not asleep, nor will He forget us in our need {Psalm 44:23). He is here with us; Jesus endured worse than we can ever know, and His justice will triumph at last. We have no need for bitterness and revenge. All these wrongs and their reversal and redress are where they should be: in His hands.
Next: Death and the right to cause it